#Circuit maker 2000 free download software#
#Circuit maker 2000 free download free#

#Circuit maker 2000 free download free#

The entire PCB can also be exported as a 3D STEP model for further use in mechanical 3D CAD software.Д¬ircuitMaker requires a free account to represent its users in the community. Production files can be exported directly, although an external Gerber viewer must be used to check the exports. Some advanced features, including differential pair routing and polygon pour management, are also available. CircuitMaker supports design rule configuration and real time design rule checking. PCB footprints may have simple 3D models or complex STEP models attached to them, enabling real time 3D rendering of the PCB during development. Transfer of schematics to a PCB is a straightforward process in CircuitMaker since PCB footprints are automatically attached to any component on the schematic that was picked from the Octopart library. The continuously growing part database eliminates the need for a custom schematic symbol or footprint design for common parts, increasing user-friendliness for beginners.Д¬oncurrency editing was added in version 1.3 Users can build missing schematic symbols and commit them to the server, called the Community Vault, making them available for other users. CircuitMaker supports integration with the Octopart search engine and allows drag and drop placement of components from the Octopart search results if schematic models are attached to them. All schematics are uploaded to the Altium server and can be viewed by anyone with a CircuitMaker account, stimulating design re-use.

The schematic editor includes basic component placement and circuit design as well as advanced multi-channel design and hierarchical schematics. This culminated into the rebirth of CircuitMaker as schematic capture and PCB design software.Дespite the resemblance in naming, the current CircuitMaker differs entirely from CircuitMaker 2000 regarding features and graphical user interface: the SPICE simulation module has been removed the library system has been overhauled and the controls changed from classic menus to a more modern and visually appealing ribbon interface.Д¬ircuitMaker implements schematic capture and PCB design using the same engine as Altium Designer, providing an almost identical user experience.

#Circuit maker 2000 free download software#

This pressure eventually provided the incentive for Altium to release a simplified and more user friendly version of their professional EDA software package and flagship product, Altium Designer, targeted at less complex circuit board projects. The rise of KiCAD further fragmented the market. Several initiatives such as Eagle have attempted to fill this void, releasing restricted versions of semi-professional EDA tools. This resulted in high piracy rates for professional software packages, or users sticking to outdated software, including CircuitMaker 2000. The leading EDA software vendors traditionally lack free versions, and professional licenses are unaffordable for amateurs. Open source hardware and easy-to-use development boards such as the Arduino and the Raspberry Pi have increased community interest in electronics, particularly in fablabs, hackerspaces and makerspaces. This popularity has been observed by Altium, and the most successful features of CircuitMaker 2000 have since been integrated in DXP2004 and later were incorporated into Altium Designer. Due to its new status as abandonware, CircuitMaker 2000 remained popular among hobby users and students. When Protel was acquired by Altium Limited in the early 2000s, engineering efforts were redirected towards the development of DXP2004, and CircuitMaker 2000 was eventually discontinued. The wide availability of plug-ins and component libraries have accelerated adoption, and quickly amassed a worldwide community. Its ease of use and comparatively low cost quickly gained it popularity among students, and the software suite was commonly used to teach circuit board design to engineering students in universities.

Electronic design automation software (EDA) developer Protel marketed CircuitMaker 2000 as a schematic capture tool, together with Traxmaker as its PCB layout counterpart, as a powerful yet affordable solution for circuit board needs.