Joey
100 W
I want to do some analog design and board layout for hobby purposes and am looking for a good set of software tools for schematic capture, SPICE simulation, and board layout. As far as schematic capture and SPICE simulation are concerned, I have tried out the Multisim demo version, Tina-TI, and LTspice. I also downloaded a freeware version of the Eagle board layout program but haven't tried it yet.
The free versions of the SPICE simulation packages listed above have very nice graphical front ends and are pretty easy to use. However, they have some frustrating limitations. Multisim (demo version) has a low circuit element count limit and the only supported IC's are from Analog Devices. Tina-TI removed their circuit element count limit in version 7 but the only supported IC's are from TI. LTspice only supports Linear's devices. I want to be able to use some op-amps from Analog Devices, regulator ICs and some special function IC's from Linear, and possibly some TI parts, all in the same circuit design and simulation. The demo software packages don't appear to support SPICE model import and assignment to a schematic symbol.
I want to be able to import SPICE models from different manufacturers and incorporate them as schematic symbols. I would also like to be able to inject signals into a simulation from files that I create a priori and store on disk (think of it as a file-based arbitrary waveform generator capability). The price of the non-demo Multisim packages are beyond my budget, especially when the yearly maintenance cost is factored in. I don't think LTspice is available in anything but a demo version. I'm thinking about purchasing DesignSoft's TINA 8.0 Design Suite Classic Edition, using the upgrade option from Tina-TI to save money. I can't quite afford the Design Suite Industrial version right now but intend to upgrade later. I believe that with the Classic Edition I will be able to import SPICE models and create and edit my own schematic symbols for them. The Design Suite comes with an integrated board layout software package. The feature missing from the Classic Edition (but present in the Industrial version) that I will eventually want is the ability to inject signals from data files.
What SPICE simulation and board layout software packages do people on this forum employ for their personal use? What do you think of TINA? Am I making a good choice? Can I really import SPICE models and make schematic symbols for them in the Classic Edition? Can circuits designed in TINA-TI be imported into the Classic Edition or is that only true for the Industrial version?
Joey
The free versions of the SPICE simulation packages listed above have very nice graphical front ends and are pretty easy to use. However, they have some frustrating limitations. Multisim (demo version) has a low circuit element count limit and the only supported IC's are from Analog Devices. Tina-TI removed their circuit element count limit in version 7 but the only supported IC's are from TI. LTspice only supports Linear's devices. I want to be able to use some op-amps from Analog Devices, regulator ICs and some special function IC's from Linear, and possibly some TI parts, all in the same circuit design and simulation. The demo software packages don't appear to support SPICE model import and assignment to a schematic symbol.
I want to be able to import SPICE models from different manufacturers and incorporate them as schematic symbols. I would also like to be able to inject signals into a simulation from files that I create a priori and store on disk (think of it as a file-based arbitrary waveform generator capability). The price of the non-demo Multisim packages are beyond my budget, especially when the yearly maintenance cost is factored in. I don't think LTspice is available in anything but a demo version. I'm thinking about purchasing DesignSoft's TINA 8.0 Design Suite Classic Edition, using the upgrade option from Tina-TI to save money. I can't quite afford the Design Suite Industrial version right now but intend to upgrade later. I believe that with the Classic Edition I will be able to import SPICE models and create and edit my own schematic symbols for them. The Design Suite comes with an integrated board layout software package. The feature missing from the Classic Edition (but present in the Industrial version) that I will eventually want is the ability to inject signals from data files.
What SPICE simulation and board layout software packages do people on this forum employ for their personal use? What do you think of TINA? Am I making a good choice? Can I really import SPICE models and make schematic symbols for them in the Classic Edition? Can circuits designed in TINA-TI be imported into the Classic Edition or is that only true for the Industrial version?
Joey