Engineering students often face the challenge of designing electronic circuits for their projects or assignments. However, not all students have access to expensive electronics design software. Fortunately, there are several free electronics design software available for students to use. These software offer a wide range of features for designing and testing electronic circuits. In this article, we will explore the top 5 free electronics design software that engineering students can use to enhance their knowledge and skills.
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5 Free Electronics Design Software for Engineering Students
Here are five free electronics design software for engineering students:
Autodesk Fusion 360 electronics
Autodesk Fusion 360 electronics is a comprehensive electronics design software that offers a unified schematic, PCB, library management, simulation, and mechanical design on a single platform. It is a cloud-based PCB design tool that can be used by electrical engineers and industrial designers alike. The software includes 999 schematics, 16 layers, and an unlimited board are. One of the exciting improvements in Autodesk Fusion 360 electronics is the ability to add 3D models to parts directly in the schematic or PCB editor.
The software is constantly updated to improve the design experience and include features that users have requested. Overall, Autodesk Fusion 360 Electronics is a powerful and versatile software that can be used by electrical engineers and industrial designers alike.
SketchUp
SketchUp is a 3D design software that is widely used for electronic design. It is considered the easiest and most beginner-friendly software for getting started with 3D design. SketchUp offers a simple-to-learn yet robust toolset that empowers users to create whatever they can imagine. The software is available in two versions: SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Free.
SketchUp Pro is the most intuitive way to design, document, and communicate ideas in 3D, while SketchUp Free is a web-based version of the software that can be used for basic 3D modeling. SketchUp also offers a variety of plugins, including an electrical plugin that can be used for electrical design.
FreeCAD
FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler that can be used for product design, mechanical engineering, and architecture. It is designed to fit a wide range of uses and has many features, including modern Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools, experimental CFD, dedicated BIM, Geodata or CAM/CNC workbenches, and a robot simulation module.
EasyEDA
EasyEDA is a web-based EDA tool suite that enables hardware engineers to design, simulate, share, and discuss schematics, simulations, and printed circuit boards. It is a browser-based tool that can be used on any HTML5 capable, standards-compliant web browser. EasyEDA allows the creation and editing of schematic diagrams, SPICE simulation of mixed analog and digital circuits, and the creation and editing of printed circuit board layouts.
It also features the creation of a bill of materials, Gerber files, and pick and place files, and documentary outputs in PDF, PNG, and SVG formats. EasyEDA supports script and provides API, and it is embedded with components purchase and PCB fabrication features. The software is free to use, and registered users can download Gerber files from the tool free of charge. However, for a fee, EasyEDA offers a PCB fabrication service that can accept Gerber file inputs from third-party tools.
KiCad EDA
KiCad EDA is an open-source software suite for electronic design automation (EDA) that handles schematic capture, PCB layout with Gerber output, and 3D model generation. It is a cross-platform program that runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS. KiCad EDA is the most used EDA tool in the world. The software was created in 1992 by Jean-Pierre Charras while working at IUT de Grenoble. It features an integrated environment for schematic capture, PCB layout, manufacturing file viewing, SPICE simulation, and engineering calculation. KiCad EDA is licensed under GNU GPL v3. The software is available for download on the KiCad EDA website.