Good PCB making software for OSX

[uniserver]

I notice a lot of guys using a PC's to make PCB's

Maybe there is some method to that…

any good OSX software out there? something that outputs gerber files for the manufacture to build.

 

[bigmessowires]

The two main software packages for hobbyists are Eagle and KiCad, and neither one has a good Mac solution. Eagle's web page says they're working on it. KiCad has a Mac version, but it's described as "experimental" and I don't think it gets much use or maintenance. http://www.kicad-pcb.org/display/KICAD/Mac+OS+X

 

[max1zzz]

I use eagle under osx and it works very nicely, a little annoying when it sometimes seems to make assumptions as to where things should connect to, rather than just doing what your telling it to, but it works fine

Last time i checked it still ran on PPC too, which is always nice with newer programs

 

[techknight]

Nope. Last version of eagle that supported ppc was 5. We are at 6.4 I believe.

Dropbox still supports ppc.

 

[max1zzz]

Yeah your right there, just checked whats running on my PBG4 and it's 5.7

 

[trag]

Geeze, how many times do I have to post it.

Get Osmond PCB.

http://www.osmondpcb.com/

There are PPC and pre-OSX versions available as well as the latest OSX version.

 

[techknight]

I looked at Osmond, but 20 or so of my projects are already done in eagle. And I hate making footprints/symbols. Most of the time, I can google footprints for parts and boom eagle. always eagle, footprints made by the hobby community. So i stuck with eagle.

 

[trag]

Well, sure, if you already have an investment in another package, or even just have passed the learning phase. But the original posting was asking for software that runs on OSX. As far as I know, Osmond is pretty much the only OSX compatible PCB layout software, although there is a free Unix application.

Ah, yes, PCB, aptly enough named. http://pcb.geda-project.org/index.html

Goes back more than 13 years I believe. I tried to use it back in 2000 - 2001 before finding Osmond.

 

[techknight]

Well before I went to eagle, I was using FreePCB. Which was originally based for linux/unix and was ported to windows.

I never tried Osmond, So i cant say whether its good or not. I would try it if my projects weren't already made in eagle. lol. I hear Altium and Pulsonix are the best though, Probably for engineer-grade stuff.

But in the case of hobby stuff, I would use Eagle or Osmond. If you wanna take the totally free route, use FreePCB.