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28 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2023 Every profession has its tools. Painters use brushes, mechanics have socket wrenches, and parlor magicians have long sleeves. For PCB designers, the tool of the trade is CAD so- ware. Designers spend hours, days, or weeks in their CAD tool for each circuit board design. ey thoroughly check each connection, plot every through-hole, and carefully place com- ponents. is process inevitably reveals that not all CAD tools are created equally. Each designer has different needs from a CAD tool. Some only produce a few designs per year, which means there is limited opportunity to learn the ins and outs of complex CAD so- ware. Others constantly work on PCB design, moving from one design to the next with barely enough time to catch their breath. How can designers find the right CAD tools to fit their design needs? Making Sense of the CAD Tool Ecosystem A quick search reveals that the world of PCB design is flooded with tools, but evaluating more than a handful can be daunting. To nar- row the field, examine some basic criteria. Price For those who design PCBs intermittently, high-priced tools may not make sense, and there are many low-cost and free CAD tools Choosing the Right CAD Tool Connect the Dots by Matt Stevenson, SUNSTONE CIRCUITS