Electric is a sophisticated electrical CAD system that can handle
many forms of circuit design, including:
- Custom IC layout (ASICs)
- Schematic drawing
- Hardware description language specifications
For real functionality, one should consider installing
support simulation software such as cad/spice.
A Three-Dimensional Structural Finite Element Program
CalculiX Finite Element Models can be build, calculated and
post-processed. The pre- and post-processor is an interactive 3D-tool
using the openGL API.
Notice: The authors acknowledge that naming conventions and input style
formats for CalculiX are based on those used by ABAQUS, a proprietary,
general purpose finite element code developed and supported by Hibbitt,
Karlsson & Sorensen, Inc (HKS) and are used with kind permission from HKS.
Results obtained from CalculiX are in no way connected to ABAQUS.
note: By default the single-threaded solver is used, this can be changed
by setting the OMP_NUM_THREADS environment variable with the number of
processors you want to use.
The GPL Electronic Design Automation (gEDA) project has produced and
continues working on a full GPL'd suite and toolkit of Electronic
Design Automation tools. These tools are used for electrical circuit
design, schematic capture, simulation, prototyping, and production.
Currently, the gEDA project offers a mature suite of free software
applications for electronics design, including schematic capture,
attribute management, bill of materials (BOM) generation, netlisting
into over 20 netlist formats, analog and digital simulation, and
printed circuit board (PCB) layout.
The gEDA/gaf suite provides schematic capture, netlisting, bill of
materials generation, and many other features.
FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D modeler.
FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product
design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering,
such as architecture or other engineering specialties.
FreeCAD features tools similar to Catia, SolidWorks or Solid Edge,
and therefore also falls into the category of MCAD, PLM, CAx and
CAE. It is a feature based parametric modeler with a modular software
architecture which makes it easy to provide additional functionality
without modifying the core system.
FreeCAD is under heavy development and might not be
ready for production use.
LeoCAD is a CAD program that can be used to create virtual LEGO models.
It has an easy to use interface and currently features over 4000 different
pieces created by the LDraw community.
GnuCap is the GNU Circuit Analysis Package.
The primary component is a general purpose circuit simulator. It
performs nonlinear dc and transient analyses, fourier analysis, and ac
analysis. It is fully interactive and command driven. It can also be
run in batch mode or as a server. Spice compatible models for the
MOSFET (level 1-7) and diode are included in this release.
GnuCap is not based on Spice, but some of the models have been derived
from the Berkeley models.
Unlike Spice, the engine is designed to do true mixed-mode simulation.
Most of the code is in place for future support of event driven analog
simulation, and true multi-rate simulation.
If you are tired of Spice and want a second opinion, you want to play
with the circuit and want a simulator that is interactive, you want to
study the source code and want something easier to follow than Spice,
or you are a researcher working on modeling and want automated model
generation tools to make your job easier, try GnuCap.
OpenSCAD is a software for creating 3D CAD objects.
Unlike most free software for creating 3D models, it does not focus on
the artistic aspects of 3D modelling but instead on the CAD aspects.
Thus it is more suitable for creating 3D models of machine parts but
perhaps not when creating computer-animated movies.
OpenSCAD is not an interactive modeller. Instead it is something like
a 3D-compiler that reads in a script file that describes the object
and renders the 3D model from this script file. This gives designers
full control over the modelling process and enables them to easily
change any step in the modelling process or make designes that are
defined by configurable parameters.
LDraw is an open standard for LEGO CAD programs that allow the user to create
virtual LEGO models and scenes. You can use it to document models you have
physically built, create building instructions just like LEGO, render 3D photo
realistic images of your virtual models and even make animations.
The possibilities are endless. Unlike real LEGO bricks where you are limited by
the number of parts and colors, in LDraw nothing is impossible.
The EAGLE Layout Editor is an easy to use, yet powerful tool for designing
printed circuit boards (PCBs). The name EAGLE is an acronym, which stands for
Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor.
The program consists of three main modules:
o Layout Editor
o Schematic Editor
o Autorouter
which are embedded in a single user interface. Therefore there is no need for
converting netlists between schematics and layouts.
This is a Light Freeware Edition. It has the following limitations:
o The useable board area is limited to 100 x 80 mm (4 x 3.2 inches).
o Only two signal layers can be used (Top and Bottom).
o The schematic editor can only create one sheet.
o Support is only available via email or through our forum (no fax or phone
support).
o Use is limited to non-profit applications or evaluation purposes.
Apart from these limitations the EAGLE Light Edition can do anything the
Professional Edition can do. You can even load, view and print drawings that
exceed these limits!
NASA Open Source Parametric Geometry
OpenVSP allows the user to create a 3D model of an aircraft defined by
common engineering parameters. This model can be processed into
formats suitable for engineering analysis.