RS releases professional upgrade to online PCB design tool for North America

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

RS Components (RS) released DesignSpark PCB Pro, a professional-level upgrade to its free online PCB design tool, DesignSpark PCB, along with the official launch of its DesignSpark  online engineering and design community in North America. The new DesignSpark PCB Pro  is designed to bridge the gap between existing complex, high-cost, PCB design software and low-end, unsupported open source tools, said RS Components.

DesignSpark, an electronic computer assisted design (ECAD) rapid prototyping tool offers a lot of features. They include workflow integration; unlimited schematic size, sheets, nodes, pads and connections; unrestricted Gerber and ODB++ file output; multi-format bill of material generation, part library integration, and compatibility with all other DesignSpark CAD systems.

The upgraded design suite offers news features such as blind and buried vias, extensive copper pour rules, hierarchical blocks, net class-level spacing rules, and manufacturability checks. An upgraded auto-router optimizes the efficiency of the board layout, while enhanced library support allows import of the latest symbols, footprints and 3D models.

Both DesignSpark PCB and DesignSpark PCB Pro are part of RS Components’ suite of tools and resources available through its online engineering community.

DesignSpark PCB Pro is priced at $449 for a perpetual license for users in North America.