Homebrew PCBs

Hi Alan K,

I agree, it could be better!  Looking at $400 or even $600 (I LIKE the
auto-router) is rather daunting.  If I were going to do many boards, it
might be bearable.  I spent that on a CAD/CAM package (Vector).  I am not
anxious to do that again anytime soon.  Hopefully I can just use the 3" x 4"
board format for a few projects.  

I'm working my way through the library, I can copy and modify a part now
(actually copy a symbol and package), so I have the basics for what I
currently need.  

I don't know how formidable the layout work is, I have a simple design that
I'm currently working on.  Then it's on to the CAM module work to generate
the actual board files.  We'll see.

There is a yahoo group pcb-gcode that may be of interest.  I haven't ran the
program that is being developed there yet:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pcb-gcode/?yguid=35947529

But it appears to have good rapport with Eagle.  Could be interesting.

Alan  KM6VV
SherlineCNC 


> -----Original Message-----
> On Behalf Of Alan King
> >
>   Well it works, but it could work better even for them.  They appear to
> be very Euro-centric, and targeting commercial outfits etc since that's
> who buys in Europe.  I don't think they really have a proper concept of
> just how many individuals would afford it themselves in the US etc if
> the pricing and capabilities were properly matched to individual needs.
> As it is it's $400 for a double beginner size board setup, for schematic
> and layout.  If that was more like $200, they would sell way more than
> 2x as many, even though it would still be priced at 2x of a lot of the
> competition..  $400 simply puts it out of the purchase realm of many
> people who'd manage to afford $150 or $200, and there are way more
> people in that category here than in Europe, I don't think they really
> understand that idea very well..
> 
>   What it really needs is simply a map.  A chart or graphic map of which
> copy or move etc function to use under which circumstances would greatly
> advance ease of use for most people.  Similarly a chart for what to do
> for the various library operations would make way more sense than all
> the different descriptions.  Though of it a week ago when the library
> discussions came up, simply don't have time to do it myself right now..
> 
> Alan
>