RS Group plc released a new version of DesignSpark PCB as part of its commitment to its 1.4-million-member community to continually develop and enhance its offer. The latest version of this software, DesignSpark PCB version 12, is backed by the support of Infineon, Germany's largest semiconductor manufacturer, and introduces new features for both free and paid DesignSpark subscription plans. DesignSpark PCB has been providing students and engineers with accessible, professional-grade PCB design tools since July 2010 and has become popular for its user-friendly interface, supporting schematics capture, and free PCB layout design capabilities.

The tool makes designing circuit boards easy. In addition to current features, which include an impressive database featuring millions of PCB symbols and footprints and unlimited circuit board layers, DesignSpark PCBversion 12 offers advanced new functionalities across the DesignSpark subscriptions, including: Pre-plot checks for correct layer selection; New edit component options useful for high-pin footprints like BGAs; An angular precision setting for design units; Dual units for the measurement tool; The ability to export components, including referenced symbols, from any library; A segment mode for shape and track editing; Translate-to-PCB options designed to improve reference design conversion to PCB; The ability to save project-specific libraries; New component bin options, like sort and filter, for high-component-count designs; Design Rule Check on current view; Additional Design Rule Check options, like max. vias allowed in each net, max.

stub route length allowed, and check PCB-only nets.