Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => PC Express and JSchem - Schematics and Layout diagrams => Topic started by: Gainzilla on January 07, 2016, 11:35:29 am

Title: Not J-Schem, but really nice. And free.
Post by: Gainzilla on January 07, 2016, 11:35:29 am

Hi all,

Has anyone given the web-based tools from digikey a try? I've been using their Scheme-It app and find it really nice. The line widths of all components are a little easier to read, and they have tube libraries. Another cool feature, and obviously not by accident, is that you can locate and assign digikey part numbers for everything, and export a BOM. Whatever you aren't able to buy from Doug, you could automatically add to a cart. I haven't tried this, but the BOM export alone is pretty cool.

I've found sometimes the automatically routed connecting lines try to do weird things, but have always been able to get them to do what I need. Also, it takes a fair amount of rigor to keep all your component values in sync with their digikey part numbers if you do a lot of copy/pasting like I do.

Anyway, it's free, cross-platform, and Produces very nice looking drawings. They also have other useful tools such as schematic capture/pcb routing, circuit sim, and PCB design tools, but I haven't tried those. I have no affiliation with digikey. I just found it cool they they invested in building these free tools.

Here us a link: http://www.digikey.com/en/resources/design-tools/design-tools (http://www.digikey.com/en/resources/design-tools/design-tools)

Sample schem I made (power supply for a 100w KT88 based design) you can see how I had to fudge the transformer, which will be a custom wound monster with multiple taps:

[edit] Uploaded correct schematic.

Title: Re: Not J-Schem, but really nice. And free.
Post by: sluckey on January 07, 2016, 01:17:30 pm

That is a nice looking schematic. But your bridge rectifiers are connected wrong. They need to be rotated 90° clockwise, except the bias bridge should rotate 90° counterclockwise.   :wink:

Title: Re: Not J-Schem, but really nice. And free.
Post by: Willabe on January 07, 2016, 01:55:31 pm

Yeah, that is nice looking work, very nice.  :icon_biggrin:

Title: Re: Not J-Schem, but really nice. And free.
Post by: Gainzilla on January 07, 2016, 07:39:34 pm

Quote from: sluckey on January 07, 2016, 01:17:30 pm

That is a nice looking schematic. But your bridge rectifiers are connected wrong. They need to be rotated 90° clockwise, except the bias bridge should rotate 90° counterclockwise.   :wink:

HA! Nice catch. I must've uploaded an old version while posting on the bus from my phone. I updated the schem to the correct version.

Cheers!

Title: Re: Not J-Schem, but really nice. And free.
Post by: jojokeo on January 23, 2016, 11:32:18 am

Thanks for sharing this info G-zilla I may give some of those a try when the chance arises? Have you tried doing a layout or anything else? Have you tried any of the others?

Title: Re: Not J-Schem, but really nice. And free.
Post by: Gainzilla on February 23, 2016, 01:05:00 am

Hi there l,

I haven't l, although I can't believe I haven't yet. I don't see why it wouldn't work nicely though.

- B