Homebrew PCBs

Charles

I second that

Malcolm

I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!

--- On Fri, 12/31/10, Charles Patton <charles.r.patton@...> wrote:

From: Charles Patton <charles.r.patton@...>
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Software for PCB and misc notes on process, too
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, December 31, 2010, 11:52 PM







 



  


    
      
      
      

The board layout pgm I personally like and use the most  is

FreePCB (   www.freepcb.com    )  for Windows to do layout and generate 

Gerber files  It's free and open source. Among its good aspects is:

   1 to 16 copper layers

   Board size up to 60 inches by 60 inches

   Imports and exports PADS-PCB netlists

   easy to use footprint editor, modify from libray parts, etc.

   I also like that I can go into the board file that is saved in ASCII 

and edit changes with a simple editor.  This is especially useful to me 

when I'm working with someone who supplies me with an NC file for a 

complex board outline.  Some word processor editing and I can paste a 

thousand plus points into the outline file.  This allows very complex 

board outlines.



Then

GCPrevue  (http://www.graphicode.com/GC-Prevue_Gerber_Viewer)  to view 

those Gerber files and print them out 1:1 with my laser printer using 

magazine glossy pages.  Thanks to this discussion list for that great 

suggestion.  It works better than any photo paper I ever tried.    Scrub 

the PCB with Comet, rinse, air dry, and don't touch with the fingers, 

iron on the image with a modified cheap GBC laminator that  I took out 

the thermoswitch controlling the platen temperature and substituted the 

higher temp version from Mouser, part #   802-STO-325, Mfr. #:     

3L11-325,a Stancor 315-335F OPENS N/C with a temperature control range 

of + 157 C to + 169 C.



FreePCB is not as powerful as Kicad (and I have done some simple boards 

in Kicad) particularly since it does not have a schematic package, but 

it is simpler, so that for the infrequent times I use it, I can remember 

and re-learn how to use it quickly.  I use a very old ORCAD pkg for 

schematics that outputs PADS, but there is also a method at:

http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1114

that requires a bit of list editing that can take LTspice.  LTspice is a 

fantastic combined free schematic pgm/SPICE simulator available from:  

(http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/ltspice.jsp)

So do your schematic and simulations in LTspice, then export the netlist 

and make it compatible to FreePCB.



In putting together this email I stumbled across

http://printedboardcircuit.blogspot.com/

with a list of free PCB tools, a couple of new names I haven't run 

across before.  Need to look at them, I guess.



So just some other ways to accomplish a homebrew board.



Regards,

Charles R. Patton



Leon Heller wrote:

>  

>

> On 31/12/2010 15:32, John wrote:

> > What is the best software to design pcb.

> > It is not for comercial use. I'm currently using Eagle but would 

> like to be make boards lager than 80x100mm.

> >

>

> Have a look at Design Spark from RS Components.

>

> Leon

> -- 

> Leon Heller

> G1HSM

>

> 





    
     

    
    


 



  






      

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