Don’t hierarchical sheets do exactly that? Put UBLOCK1 in a sheet then create a new sheet UBLOCK2 referring to the same schematic file and voila, you have distinct transistors UBLOCK1.X1 and UBLOCK2.X1. That’s how it works for circuit board generation anyway; I’ve never tried it with spice.
Mentor is now Siemens EDA. And what about Cadence?
Recently, I needed to use a simple BGA package, a connector. I come from a PADS background and in that tool the BGA fanout operation is automated and can quickly do several styles of fanout. In KiCad there is a Python plugin but I was never able to make that work. Things like BGA fanout are standard in good tools. They are an adventure in KiCad.
My advice it remove KiCad from consideration now and don’t look back.
Good luck
There is not any measure for professional. What does it mean? A great marketing team? An unaffordable price? More integrated solutions most of them will never be used because of its complexity? Easy of use? Steep learning curve?
I once talked with a 3D expert in the earlies 2000. He told me he worked with Solidworks. He also told me which was the best 3D program at that time, but it had a so steep leaning curve that after 6 months I would be able to make a cube.
For me the most professional tool is KiCad because I know how to work with it and I can reach my goals in a reasonable time. It is hard for me to be proficient with another EDA.
Yes there is:
Simply put, it is a job you are are getting paid for to do it. And when related to tools, then it’s just the tools being used by people who get paid to get the job done. And there is not necessarily any relation to the quality of the tools and the people who use them.
Hello,
I worked for a large consumer electronics company and we made millions of products with PCBs designed with 4:1 tape up. So I can tell you that even the earlier clunky versions of KiCad are going to give you a lot of capability.
Longevity will be a great reason to go with KiCad. It would be the winning reason in fact.
It is open source Copy the source and the install files for the version(s) you use and no one can ever deny you access.
This video will get most people started: https://youtu.be/maaBkw7IRUc?si=qMtFXvCflj59A3W-
There are ways to meet most every requirement if your users are willing to learn them.
Hope this helps.
No, there isn’t. It can be professional or not. But there is no unit to measure “professionalityness” unless you estimate it as how much money is charged.
There is a feature request for this: Automatic BGA Fanout (#9568) · Issues · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab
But it only has two votes so far. So it seems to be a much less important request to the userbase than some other things. It certainly would be nice to have, though.
I came to KiCad from Eagle. Eagle became unusable, so after looking at several others, I spent time with KiCad. It was pretty easy to understand their thinking after a short time, but Symbols and Parts Libraries were strangely separate from the main program. BUT, each piece will work standalone.
Each version brought welcome improvements. I use version 7 right now.
The lack of an Autorouter was not a really bad problem, due to the external routing program. It does a very good job when you set it up right. I’m a single user, but I can see how you could easily use shared files. Crashing is not a problem on Linux Mint.
KiCad is not suitable for designs needing Hypelynx, like smartphones and PC motherboards. Apart from these small niches, nearly everything else can be done
Can you say more about why not? KiCad can export to Hyperlynx.
If we take the creation process, then this is a group of developers where everyone works on their own block, then all this is combined into one device… In this case, there are not enough tools and even those that exist are not very convenient for such work… There is also a limitation associated with poor or complete lack of integration with other tools… It is obvious otherwise we will get a monster in the form of Altium and the like
Is the KiCad HyperLynx export adequately tested, which HyperLynx modules are supported? Specctra has had a few issues even with plenty of users
I don’t know, I’m not a Hyperlynx user. But it is strange to say that KiCad is not suitable for Hyperlynx without giving details. If you are a user, please test and report any issues you find. It would be equally strange to say KiCad is unsuitable for Specctra.
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