Homebrew PCBs

Hello Group 
   
  I would like to know what pc board program people are using out there. I was looking at using Target3001! 
   
  Has any one used this software?
   
  thanks

 	
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gerald horn <k6txd@...> writes:
>   I would like to know what pc board program people are using out
>   there. I was looking at using Target3001!

gEDA/PCB

EAGLE Light and DipTrace free.
Ted
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, gerald horn <k6txd@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Group 
>    
>   I would like to know what pc board program people are using out
there. I was looking at using Target3001! 

>    
>   Has any one used this software?
>    
>   thanks
> 
>  	
> ---------------------------------
> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:56:57 +0100, gerald horn <k6txd@...> wrote:

> Hello Group
>  I would like to know what pc board program people are using out there.  
> I was looking at using Target3001!
>  Has any one used this software?
>  thanks


Just in case you just joined and missed it, there is an almost half price  
offer for Target "smart" in the advent calender offerings, only valid this  
weekend.

I use target, and i can say it is not the greatest software there is.  
Orcad for example is MUCH better. But Orcad costs a fortune, and Target is  
very decent value for money. Once you get really familiar with target you  
can work very efficiently, and it does everything i need. The good thing  
is you can talk to the target people and they will add features if they  
are useful, for example they recently added different colored ratsnest  
wires after i convinced them of their usefulness. They will also fix  
faults and help you with tricky stuff when you are stuck, the support is  
quite decent.

What i find good about it is that i can use it for general cad drawing. I  
have little need for that and could not warrant buying another cad  
software or even learning to use a free one, so it's great for all sorts  
of stuff. I better not tell them i made underfloor heating plans with it  
or they might demand extra license fees ;-)

With the last version they added a feature that allows you to insert  
bitmaps into your schematic or board files. This is really great because i  
can now load schematics or datasheet cutouts right onto the work space for  
reference. No more task switching all the time.
I still struggle with their simulation, although it has gotten much better  
now the problem seems to be me and not the software any more.

ST

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, gerald horn <k6txd@...> wrote:
>   I would like to know what pc board program people 
> are using out there. 
KiCAD - free (gpl)... linux & win32

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "gerald horn" <k6txd@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 8:56 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] pbc design program


> Hello Group
>
>  I would like to know what pc board program people are using out there. I 
> was looking at using Target3001!
>
>  Has any one used this software?

I once tried Target out of curiosity and didn't like it, the Easy-PC I used 
for years is about the same price and is much better. I use Pulsonix now.

Leon

Diptrace is so damn easy to use for someone who has never used anything
before its beyond belief, forget the schematic bit just jump into pcb
layout, drop parts where you want them, link the pins, press autorout and
its done!

Only issue I have with free version is the total pin limit and that you can
only 'print' to a windows printer but hey if your doing TT thats just what
you want!

Its really stable, but have had about 3 hangs when routing, so save before
routing.

And you can edit / add to the parts librarys to change things to your own
liking.


I did try eagle, but kept getting a feeling of a dos program pretending to
be a windows app, and being a son of gates I just could not use it.........


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 23:16:28 +0100, Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:

> Diptrace is so damn easy to use for someone who has never used anything
> before its beyond belief, forget the schematic bit just jump into pcb
> layout, drop parts where you want them, link the pins, press autorout and
> its done!

That'll only work for small circuts, unless you have a high capacity brain.
Errors are greatly reduced if the software can electrically check the  
layout against a schematic.
I will not comment on autorouting, for i might rant.

> I did try eagle, but kept getting a feeling of a dos program pretending  
> to
> be a windows app, and being a son of gates I just could not use  
> it.........


lol...
I couldn't handle it either. That UI is hard stuff.
I think it actually tried especially hard _not_ to be a windows app, just  
to spite me. I guess once you build up a tolerance you can actually use  
the software quite well, maybe, i'll never know.

ST

Eagle
Linux + Window$

--- gerald horn <k6txd@...> wrote:

> Hello Group 
>    
>   I would like to know what pc board program people are using out there. I
> was looking at using Target3001! 
>    
>   Has any one used this software?
>    
>   thanks



 
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--- gerald horn <k6txd@...> wrote:

> Hello Group 
>    
>   I would like to know what pc board program people
> are using out there. I was looking at using
> Target3001! 
>    
>   Has any one used this software?
>    
>   thanks

Being eternally out of pocket and a hobbyist I've
taken to KiCAD (freeware - Linux and MS). A bit rough
around the edges but getting better. The learning
curve wasn't very frightening either, I had more
trouble getting to grips with Eagle so I tossed it
when KiCAD became useable.

- YD.



 
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Mentor Graphics, Protel, Eagle, Gadance!
How is it going with Target3001?
Any way, if you are just Drawing a PCB for yourself to play, you can even
use Corel Draw! Some people from our unsophisicated country are using Corel
Draw for PDB drawing.
Regards


On 12/3/06, gerald horn <k6txd@...> wrote:
>
>   Hello Group
>
> I would like to know what pc board program people are using out there. I
> was looking at using Target3001!
>
> Has any one used this software?
>
> thanks
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

PCB123 Free

At 05:09 PM 12/2/2006, markcomp_77 wrote:
>--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, gerald horn <k6txd@...> wrote:
> >   I would like to know what pc board program people
> > are using out there.
>KiCAD - free (gpl)... linux & win32
>
>
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
>If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

         Mike Sims
          

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

i use Eagle. I have the smallest license for non profit. The free 
version is madness as the board size is too small for most hobby work ( 
single sided and loose parts layout ).But is is worth every dime. 

i also have Target , but seldomly use it..It is a good program,and if 
you start with it, it may even be better than eagle. As i use eagle 
since looong times i am more acustomed to it and miss this and that 
little thing when working with Target. The free version is better for 
hobby work ( no size limit, only pin limit ) and there are some german 
HAM Radio related CD�s for a few bucks with an even better version ( 
400 pins, library access ). I also think their small version prices are 
very interesting.

Sometimes i use Picture Publisher for scanned layout reworking.

Harry