| PCB
Wizard 2 Review |
| DATA
Resource Guide |
| Guide to Design and
Technology Resources, Spring 2000 |
|
| Marks are indicated
by stars (*) where *** represents the highest grade 'Excellent'. |
| |
| Purpose and key features |
| PCB Wizard is a highly
innovative software package for producing printed circuit boards
(PCBs). It comes with schematic and PCB design options, CAD-CAM
support, schematic capture and auto-routing and a full featured
Bill-of-Materials spreadsheet. |
|
| PCB Wizard also links
to Crocodile Clips software enabling users to import circuits
that have been designed in Crocodile Clips. |
| |
| How to use product |
| PCB layouts can be created
in a variety of ways. For instance, users can design their circuits
directly using tracks, pads and component outlines. Alternatively,
schematic diagrams can be drawn and then automatically converted
into PCB layouts using the built-in auto-router. |
|
| PCB Wizard
can also generate PCBs directly from circuits designed in Crocodile
Clips. This process is fully automated and makes it possible
to design and manufacture products very quickly. |
| |
| Fitness for purpose
*** |
| PCB Wizard 2.0 is a
new printed circuit board design software developed especially
for the educational field. Students can start with ready made
component pads from a comprehensive parts bin. Adding, routing,
and editing tracks is straightforward, intuitive, and can even
be automated. The cost of components can be automatically calculated
in a 'Bill of Materials' section. PCB Wizard can import circuits
from Crocodile Clips. The software deals with pin-outs and routes
all possible tracks around the board. |
|
| Effectiveness in
enhancing teaching and learning *** |
| PCB Wizard does the
necessary techniques extremely well, taking the drudgery out
of the former techniques needing pencil and grid paper! At the
click of a button symbols are converted to coloured 3D images
of their real world components. Toggling between these and the
parts bin helps students link them in their mind. |
|
| The documentation
is well set out with plenty of screen shots and useful tips.
The telephone support is excellent. The authors are keen to
have feedback and listen to teachers' views. |
| |
| Access and ease of
use *** |
| Recognising that many
students have their own computers, PCB Wizard comes with a freely
copiable students version. Projects can be worked on at home,
then brought in for printing. This innovative break with restrictive
licensing is a welcome first to our knowledge. Compared with
some industrial packages where choice gets in the way of getting
started, PCB Wizard is configured ready for use. Nevertheless,
new components can be added and the whole system customized
to suit various ages and abilities. |
|
| Quality *** |
| An excellent piece of
software. There are nice extras such as video clip tutorials
and a tip-of-the-day! As it runs in Windows the screen layout
and icons are familiar. Pcb layouts, real-world component drawings,
and costing can be cut and pasted into other packages to provide
exciting additions to the usually tedious report writing. The
speed is near instantaneous on a standard 486. |
| |
| Value for money
*** |
| As a department resource
it is excellent value and looks destined to become the automatic
first choice of design and technology departments. |
| |
