Free Angle Routing Software

[Chris Cousins]

If anyone on here would like to evaluate a free piece of software a
few colleagues and myself have developed could you please reply to
this posting.

We have developed an any-angle PCB router. It is in its early stages
but, as far as we know, is unique in that it is numerically stable.
This means that you can push and shove (with springback) routes,
bus-routing etc. Also, traces can jump over fixed obstacles.

You can make "components" by combining shapes you have created. We
have a working model of connectivity that makes sure pins can be
connected to each other. There is also an autorouter although this is
in its infancy.

If you are interested then you can try the software out (it is in
Java) from the site : www.freerouting.net (you will need to download
the java plugin if you want to run it online or download the jre 1.4.2
if you want to run the whole software).

Thanks for your time.
Chris Cousins - freerouter

 

[Stephan Rose]

That looks neat, the one thing I do like is that it automatically
shows all valid points that can be connected to that are on the same
net. This is something I'm going to have to keep in mind.

As far as the numerical precision issue...let me guess, decimal value
type? 96-bit fixed float?

But at least as far as the online thing is concerned, I did not try
your offline version so I don't know how much different that is, the
user interface itself still needs a lot of work. It's way too easy to
make a mistake, click in the wrong spot and go "oh crap".

Switching layers for instance should be doable with just a keypress
rather than going through menus. Also while inside the context menu,
the current state of the trace should be frozen. I was cursing trying
to switch layers, and then my trace jumped when I went outside the
menu with the mouse accidentally.

There should also be more control when placing the traces, the
automatic deformation is great but it should be possible to easy place
waypoints with a single click. ie I start my trace, click
somewhere..then it continues placing the trace from the point I
clicked.

Deleting a trace should be as simple as selecting it and pressing the
delete key, not having to go to the menu to do that.

Those are just some things that come to my mind...

Stephan



On 1 Apr 2004 07:56:51 -0800, ccousins.home@virgin.net (Chris Cousins)
wrote:

If anyone on here would like to evaluate a free piece of software a
few colleagues and myself have developed could you please reply to
this posting.

We have developed an any-angle PCB router. It is in its early stages
but, as far as we know, is unique in that it is numerically stable.
This means that you can push and shove (with springback) routes,
bus-routing etc. Also, traces can jump over fixed obstacles.

You can make "components" by combining shapes you have created. We
have a working model of connectivity that makes sure pins can be
connected to each other. There is also an autorouter although this is
in its infancy.

If you are interested then you can try the software out (it is in
Java) from the site : www.freerouting.net (you will need to download
the java plugin if you want to run it online or download the jre 1.4.2
if you want to run the whole software).

Thanks for your time.
Chris Cousins - freerouter

 

[Chris Cousins]

Hi Stephan,

Thanks for giving the freerouter a go. The numerical precision is not
due to the representation of numbers - it is the opposite; we do not
represent points in 2d space, rather we keep the intersections of
lines from being computed until it is necessary (for saving files or
for drawing the board).

Thanks for your tips on the interface.

Our aim (for now) is to create a world-class router that is FREE, or
at least has a really useable free version - hence
www.freerouting.net.

We have alot of experience of exisint PCB products and do not think
that their cost is acceptable. Perhaps a new product should be created
that is free. That is why freerouter was created.

We are thinking of creating a better website whereby people can start
to submit requests, bugs etc.

If we all pull together, perhaps something great can come of it ?

Chris Cousins - Freerouter.

Stephan Rose <ker-spam-mos@kermos-no-spam-reversed.net> wrote in message news:<k1so60hon96rhns985ouglomt1g34ipmp2@4ax.com>...

That looks neat, the one thing I do like is that it automatically
shows all valid points that can be connected to that are on the same
net. This is something I'm going to have to keep in mind.

As far as the numerical precision issue...let me guess, decimal value
type? 96-bit fixed float?

But at least as far as the online thing is concerned, I did not try
your offline version so I don't know how much different that is, the
user interface itself still needs a lot of work. It's way too easy to
make a mistake, click in the wrong spot and go "oh crap".

Switching layers for instance should be doable with just a keypress
rather than going through menus. Also while inside the context menu,
the current state of the trace should be frozen. I was cursing trying
to switch layers, and then my trace jumped when I went outside the
menu with the mouse accidentally.

There should also be more control when placing the traces, the
automatic deformation is great but it should be possible to easy place
waypoints with a single click. ie I start my trace, click
somewhere..then it continues placing the trace from the point I
clicked.

Deleting a trace should be as simple as selecting it and pressing the
delete key, not having to go to the menu to do that.

Those are just some things that come to my mind...

Stephan



On 1 Apr 2004 07:56:51 -0800, ccousins.home@virgin.net (Chris Cousins)
wrote:

If anyone on here would like to evaluate a free piece of software a
few colleagues and myself have developed could you please reply to
this posting.

We have developed an any-angle PCB router. It is in its early stages
but, as far as we know, is unique in that it is numerically stable.
This means that you can push and shove (with springback) routes,
bus-routing etc. Also, traces can jump over fixed obstacles.

You can make "components" by combining shapes you have created. We
have a working model of connectivity that makes sure pins can be
connected to each other. There is also an autorouter although this is
in its infancy.

If you are interested then you can try the software out (it is in
Java) from the site : www.freerouting.net (you will need to download
the java plugin if you want to run it online or download the jre 1.4.2
if you want to run the whole software).

Thanks for your time.
Chris Cousins - freerouter