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Pad2Pad

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Hi All,

You can now get custom PCBs online - with components! At the new
pad2pad.com you can easily design, price, and order custom printed
circuit boards with components - at low cost. Pad2pad.com includes
free PCB layout
software. Please visit www.pad2pad.com for details.

Regards,
James Smith
www.pad2pad.com
 
In a commercial crosspost to these groups:
sci.electronics.design,
sci.electronics.cad,
sci.electronics.basics,
sci.electronics.misc,
comp.robotics.misc,
info@pad2pad.com (Pad2Pad) wrote:

Hi All,

You can now get custom PCBs online - with components! At the new
pad2pad.com you can easily design, price, and order custom printed
circuit boards with components - at low cost. Pad2pad.com includes
free PCB layout
software. Please visit www.pad2pad.com for details.
Click to expand...
Oh how interesting, this looks like a direct competitor to
http://www.expresspcb.com which has offered a similar service (but
without any boardstuffing) for several years now. Perhaps the extra
competition will bring down the cost of both of these services (but I
hope not the quality, expresspcb's boards have always been good for
me).

Regards,
James Smith
www.pad2pad.com
Click to expand...
 
Ben Bradley wrote:
info@pad2pad.com (Pad2Pad) wrote:
You can now get custom PCBs online - with components! At the new
pad2pad.com you can easily design, price, and order custom printed
[snip]

Oh how interesting, this looks like a direct competitor to
http://www.expresspcb.com which has offered a similar service (but
without any boardstuffing) for several years now.
[snip]
Click to expand...

Has anyone given Pad2Pad a try yet? I've installed the software and
checked it out and it seems pretty decent for the kind of simple hobby
work I do. Much more polished than Eagle, which desperately needs some
UI polish.

The prices are pretty reasonable, much better than most of the domestic
board houses, but still not as good as Olimex. But being closer is
enough to get me to give them a try.

Any experiances yet?
DK
 
"David Knaack" <davidknaack@cox.net> wrote in message
news:BDHhc.5050$pg.2542@okepread05...
Has anyone given Pad2Pad a try yet? I've installed the software and
checked it out and it seems pretty decent for the kind of simple hobby
work I do. Much more polished than Eagle, which desperately needs some
UI polish.
Click to expand...
Eagle is certainly lacking in that department. However, Pad2Pad didn't look
like it had any facility for checking against a netlist? This quickly
becomes a limiting factor, even with a dozen or so components. One really
wants to be able to input a schematic and see whether the nets on the PCB
match it.
 
I've used Eagle and Olimex for three boards so far, and other members of our group
(tcrobots.org) have used Eagle for more projects.

I can't see any of us using a system that doesn;t start with schematic entry
and electrical design rules checking.

I haven't really had problems with Eagle's user interface either, so I can't
comment on it.

I did a project using 8 PICs and 2 motor drivers to implement a 4-channel
PID motor control board, and got two PCBs for $28 from Olimex.
http://bobodyne.com/web-docs/robots/Trippy/Board/index.html

Eagle and Olimex worked perfectly.

(Also, I'm a Linux guy, so Windows software is unlikely to cut it for me)


--
- Alan Kilian <alank(at)timelogic.com>
Director of Bioinformatics, TimeLogic Corporation 763-449-7622
 
However, Pad2Pad didn't look like it had any facility for checking against a
netlist? This quickly becomes a limiting factor, even with a dozen or so
components. One really wants to be able to input a schematic and see whether > the nets on the PCB match it.
Click to expand...
Dear David,

Pad2Pad does support checking of your design against netlist (Board |
Design Rule Check), but in current version you have to input netlist
manually (either by using Logical Connections tool or in Nets | Edit
Nets dialog). Import of netlists will be introduced in posterior
versions.

Sincerely,
Pad2Pad customer support.
 
David Knaack <davidknaack@cox.net> wrote ...
Has anyone given Pad2Pad a try yet? I've installed the software and
checked it out and it seems pretty decent for the kind of simple hobby
work I do. Much more polished than Eagle, which desperately needs some
UI polish.
Click to expand...
Looks ok, but like ExpressPCB it looks like it is a program that is
designed to only be used with that companies manafucturing facilities.
In other words, there is no standard Gerber file generation so that
you can take your design to other board houses. You are locked into
using Pad2Pad for your board manufacturing and would have to generate
the artwork a second time on another package if you wanted to go
somewhere else.

At least that is what it looks like to me with the few minutes I spent
looking at it. If I am mistaken, I am sure someone will quickly
correct me.

P.
 
Dear Alan and Walter,

Pad2Pad does support design rule check based on netlist (choose Board
| Design Rule Check). Currently netlists can be created graphically by
using the Logical Connection tool, or specified in Nets | Edit Nets
dialog, or created automatically from traces. In one of the nearest
updates Pad2Pad will also support import of netlists from other PCB
design applications.

Sincerely,
Pad2Pad customer support.
www.pad2pad.com
 
"Pad2Pad" <info@pad2pad.com> wrote in message
news:2f22f235.0404221125.140e1823@posting.google.com...
Dear Alan and Walter,

Pad2Pad does support design rule check based on netlist (choose Board
| Design Rule Check). Currently netlists can be created graphically by
using the Logical Connection tool, or specified in Nets | Edit Nets
dialog, or created automatically from traces. In one of the nearest
updates Pad2Pad will also support import of netlists from other PCB
design applications.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Another thing you could do to entice potential customers would be
to publish at least some sample prices on your web site. I'm disinclined to
go to the trouble of downloading the software, learning it, and creating a
sample board, just in order to find out whether your pricing structure is in
line with my needs.
 
no Linux Version , then no good to me , I refuse to run MSWindows software

get a Linux Version then we can talk , what is the max board can you do
with your software

On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 12:25:28 -0700, Pad2Pad wrote:

Dear Alan and Walter,

Pad2Pad does support design rule check based on netlist (choose Board
| Design Rule Check). Currently netlists can be created graphically by
using the Logical Connection tool, or specified in Nets | Edit Nets
dialog, or created automatically from traces. In one of the nearest
updates Pad2Pad will also support import of netlists from other PCB
design applications.

Sincerely,
Pad2Pad customer support.
www.pad2pad.com
Click to expand...
 
Pad2Pad <info@pad2pad.com> says...

Import of netlists will be introduced in posterior versions.
Click to expand...
You *really* want to start saying "future versions" instead of
"posterior versions" unless you want to get behind in your work.



--
Guy Macon, Electronics Engineer & Project Manager for hire.
Remember Doc Brown from the _Back to the Future_ movies? Do you
have an "impossible" engineering project that only someone like
Doc Brown can solve? My resume is at http://www.guymacon.com/
 
Alan Kilian wrote:
I've used Eagle and Olimex for three boards so far, and other members of our group
(tcrobots.org) have used Eagle for more projects.

I can't see any of us using a system that doesn;t start with
schematic entry
and electrical design rules checking.
Click to expand...
I'm also using Eagle and Olimex for my projects, which are always small.
Small enough that I can get a way with working without any kind of
schematic capture or design rule checking, although I prefer not to have
to do that, it is rather tedious.

I haven't really had problems with Eagle's user interface either, so I can't
comment on it.
Click to expand...
Its not really problems so much as just being a bit weird and opaque.
I'm sure its like most CAD programs where those of you who spend hours
working with it quicly become accustomed to it, but as rarely as I use
it it always feels awkward and old.

As a professional software designer myself, I'm probably just overly
critical of interface design.

I did a project using 8 PICs and 2 motor drivers to implement a 4-channel
PID motor control board, and got two PCBs for $28 from Olimex.
Click to expand...
Olimex rocks, I just wish they weren't so darn far away. The first time
I got a board from them I had to pay UPS a $75 brokerage fee, 3x the
board cost!

DK
 
On 22 Apr 2004 12:25:28 -0700, info@pad2pad.com (Pad2Pad) wrote:

In one of the nearest
updates Pad2Pad will also support import of netlists from other PCB
design applications.
Click to expand...
If it could import ExpressPCB boards then I'd start using it tomorrow. I
dread having to convert my circuit layout across again. I think I will have
to anyway though...

I'm a bit confused with the component list. For example, I have to place an
LM2676S-ADJ voltage regulator on the board, but trying to find a suitable pad
layout for it has turned into a major task in itself.

Dave

The email address used for sending these postings is not valid.
All replies to the group please.
 
Dave Baker wrote:
On 22 Apr 2004 12:25:28 -0700, info@pad2pad.com (Pad2Pad) wrote:

In one of the nearest
updates Pad2Pad will also support import of netlists from other PCB
design applications.

If it could import ExpressPCB boards then I'd start using it tomorrow. I
dread having to convert my circuit layout across again. I think I will have
to anyway though...

I'm a bit confused with the component list. For example, I have to place an
LM2676S-ADJ voltage regulator on the board, but trying to find a suitable pad
layout for it has turned into a major task in itself.

Dave

The email address used for sending these postings is not valid.
All replies to the group please.
Click to expand...
Get the data sheet; most have pad layouts on or near the last page.
 
On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 08:15:34 GMT, Robert Baer <robertbaer@earthlink.net>
wrote:

Dave Baker wrote:

I'm a bit confused with the component list. For example, I have to place an
LM2676S-ADJ voltage regulator on the board, but trying to find a suitable pad
layout for it has turned into a major task in itself.

Get the data sheet; most have pad layouts on or near the last page.
Click to expand...
Oh, I have that already - have the components & already have an ExpressPCB
board made up & about 20 populated boards done & sold already. I'm looking
for the proper pad layout on the list of available "components" in the
Pad2Pad application. It's a strange component with 7 SMT legs at the bottom &
a large pad at the back for the earth on the voltage regulator.

The strange thing is that the Pad2Pad application looks almost exactly the
same as the ExpressPCB application - I had to have a look to make sure it
wasn't the same company when I first started up Pad2Pad. :)

Dave

The email address used for sending these postings is not valid.
All replies to the group please.
 
Pad2Pad wrote:

Dear Alan and Walter,

Pad2Pad does support design rule check based on netlist (choose Board
| Design Rule Check). Currently netlists can be created graphically by
using the Logical Connection tool, or specified in Nets | Edit Nets
dialog, or created automatically from traces. In one of the nearest
updates Pad2Pad will also support import of netlists from other PCB
design applications.
Click to expand...
Will your company accept Eagle files?

I have no intention of learning a vender-specific PCB package
merely to try it out.
--
D. Jay Newman
http://enerd.ws/robots/
 
On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 14:27:53 -0400, "D. Jay Newman" <jay@psu.edu>
wrote:

Pad2Pad wrote:

Dear Alan and Walter,

Pad2Pad does support design rule check based on netlist (choose Board
| Design Rule Check). Currently netlists can be created graphically by
using the Logical Connection tool, or specified in Nets | Edit Nets
dialog, or created automatically from traces. In one of the nearest
updates Pad2Pad will also support import of netlists from other PCB
design applications.

Will your company accept Eagle files?

I have no intention of learning a vender-specific PCB package
merely to try it out.
Click to expand...
Not only that but....what if that vendor ceases to exist one
day....now you're stuck with a PCB package that's essentially useless
if it can't import and most importantly..export non-vendor specific
formats...

Stephan
 
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