Altium Designer on Mac OS: A Game-Changer for PCB Design

The world of printed circuit board (PCB) design has just gotten a whole lot more exciting with the launch of Altium's new Circuit Maker software, now available in public beta form. This innovative tool is designed to bring top-notch PCB design capabilities to the masses, and it's making waves in the open source hardware community.

At its core, Circuit Maker is built on the same powerful engine as Altium Designer, a professional-grade PCB design software that typically retails for $10,000. But here's the twist - Circuit Maker doesn't skimp on features or functionality. In fact, it includes many of the same tools and capabilities as its more expensive counterpart, with some key differences.

One major advantage is the user interface, which has been streamlined to make it easier for users to navigate and get started quickly. But that's not all - Circuit Maker also boasts a range of advanced features that are typically reserved for high-end design software. These include a 3D viewer, team project collaboration tools, support for EagleCAD and DFX imports, integrated Octopart supplier and pricing information, and even commercial usage limits.

And the best part? This impressive suite of tools is available completely free of charge, with no restrictions on board size or layer count. That's right - unlimited boards and unlimited layers, all without breaking the bank.

So what does this mean for the open source hardware community? It means that anyone can now access powerful PCB design capabilities without having to break the bank or sacrifice features. Whether you're a hobbyist looking to create your own custom electronics projects or a professional designer working on complex designs, Circuit Maker is an exciting development that's sure to shake things up.

With its impressive feature set and user-friendly interface, Circuit Maker is poised to become a major player in the world of PCB design software. And as it continues to evolve and improve through public beta testing, it's clear that this innovative tool has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach PCB design.

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