To assist engineers in the design phase, version 7.0 of DesignSpark PCB adds three of the most requested features, making the tool easier for designers to use: Enhanced Part Number management, ensuring the Bill of Materials (BOM) is complete at every stage of the design process; Sketch Routes, which draw approximate routings and allow algorithms to extract the best traces, speeding up the time to market for new designs, both in schematic and printed circuit board layouts; and the additional ODB++ export format, highly requested by the DesignSpark user community and increasingly valued by PCB manufacturing companies.
Thanks to its advanced production and project design capabilities, DesignSpark PCB has been exceptionally well-received, boasting over 350,000 users worldwide, and has become the preferred tool for collaborating and sharing open-source hardware projects and designs. This latest edition of DesignSpark PCB builds upon the January 2014 preview, which introduced simplified export functionality to DesignSpark Mechanical, Cross Probe, and Custom Shortcuts. Now, with the new Enhanced Part Number feature, designers can focus on innovation, research, and development, rather than spending time manually compiling purchasing information for their bills of materials.
“Our goal has always been to enable rapid PCB prototyping by removing barriers to innovation in electronic design, allowing our customers to realize their full creative potential,” commented Mark Cundle, Technical Marketing Manager at RS Components. “DesignSpark PCB continues to evolve based on feedback and suggestions from its users, and this new version of the software clearly reflects our response to their needs.”
DesignSpark PCB is one of the free tools available in DesignSpark, which, combined with RS's extensive product range, offers users a unique innovation environment. For more information, please visit the Rapid Prototyping Design Centre at : http://www.rs-online.com/designspark/electronics/eng/nodes/view/type:design-centre/slug:rapid-prototyping
The DesignSpark “DSPCB Change Log” provides detailed information on new features and changes made in previous versions. It's also a valuable resource for engineers who want to learn more about the tool and its latest updates and features: http://www.rs-online.com/designspark/electronics/eng/knowledge-item/designspark-pcb-change-log
