New free Altium version coming

On 9/15/2014 7:28 AM, Ian Johnston wrote:

Hi all,

 

Not sure if has been discussed here already (I did look) but Altium have

decided to join the FREE pcb design bandwagon in direct competition to

Eagle PCB.

 

There's a thread over at the EEVblog, goto page 8 and you'll see Dave

has posted a good amount of detail.

 

I actually think this is good news for Eagle PCB users as hopefully

CadSoft will respond and maybe push harder at bringing some long wanted

functionality to Eagle. Can we look forward to big changes to Eagle in

Version 8......?

 

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/free-altium-is-coming/

 

Page 8:-

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/free-altium-is-coming/105/

 

Ian.

 

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Hi Ian,

Thanks for posting this, we're always pushing as hard as we can. You

won't have to wait for V8, we're going to be making some improvements to

V7 now.

Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

Jorge Garcia

Am 17.09.2014 00:34, schrieb Jorge Garcia:

On 9/15/2014 7:28 AM, Ian Johnston wrote:

Hi all,

 

Not sure if has been discussed here already (I did look) but Altium have

decided to join the FREE pcb design bandwagon in direct competition to

Eagle PCB.

 

There's a thread over at the EEVblog, goto page 8 and you'll see Dave

has posted a good amount of detail.

 

I actually think this is good news for Eagle PCB users as hopefully

CadSoft will respond and maybe push harder at bringing some long wanted

functionality to Eagle. Can we look forward to big changes to Eagle in

Version 8......?

 

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/free-altium-is-coming/

 

Page 8:-

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/free-altium-is-coming/105/

 

Ian.

 

 

Hi Ian,

 

Thanks for posting this, we're always pushing as hard as we can. You

won't have to wait for V8, we're going to be making some improvements to

V7 now.

 

Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

 

Jorge Garcia

Hi Jorge,

Some lone awaiting functions like 3D as import and export.

it is hard to explain the desinger why i can't export step or an other

3D format and import his 3D -Model of the device.

Werner

Am 17.09.2014 00:34, schrieb Jorge Garcia:

On 9/15/2014 7:28 AM, Ian Johnston wrote:

Hi all,

 

Not sure if has been discussed here already (I did look) but Altium have

decided to join the FREE pcb design bandwagon in direct competition to

Eagle PCB.

 

There's a thread over at the EEVblog, goto page 8 and you'll see Dave

has posted a good amount of detail.

 

I actually think this is good news for Eagle PCB users as hopefully

CadSoft will respond and maybe push harder at bringing some long wanted

functionality to Eagle. Can we look forward to big changes to Eagle in

Version 8......?

 

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/free-altium-is-coming/

 

Page 8:-

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/free-altium-is-coming/105/

 

Ian.

 

 

Hi Ian,

 

Thanks for posting this, we're always pushing as hard as we can. You

won't have to wait for V8, we're going to be making some improvements to

V7 now.

 

Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

 

Jorge Garcia

Hi Jorge,

Some lone awaiting functions like 3D as import and export.

it is hard to explain the desinger why i can't export step or an other

3D format and import his 3D -Model of the device.

Werner

Jorge,

Thanks for your reply.

I don't want to be too critical of CadSoft as I've worked in software development so I know how hard it can be...........but there are simply loads of areas within EAGLE PCB that
need improvement. We've seen V6 come to the table, and now V7 but in reality there's not been that many fundemental changes for the end user. It's 2014 so
lets see CadSoft make some real meaningful changes and upgrades rather than tweaks/bugfixes.

The free Altium version has the possibility of pulling a LOT of users away from EAGLE PCB and the open-source community jumping ship over time................It's all for CadSoft to lose.

I am still using V6.6 (pro) as I don't see the point in upgrading for all that V7 offers. I'd like to see a real WOW factor on the next release of EAGLE PCB which will make me spend my money and keep CadSoft ahead of Altium.

Ian.

I can't imagine why anyone using the low cost or free versions of Eagle would contemplate for one second switching to Altium.

Altium is a company with a long term track record of huge price fluctuations and bizarre company policies. It tries continuously to get all your data into its system to lock you in as much as possible.

Its full price PCB CAD system may still be OK (but there is competition from the likes of Cadence (Orcad) etc who's business policies are more comprehensible).

But all these things are in a different price class from Eagle.

Perhaps you could explain what Altium features you find attractive ?

MK

  > Hi Jorge,

Some lone awaiting functions like 3D as import and export.

it is hard to explain the desinger why i can't export step or an other

3D format and import his 3D -Model of the device.

 

Werner

Hi Werner,

I hope you're doing well. 3D Export is now possible in EAGLE with the

release of V7. You would first export the IDF files using the

EagleIDFExporter.ulp that ships with EAGLE. These files are course 3D

models that represent components as Cubes whose sizes are the extreme

dimensions of the components.

The IDF files can be imported into a tool like Solidworks or Alibre, and

you can manually swap out the cubes with exact step models. That's not

the recommended approach though.

We've partnered with a company named Simplified Solutions, that has

developed a tool that maps most of EAGLE default library to vetted step

models and allows user to import their own 3D models for use with

EAGLE's IDF output. With an hour or two of work you can obtain a precise

step model of your EAGLE design using their services.

Currently, they charge $300 for a 3 year license for 1 user. That gives

you unlimited use of their tools. It's not an integrated 3D export but

it's a way. I've used it personally and it works very well. We're having

a webinar with them next week you may want to check it out.

As EAGLE currently stands, I don't see much of a point to a 3D import.

Usually we just need the board outline which can be provided as a DXF

that EAGLE can import.

hth,

Jorge Garcia

On 9/18/2014 6:43 AM, Ian Johnston wrote:

The free Altium version has the possibility of pulling a LOT of users

away from EAGLE PCB and the open-source community jumping ship over

time................It's all for CadSoft to lose.

 

I am still using V6.6 (pro) as I don't see the point in upgrading for

all that V7 offers. I'd like to see a real WOW factor on the next

release of EAGLE PCB which will make me spend my money and keep CadSoft

ahead of Altium.

Hi Ian,

You're the first person I've ever heard say Cadsoft is ahead of Altium,

so I appreciate that.

V7 will be receiving some real feature upgrades in the near future, what

they are I don't know yet but I've sent customer feedback along with

some personal commentary to management. Let see what direction it goes.

I'm very interested in understanding what you consider a WOW factor.

That phrase means different things to different people, what does it

mean to you?

Jorge Garcia

On 9/18/2014 6:43 AM, Ian Johnston wrote:

The free Altium version has the possibility of pulling a LOT of users

away from EAGLE PCB and the open-source community jumping ship over

time................It's all for CadSoft to lose.

 

I am still using V6.6 (pro) as I don't see the point in upgrading for

all that V7 offers. I'd like to see a real WOW factor on the next

release of EAGLE PCB which will make me spend my money and keep CadSoft

ahead of Altium.

Hi Ian,

You're the first person I've ever heard say Cadsoft is ahead of Altium,

so I appreciate that.

V7 will be receiving some real feature upgrades in the near future, what

they are I don't know yet but I've sent customer feedback along with

some personal commentary to management. Let see what direction it goes.

I'm very interested in understanding what you consider a WOW factor.

That phrase means different things to different people, what does it

mean to you?

Jorge Garcia

Am 19.09.2014 00:18, schrieb Jorge Garcia:

  > Hi Jorge,

Some lone awaiting functions like 3D as import and export.

it is hard to explain the desinger why i can't export step or an other

3D format and import his 3D -Model of the device.

 

Werner

 

Hi Werner,

 

I hope you're doing well. 3D Export is now possible in EAGLE with the

release of V7. You would first export the IDF files using the

EagleIDFExporter.ulp that ships with EAGLE. These files are course 3D

models that represent components as Cubes whose sizes are the extreme

dimensions of the components.

 

The IDF files can be imported into a tool like Solidworks or Alibre, and

you can manually swap out the cubes with exact step models. That's not

the recommended approach though.

 

We've partnered with a company named Simplified Solutions, that has

developed a tool that maps most of EAGLE default library to vetted step

models and allows user to import their own 3D models for use with

EAGLE's IDF output. With an hour or two of work you can obtain a precise

step model of your EAGLE design using their services.

 

Currently, they charge $300 for a 3 year license for 1 user. That gives

you unlimited use of their tools. It's not an integrated 3D export but

it's a way. I've used it personally and it works very well. We're having

a webinar with them next week you may want to check it out.

 

As EAGLE currently stands, I don't see much of a point to a 3D import.

Usually we just need the board outline which can be provided as a DXF

that EAGLE can import.

 

hth,

Jorge Garcia

 

 

Hi Jorge,

thanks for the answer.

Iam using the 6.5.4 pro (3User) here at the company.

The "harware" designer comes with his solidworks files of

a camreacase to me. "here ist the design, there and there you have space

for the pcb". In this little and not rectangle boxes is it

difficult to put the things on the right place.

So its necessary to import the design files to check the dimensions in

all 3 directions to fit in the pcb.

Its nice to here there are som 3th party tools to cheat eagle, but it

would a "WOW" if it comes bulid in from Cadsoft.

I have some problems to explain my boss why to invest in a software(v7)

and money to a 3thparty tool and it would not work in both direction.

He is asking me for a software that can 3D in and out.

Iam at eagle since nearly 20 years. In the "good old times"

there was no 3D and dxf export would enough , but the world has spin

forward. (the dxf import to eagle is, as i remember, a 3th party tool...)

There is no WOW.

thanks

Werner

The biggest problem of Altium is that it need MS windows. For me, this is a no-go.

Second, I like the XML-based data, this way I can comfortably use Git for backup.

Third, I like the powerfull User Language Programming (ULP).

Fourth, I like the commandline of Eagle. The less you need the mouse, the faster you work.

I have used Altium for one year (on windows). It's not bad. But it's way overpriced and not as stable as Eagle.

Also, Eagle starts much faster, has a more snappier interface, and does not require a dongle or internet connection.

Just my opinion.

For me as a V6-prof user, the only things missing so far are:

- the possibility to connect a via or pad to multiple nets without raising a DRC-error (used to connect for example analog ground and digital ground)

- a report when updating the schematic/layout from the libraries.

- mirror view in the layout editor

Regards,

Joop