looking for PCB CAD package

[Quack]

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.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

alex+google@vuetec.com (Quack) wrote:

<snip>

Any suggestions for a first-timer PCB CAD user to try out ?

See my notes and links to some 60 ECAD programs at
http://www.terrypin.dial.pipex.com/ECADList.html

Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK

 

[AtPCLogic]

Any suggestions for a first-timer PCB CAD user to try out ?

Try Circuit Layout. Its very easy to use, geared to people like you, and
produces the files you need.

Brad
PC Logic

Schematic entry and PCB design software
http://www.pclogic.biz
http://members.aol.com/atpclogic/index.html

 

[Leon Heller]

Quack wrote:

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)

EasyPC is excellent, and quite inexpensive:

http://www.numberone.com

I used it for years.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
Email: aqzf13@dsl.pipex.com
My low-cost Philips LPC210x ARM development system:
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller/lpc2104.html

 

[JeffM]

...fabrication places...want 'gerber' files
Alex(Quack)

There are fab houses which accept EAGLE files.

I have downloaded...EAGLE 4.11
i cant seem to make it do what i want!
...its so buggy and strange to me

It has a feel all its own, but patience pays off.
It is very powerful and very affordable.
(The demo version alone does what many folks need;
2 layers only kills it for others.)

i cant seem to print it out the way i need it

Not EAGLE's fault. Did you ride a bicycle the 1st try?
The help files are chocked full of what you need.

This guy can show you a lot:
http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22Kevin+Bolding%22+eagle+tutorial&btnG=Google+Search

The guys at
news://news.cadsoft.de/eagle.support.eng
and
news://news.cadsoft.de/eagle.userchat.eng
are very helpful.
(Caution: Tilmann doesn't suffer fools lightly;
As with any NG, do your homework before posting.)

If EAGLE makes you crazy, Terry's page has lots of others.

...a vector drawing program
(like smartdraw, coreldraw etc... which can compile gerber

No.

 

[Roy Battell]

In article <16197399.0401120808.3122543a@posting.google.com>, Quack
<alex+google@vuetec.com> writes

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 ?

Although the VUTRAX PCB CAD (Printed Circuit Board Design) system
is a fully integrated suite, you can use it as a 'taping table'
with or without auto-routing capabilities. To produce the various
separate outputs you require observe the layer conventions.

Go through the 'Basic Drawing' Tutorial and practice system,
but then jump to 'Taping Table' where it suggests this.
If you follow the described scheme you can lay out your own
rats-nest OR ROUTING, alter the placements, and autoroute it
using the rip-up and retry router.

Outputs include Desktop, Photoplot (Including Gerber 274X)
and CNC drilling and routing.
The download includes an indefinite Free (256 pin limit) and
Shareware downloads for PC based LINUX and Windows 95, 98, NT
3.51 & 4.0, 2000, ME & XP, and is at either of:-

http://www.vutrax.co.uk (Main UK site)
http://www.protonique.com/vutrax (Central Europe Mirror)
--
Roy Battell.
To use this address remove the digits included to remove Spam ...
Mail: news@vutrax666.co.uk

 

[SIOL]

Quack wrote:

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.


Any suggestions for a first-timer PCB CAD user to try out ?

If Linux is not making you sick, then maybe you should try PCB.

Program is quite spartan and in normal circumstances less than trivial to
install, but since recently there is ebuild script for installation on
Gentoo Linux, so it becomes more or less matter of typing "emerge pcb" )


Program is simple, but after reading documentation I was amazed about
effectiveness of some solutions that it uses. It's also fast as a
lightning. Program startup takes about a tenth of a second and practically
all operations are immediate.

As this is PCB only, one also needs separate schematic program. gEDA can be
used for this, but I have the feeling you wouldn't find much of a use for
schematics, given that you are drawing PCB in bitmap manipulation program
(Photoshop).

AFAIK, PCB has Gerber, (E)PS etc. output and it also generates NC drill
file, so it should be able to what you are after.

Regards,


Branko