Best software to for designing a few PCB's?

[D-Rainger]

Yeh diptrace is good - and intuitive to learn. It's free, and I've never once had to refer to a manual - which is totally tremendous.

[multi_s]

haha wait a minute, the guy with the company raingerfx uses the free "non profit" version of diptrace LOL are you an npo? hahaha. (just ribbing).

dip trace free version is limited to a few hundred pins i think and 2 layers (definitiely enough for a fuzz pedal etc) and for non profit use only, sort of like the free eagle licence, but it does look pretty good i have to agree!

[eatyourguitar]

you can do your 4 layer boards in kicad for free and you get to use linux. no size limit. I don't think there is anything out there that is totally totally free like kicad. whatever you choose, I would caution a beginner to chose wisely and use one. you will be invested in it with time spent building your own parts library. sucks to rebuild.

[Bartimaeus]

Thank you all for the help!

I started using Kicad a few days ago, and I'm happy so far. I've gotten a decent handle of the schematic design software.

Does anyone have any libraries including common pedal parts, specifically the 3PDT switch?

[multi_s]

im pretty sure you can import eagle .lbr files right into kicad. maybe a library already exists for kicad with it, but if you install eagle, there is a file/library that it comes with called "switch.lbr". I'm pretty sure this is it actually if you don't want to install eagle to get all the lbrs. Try saving it and then importing it to kicad maybe?

https://github.com/moderndevice/EagleLi ... switch.lbr

there is a device in this library called "3pdt". It will work for the typical footswitch with solder lug leads (big pad holes).

[Bartimaeus]

Got it, thanks for the help!