The new Custom Shortcuts functionality in Version 6.0 allows more customisation flexibility within the user interface. The function works either way from PCB to schematic or vice versa. Cross Probe allows the user to simply click on the component in either view, which will then immediately take them to the component in the counterpart view. Usually it is relatively straightforward to identify a component in PCB view, but not necessarily so easy to find its corresponding symbol within the schematic – unless the system is extremely well known and understood by a user. The Cross Probe (X-probe) functionality in Version 6.0 further speeds up the design process by allowing instant referencing between the schematic and the PCB-design views within the software. This new interface makes the design transfer process easier and with various parameters pre-configured, enables designs to be exported more quickly while minimising the risk of user errors. In response to these requests, DesignSpark PCB Version 6.0 comes with simplified IDF export dedicated to DesignSpark Mechanical. The enthusiastic adoption of DesignSpark Mechanical was followed by feedback from users indicating the need for closer integration between the tools.

This requires designs to be exported from DesignSpark PCB using the industry standard IDF format.

With the launch of DesignSpark Mechanical in September 2013 DesignSpark PCB users gained the ability to design the mechanical elements of their products with a free-of-charge tool from the DesignSpark suite. In this sixth edition, DesignSpark PCB builds upon the previous version of the tool, which was announced in April 2013 and added further functionality including Online Design Rule Checking (Real-Time DRC) and design support for buses.

Due to its advanced project design and production capabilities, DesignSpark PCB has gained extraordinarily high adoption with more than 200,000 users globally and has become the ‘open-source hardware’ tool of choice for sharing and collaborating on designs and projects.

Designspark software