Premier Farnell launches free CAD software

BANGALORE, INDIA: Premier Farnell, a distributor of electronic and industrial products today announced the launch of EAGLE software version 5.8.

This enhanced version of CadSoft’s software, is a free licence edition ‘Freemium’, allowing EDE’s to design boards more conveniently with better power management in their circuits and with more schematic sheets for free.

The Freemium version is now available through CadSoft’s own websites and from element14, the company’s technology eCommunity for EDEs.

Freemium offers customers double the number of layers and four times the number of sheets compared to the current free software version of EAGLE (“Freeware”), giving existing users increased functionality, while delivering even more evaluation and product options to the engineer depending on budget, said a press release.

Within version 5.8 CadSoft have also made improvements to their EAGLE standard version, increasing the number of layers from 4 to 6, making layout substantially easier.

“EAGLE version 5.8 is an important product upgrade for all design engineers globally and reflects our ongoing commitment towards the EDE’s, driving business to the web and growth in emerging markets” said David Shen, global head of EDE & Technical Marketing at Premier Farnell.

He added that CAD software is a fundamental tool for all EDEs, and the availability of such software through Premier Farnell’s element14 is a significant step in their strategy to provide customers not only a high quality product, but also tools enabling us to be a one stop shop solution for their R&D needs.