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DipTrace is a proprietary software suite for
electronic design automation Electronic design automation (EDA), also referred to as electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), is a category of software tools for designing Electronics, electronic systems such as integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. The tools wo ...
(EDA) used for electronic
schematic capture Schematic capture or schematic entry is a step in the design cycle of electronic design automation (EDA) at which the electronic diagram, or electronic schematic of the designed electronic circuit, is created by a designer. This is done interac ...
and
printed circuit board A printed circuit board (PCB), also called printed wiring board (PWB), is a Lamination, laminated sandwich structure of electrical conduction, conductive and Insulator (electricity), insulating layers, each with a pattern of traces, planes ...
layouts. DipTrace has four applications: schematic editor, PCB editor with built-in shape-based
autorouter In electronic design, wire routing, commonly called simply routing, is a step in the design of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrated circuits (ICs). It builds on a preceding step, called placement, which determines the location of each a ...
and 3D preview, component editor (schematic symbol), and pattern editor (PCB footprint).


Features

* Simple user interface * Multi-sheet and hierarchical schematics * Analog and digital SPICE simulator * High-speed and differential signal routing * Manual push-and-shove routing * Wide import/export capabilities * Shape-based
autorouter In electronic design, wire routing, commonly called simply routing, is a step in the design of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrated circuits (ICs). It builds on a preceding step, called placement, which determines the location of each a ...
* Advanced verifications with real-time DRC * Real-time 3D PCB preview


3D preview

This module includes real-time 3D preview & export feature. It shows the model of the manufactured printed circuit board with all components installed. Rotate board in three axes, zoom in and out in real time, change colors of the board, copper areas, solder mask, silkscreen, and background. 3D preview works on all stages of the design. Board can be exported to STEP or
VRML VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language, pronounced ''vermal'' or by its initials, originally—before 1995—known as the Virtual Reality Markup Language) is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional (3D) interactive vector graph ...
2.0 formats for mechanical CAD modeling. More than 7500 3D models of PCB packages are supplied for free. Externally designed 3D models in *.wrl, *.step, *.iges, and *.3ds formats can be uploaded and attached to patterns in Pattern Editor or PCB Layout.


Import / Export

As of DipTrace version 5, it supports the following file importing and exporting (per software menus). Schematic Editor import: *
Altium Altium Limited is an American multinational software company that provides electronic design automation software to engineers who design printed circuit boards. Founded as Protel Systems Pty Ltd in Australia in 1985, the company has regional he ...
ASCII, DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML,
Eagle Eagle is the common name for the golden eagle, bald eagle, and other birds of prey in the family of the Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of Genus, genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus ''Aquila ( ...
Schematic,
KiCad KiCad ( ) is a free software suite for electronic design automation (EDA). It facilitates the design and simulation of electronic hardware for PCB manufacturing. It features an integrated environment for schematic capture, Printed circuit boar ...
Schematic,
OrCAD OrCAD Systems Corporation was a software company that made OrCAD, a proprietary software tool suite used primarily for electronic design automation (EDA). The software is used mainly by electronic design engineers and electronic technicians to ...
EDIF Schematic,
P-CAD P-CAD was the brand name of Personal CAD Systems, Inc., a California-based manufacturer of electronic design automation (EDA) software. It manufactured a CAD software available for personal computers. The company was divested into ACCEL Techno ...
ASCII, P-CAD PDIF, PADS SCH ASCII 2005. Schematic Editor export: *
DXF AutoCAD DXF (Drawing Interchange Format, or Drawing Exchange Format) is a computer-aided design (CAD) data file format developed by Autodesk to enable CAD data exchange and interoperability between AutoCAD on different computing platforms. His ...
,
PDF Portable document format (PDF), standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format developed by Adobe Inc., Adobe in 1992 to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, computer hardware, ...
, Bill of Materials (BOM), DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML, Eagle Schematic, P-CAD ASCII,
SPICE In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...
Netlist, Schematic Netlist (Accel, Allegro, KiCad, Mentor, OrCAD, PADS, P-CAD, Protel 2.0,
Tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries from a combination of Arge ...
). PCB Editor import: *
DXF AutoCAD DXF (Drawing Interchange Format, or Drawing Exchange Format) is a computer-aided design (CAD) data file format developed by Autodesk to enable CAD data exchange and interoperability between AutoCAD on different computing platforms. His ...
, Gerber, N/C Drill, Altium ASCII, DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML, Eagle Board, KiCad Board, OrCAD MIN Interchange, P-CAD ASCII, P-CAD PDIF, PADS PCB ASCII 2005, Sprint-Layout 6.0 Text-IO, Autorouter SES, PCB Netlist (Accel, Allegro, KiCad, Mentor, OrCAD, PADS, P-CAD, Protel 2.0, Tango). PCB Editor export: *
DXF AutoCAD DXF (Drawing Interchange Format, or Drawing Exchange Format) is a computer-aided design (CAD) data file format developed by Autodesk to enable CAD data exchange and interoperability between AutoCAD on different computing platforms. His ...
,
PDF Portable document format (PDF), standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format developed by Adobe Inc., Adobe in 1992 to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, computer hardware, ...
, Gerber, Gerber X2,
ODB++ ODB++ is a proprietary CAD-to-CAM data exchange format used in the design and manufacture of electronic devices. Its purpose is to exchange printed circuit board design information between design and manufacturing and between design tools from ...
, IPC-2581C, IPC-D-356A, N/C Drill, Mach 2/3 Drill, OrCAD TAP Drill, Bill of Materials (BOM), Pick and Place, DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML, Eagle Board, P-CAD ASCII, PADS PCB ASCII 2005, OrCAD MIN Interchange, Autorouter DSN, 3D Image ( STEP,
VRML VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language, pronounced ''vermal'' or by its initials, originally—before 1995—known as the Virtual Reality Markup Language) is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional (3D) interactive vector graph ...
). Component Editor import: * DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML, Eagle XML (*.lbr), Eagle Script (*.scr), KiCad Library (*.lib), Altium ASCII (*.lia), P-CAD ASCII (*.lia), PADS ASCII (*.p, *.c), BSDL Pinlist (*.bsd, *.bsdl, *.bsm). Component Editor export: * DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML, Eagle XML (*.lbr). Pattern Editor import: * DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML, Eagle XML (*.lbr), Eagle Script (*.scr), KiCad Footprints, P-CAD/Altium ASCII (*.lia), PADS ASCII (*.p, *.d). Pattern Editor export: * DipTrace ASCII, DipTrace XML, Eagle XML (*.lbr).


Modules

DipTrace has a launcher application with five buttons that allows a user to quickly start each DipTrace module: # Schematic Editor # PCB Editor # Component Editor # Pattern Editor # Get Started with Video Guide (link to video and PDF tutorial webpage)


Schematic editor

Advanced circuit design tool with support of multi-sheet and multi-level hierarchical schematics that delivers a number of features for visual and logical pin connections. Cross-module management ensures that principal circuits can be easily converted into a PCB, back-annotated, or imported/exported from/to other EDA software, CAD formats and net-lists. DipTrace Schematic has ERC verification and Spice export for external simulation.


PCB editor

Engineering tool for board design with smart manual routing, differential pairs, length-matching tools, shape-based autorouter, advanced verification, layer stackup manager, and wide import/export capabilities. Design requirements are defined by net classes, class-to-class rules, and detailed settings by object types for each class or layer. When routing with real-time DRC, the program reports errors on the fly before actually making them. DRC also checks length and phase tolerances for differential pairs and controls signal synchronization for nets and buses (including layer stackup and bonding wire induced signal delays). The board can be previewed in 3D and exported to STEP format for mechanical CAD modeling. Design rule check with in-depth detailing and net connectivity verification procedures are available.


Component editor

Manage component libraries and create single- or multi-part components by selecting a template and its dimensions, defining visual and electrical pin parameters, setting up a Spice model, and attaching pattern with a 3D model to finalize component creation. BSDL import, bulk pin naming, and pin manager tools for pins and buses. Importing libraries from different EDA formats. More than 140000 components in standard libraries.


Pattern editor

Draw patterns with various types of shapes, pads, holes, and dimensions. Circle, lines (headers, DIP), square (QFP), matrix (BGA), rectangle (RQFP), and zig-zag standard templates. Creation of pattern is basically selecting a template, entering a couple of vital parameters, drawing the silkscreen, and launching automatic pad renumbering. Custom templates can be created for non-standard patterns. DXF import makes creating complex layouts easier.


Pricing

* Note: Non-profit hobbyists can request a free "Lite" upgrade. † * Note: Unlimited plane layers (power, ground) for all editions, which means 2 signal layers editions can create 4-layer boards. ‡


Free versions

A version of DipTrace is freely available with all the functionality of the full package except that it is limited to 300 pins and non-commercial use or 500 pins (non-commercial use, contact for free upgrade) and two signal layers. Power and ground plane layers do not count as signal layers, so the free versions can create four-layer boards with full power and ground planes. No board size restrictions.


Version history


Version 5.0

* Released September 12, 2024


Version 4.3

* Released July 27, 2022 * Built-in Spice simulator. * XML for PCB, Schematic, Component Editor and Pattern Editor. * SMD / THT pads in PCB Layout design information. * Custom column title for BOM, Pick and Place.


Version 4.2

* Released November 2, 2021 * New XML format for component and pattern libraries * Environment Variables in all paths * Edge rails for a single board option. * Radial / Polar placement of design objects in PCB Layout and Pattern Editor * Side and isometric view buttons in 3D preview dialogs


Version 4.1

* Released February 3, 2021 * Improved panelizing * Improved BOM * Improved pick and place * Import/Export improvements * Raster pictures in PCB


Version 4.0

* Released May 20, 2020 * Arc trace routing *
Teardrop Teardrop or Teardrops may refer to: Biology * Tears, a clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands in the eyes * Vastus medialis, or teardrop muscle, a muscle in the leg * Dacrocyte, or teardrop cell, that can be found in bone marrow fibrosis ...
connections to pads and T-junctions * `IPC-7351 libraries & patterns * Round rectangle & D-shape pads * Courtyard layer * Component outline layer * Similar pad numbers are allowed * Three methods to create 3D models * Obround shapes instead of ellipses * Etch text or picture/logo in copper pour


Version 3.3

* Released October 22, 2018


Version 3.2

* Released October 26, 2017 * Length matching rules. * Real-time length comparison table. * Layer stackup table. * Using layer stackup and pad signal delay for trace length and differential pair phase calculation. * Meander tool for any trace, easy resizing and moving of meanders. * DRC same net clearance check (Trace to Trace, SMD to Pad, SMD to Via, SMD to SMD). * Altium ASCII import (Schematic, PCB, libraries). * Eagle XML import (Schematic, PCB, libraries).


Version 3.1

* Released May 29, 2017


Version 3.0

* Released March 10, 2016 * Differential pairs: define differential pair and its rules; automatic or manual defining of paired pads; paired routing and editing of differential pair; single-track differential pair routing and editing; phase tune tool (place custom / regular size meanders); real-time control of phase and length tolerance; differential pair manager; support of differential pairs for external autorouters, recognition of paired traces. * Custom user-defined keyboard shortcuts for tools and dialogs. * ODB++ (version 7.0) manufacturing output. * Gerber X2 manufacturing output. * DRC rule details (easy editing of routing constraints). * Tree view of 3D models in All Models list, sorted by categories (folders). * Overall speed and memory optimization for large designs. * Optimized UI fonts. * 8143 new components. * 5694 new STEP models for 3D.


Community

Some hobby and educational groups such as the PICAXE forum members have developed libraries specific to the PICAXE range of microcontroller as produced by Revolution Education including many of the frequently used associated integrated circuits. PICAXE related libraries can be found in the net. In January 2011,
Parallax Parallax is a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different sightline, lines of sight and is measured by the angle or half-angle of inclination between those two lines. Due to perspective (graphica ...
switched from
EAGLE Eagle is the common name for the golden eagle, bald eagle, and other birds of prey in the family of the Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of Genus, genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus ''Aquila ( ...
to DipTrace for developing its printed circuit boards.


See also

*
Comparison of EDA software This page is a comparison of electronic design automation (EDA) software which is used today to design the near totality of electronic devices. Modern electronic devices are too complex to be designed without the help of a computer. Electronic dev ...
*
List of free electronics circuit simulators List of free analog and digital electronic circuit simulators, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and comparing against UC Berkeley SPICE. The following table is split into two groups based on whether it has a graphical visual interface or not. ...


References


External links

* multilanguage (English, French, Italian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian)
DipTrace at Seattle Robotics Society meeting

DipTrace at Nuts and Volts - October 2006


{{DEFAULTSORT:Diptrace Electronic design automation software Electronic design automation companies