Today marks the release of DesignSpark PCB version 2.0. The latest iteration of the world's most powerful free schematic and PCB layout tool. One particularly cool feature is the 3D output but what tops that are the features that have been suggested by the DesignSpark community.
New features
- the addition of a new 3D Viewer, to give engineers a "real life" view in 3D of their PCB layout
- new bitmap printing option
- Projects:new commands to 'rename' and 'duplicate' sheets in a project
- Change component dialog:now shows both schematic and pcb previews
- Reports: new column type allows 'plain text' to be inserted as column report
- Add Component: pressing Esc now returns to dialog box instead of dropping out
- Paste: new 'cancel move' command allows you to drop new copy in same location as original
- Component edit: commands to help add Values to all alternate footprints (packages)
- Save Library Item: now allows you to create a new library at point of saving lib item
- Library manager: new 'Move to' and 'Save To Library' buttons/commands
- Rotate: angular resolution increased to 2dp
- Save Selection To Library: ability to save selected components to libraries directly from design
- Excellon output: switch to enforce seperate tool numbers across all drill files
- Drill Indent Output: switch to seperate plated/unplated drills
For a full list of new features and for upgrade information, please visit the DesignSpark PCB updates knowledge item.
The future for DesignSpark PCB?
The future of DesignSpark PCB depends largely upon you. Your ideas and suggestions are massively important and will be what sets this apart from other design tools.
Keep up the good work!
Download DesignSpark PCB
goboatingnow
Bus support, thats the big missing feature
robertpalmerjr
Another vote for Mac OS X support
GeorgeM
Here's another vote for a Mac version
NitWit
3D view is impressive and give a good feeling, how the PCB will look like.
Can you think about adding 3D mouse support (3Dconnexion) for the 3D viewer? As far as I know, 3Dconnexion provides a SDK for easy implementation.
faidul islam
i have need activeion password
thanks
3AGV
Congratulations to the improvements...We expect please a version in Spanish in order to Latinoamérica, that we do not understand the English language . as a blog, instructions books, or Web in Spanish we find it difficult to very much to utilize a translator of DesignSpark PCB2 . ... greetings good luck.
mrbigh
How about if you learn English as I did to understand someothers intensive work?
Que tal si aprenden Ingles como yo lo hice ace tiempo.
Las personas de origen y habla hispana no son discapacitados. Por favor, no piensen que el mundo evuelve alrededor del idioma castellano.
Demuestren ser un poco mas cultos.
extremely_d ...
what about a Linux version???
marcus_ama
Here's my vote for a Mac version too
LStacey
Thanks, Marcus.
Cli
Congratulations for the great improvements and above all a big thank you! This version 2 is the final touch that distinguishes DesignSpark from any other PCB design software.
Martin Keenan
Thanks Cli,
Just want to echo Lee's sentiments!! We've put a lot of work into ensuring that DesignSpark PCB stays fresh and continues meeting the needs of those who use it and take time to give us feedback on what they would like to see next
Cheers,
Martin
Chasse
Hi Martin,
Two things,
One how do I import my own 3D model from google Sketchup into designspark I have tried and tried but can only create a very basic view of it with the 3D library manager.
A suggestion for Designspark PCB would be a floating wire layer for top and bottom copper layers so that representation of flying wires can be added when no other method of routing a track is possible.
LStacey
Thanks for the kind words, Cli. We aim to keep improving based on your suggestions!