Homebrew PCBs

Hi Ted,

I had similar concerns about libraries when I first
look at DipTrace or other pcb programs. I ask "How
easy is it to create or modify parts?" and "How easy
is it to tweak the parts in the libraries?"

My end use is for BEAM robots and toner transfer pcbs.
The schematics that BEAMers use are generally based on
component shapes and gates, rather than the standard
symbols. Also there are a few non standard parts, that
are never in libraries. So I know that I'll be making
quite a few new components. At the same, time, for
toner transfer, I like to enlarge the pads a little.

As I mentioned before, I was a long time EAGLE user
and muddled my way through the learning curve and was
finally able to make the components and libraries, I
needed. I got to the point where I could make EAGLE do
what I needed.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover how easy
creatinfg dipTrace component libraries was. I'm sure
you will too. If you'd like I could post the component
and pattern (pad) libraries that I created.

The hardest part of learning DipTrace was to discard
the wierd EAGLE interface that I had painfully learned
over the years and move over to a more logical windows
type gui. Fortunately, after becoming familiar with
the new terminolgy, it all falls into place quickly.
There is a great style difference between the
programs, as is true with most electronic cad
software.

I see by your comments, that you were expecting the 3"
x 4" board size limitation. The board outline can be
automatically generated bu the auto router, or you can
manually outline the board. The outline need not be
rectangular, but may have any shape.

TANSTAAFL!

Myc

Note: I am not associated with DipTrace, just a very
satisfied end user.


--- kilocycles <kilocycles@...> wrote:

> DipTrace looks to be pretty good for my purposes.  I
> was surprised and
> initially disappointed when I threw a few components
> down, wired them,
> switched to board ala Eagle, and printed out only a
> 2 11/16 x 3
> 3/16-inch board.  Aha, board size limits of the free
> version, I
> thought, since Eagle has the ~3 x 4-inch board size
> limit for their
> free version.  Not good...but then I read in the
> Help function that
> board size can be specified at route time.  Then I
> had another thought...
> 
> I made a new schematic, placed two components far
> apart on the screen,
> switched to board, auto-routed, and voila! they came
> out on a 4 x
> 6-inch- plus sized board.  The board size is tied to
> the extents of
> the schematic, which seems a bit odd, but useful.
> There are a lot of components in the libraries.  I
> use mostly discrete
> and analog semis, occassionally some digital, PICs,
> etc.  The
> component base in the generic transistor library is
> odd.  For example,
> the MPF102 JFET was not there, and it is very
> generic.  However, the
> desirable VHF  JFET 2N4416 was there.  Also, no
> Schottky diodes were
> found in the Diodes library.  Nor were the very
> generic 1N914 and
> 1N4148 switching diodes.  The genric Diodes library
> consists entirely
> of Zeners, unless I missed something.  I did find
> all of these
> components, some in several libraries, of the
> manufacturers:
> Fairchild, Philips, Motorola, ST-Micro and Zetex.
> 
> The patterns (like Eagle packages) listed for the
> devices is very odd.
>  TO-18 and TO-92 were specified for several
> transistors correctly, but
> I could find no instances of a TO-220 device
> package.  I checked the
> International Rectifier library, and for the TO-220
> IRF3315 device,
> the pattern description is SFM-3/W10.7, which looks
> to be a
> dimensional descriptor for DipTrace; it's not a
> JEDEC designation. 
> Also, the National Semiconductor version of the
> common-as-dirt 2N2904
> shows a different pattern than the generic TO-92
> 2N3904...BCY-3/D4.7.
>  In this pattern, the leads are in-line, rather than
> triangulated. 
> I've actually been converting some of my Eagle
> devices to use the
> in-line package style, so that's OK.
> 
> The Microchip library lists only 16Cxxx devices.  It
> is very
> out-of-date.  The Analog Devices library does not
> list the AD8307 log
> amp, nor the AD9854 DDS chip, although it does list
> a version of the
> AD9850 predecessor to the 9854.  The Agilent library
> contains only SMD
> LEDs.
> 
> As a general statement, DipTrace has more
> transistors in libraries
> than Eagle.  The International Rectifier library has
> hundreds of
> listings, while the IR libraries in Eagle have about
> a dozen devices
> total, although some IR FETs are listed in the FET
> lbr in Eagle. 
> Also, other semiconductor companies with transistors
> are
> well-represented: Fairchild, Zetex,
> On-Semiconductor, Motorola, and
> Philips.  NEC and Toshiba did not have transistors;
> the Japanese
> transistor lines (2Sxxxx, etc.) weren't there.  In
> practice, however,
> I simply change the name (Value, actually) of a
> similar
> pin-out/package device in Eagle, and it works for
> me.
> 
> I could find nothing on the DipTrace site, nor in
> the license
> agreement that said the free version could not be
> used for commercial
> purposes, unlike Eagle's agreement for the Eagle
> Light edition, where
>  registration and USD $49 is required for commercial
> use of the
> limited board size Light version. 
> 
> The decision on whether to move on with DipTrace for
> me boils down to
> how easy it will be to create custom libraries and
> copy the parts from
> other libraries into them.  I'll join the DiPTrace
> group for further info.
> 
> Ted
> 
> 
> 
> 


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