Q
Quack
Guest
Hi,
(sorry for the cross post, but im not sure how active .cad is,i know i
dont read it
).
Currently i am using the simplest approach to producing PCB's, as i
only do small quantities of prototype stuff.
What i do now is use standard graphic programs (paint shop pro) to
draw the layouts, top and bottom (only double sided), which i then
print out on a laser printer onto transfer paper.
I dont mind continuing this way, as the circuits i make are simple
enough and i have 100% control over how things turn out, which i cant
manage todo on any CAD demo packages i have downloaded.
BUT the problem is i need to start sending some designs to fabrication
places and they want 'gerber' files and things like that, which i cant
produce in my current method.
So i need a simple program that will allow me to draw my PCB's without
too much hassle (prefferably something that works like a graphic
package), but it must produce industry standard file types which i can
distribute to other companies.
Any suggestions for a first-timer PCB CAD user to try out ?
I have downloaded a few demo programs, but the one i will mention here
is EAGLE 4.11 : i cant seem to make it do what i want!
I make a simple schematic (which i dont really need to do) and then
convert it into a PCB, and its so buggy and strange to me, i cant seem
to produce anything in it that i can print as i want.
Even after creating a pcb layout that accomplishes what i want, i cant
seem to print it out the way i need it (black on white, no labels or
component shapes, just the raw tracks which will be directly
transfered to pcb).
Will i find the same or similar workings in all pcb cad packages, or
is there something easier out there that works more like a vector
drawing program ?
(like smartdraw, coreldraw etc - but something which can compile
gerber or other standard files)
Thanks!,
Alex.
(sorry for the cross post, but im not sure how active .cad is,i know i
dont read it
Currently i am using the simplest approach to producing PCB's, as i
only do small quantities of prototype stuff.
What i do now is use standard graphic programs (paint shop pro) to
draw the layouts, top and bottom (only double sided), which i then
print out on a laser printer onto transfer paper.
I dont mind continuing this way, as the circuits i make are simple
enough and i have 100% control over how things turn out, which i cant
manage todo on any CAD demo packages i have downloaded.
BUT the problem is i need to start sending some designs to fabrication
places and they want 'gerber' files and things like that, which i cant
produce in my current method.
So i need a simple program that will allow me to draw my PCB's without
too much hassle (prefferably something that works like a graphic
package), but it must produce industry standard file types which i can
distribute to other companies.
Any suggestions for a first-timer PCB CAD user to try out ?
I have downloaded a few demo programs, but the one i will mention here
is EAGLE 4.11 : i cant seem to make it do what i want!
I make a simple schematic (which i dont really need to do) and then
convert it into a PCB, and its so buggy and strange to me, i cant seem
to produce anything in it that i can print as i want.
Even after creating a pcb layout that accomplishes what i want, i cant
seem to print it out the way i need it (black on white, no labels or
component shapes, just the raw tracks which will be directly
transfered to pcb).
Will i find the same or similar workings in all pcb cad packages, or
is there something easier out there that works more like a vector
drawing program ?
(like smartdraw, coreldraw etc - but something which can compile
gerber or other standard files)
Thanks!,
Alex.