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What software is in use?

What software is in use?

2004-03-25 by emailw8nf

I've been a lurker on here for a while.  I haven't seen much
discussion of the layout software we experimenters like to use.

The last time I did any "volume" of homebrew PCBs, I just used
something like Microsoft Paint!

But now, it seems there are many freeware or demoware software
packages available for this work.  I'm curious what people tend to
use, and what the particular benefits are of the package chosen?

I've been using QCAD - has its ups and downs.  Good news it can output
a Gerber file, which can then be manipulated in any Gerber viewer, and
printed/zoomed, etc.  Also it ties together the schematic and the PC
board, so once you're done with the schematic, you go to layout, move
the parts around, and place traces to satisfy the rat's nest.  But a
lot of this is clumsy, and doing re-work is very tedious.  It's also
very time-consuming to create anything other than 90 degree straight
lines with any accuracy.  For those of us who are trying to roll out
PC boards for things like 300 watt UHF amplifiers, that limitation can
be a killer.

What do others use?

Kindly,

Dave

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] What software is in use?

2004-03-25 by Darcy H Currey

Hi Dave,
    I use Sprint Layout V4.

Darcy
Australia
Show quoted textHide quoted text
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: emailw8nf 
  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 4:25 PM
  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] What software is in use?


  I've been a lurker on here for a while.  I haven't seen much
  discussion of the layout software we experimenters like to use.

  The last time I did any "volume" of homebrew PCBs, I just used
  something like Microsoft Paint!

  But now, it seems there are many freeware or demoware software
  packages available for this work.  I'm curious what people tend to
  use, and what the particular benefits are of the package chosen?

  I've been using QCAD - has its ups and downs.  Good news it can output
  a Gerber file, which can then be manipulated in any Gerber viewer, and
  printed/zoomed, etc.  Also it ties together the schematic and the PC
  board, so once you're done with the schematic, you go to layout, move
  the parts around, and place traces to satisfy the rat's nest.  But a
  lot of this is clumsy, and doing re-work is very tedious.  It's also
  very time-consuming to create anything other than 90 degree straight
  lines with any accuracy.  For those of us who are trying to roll out
  PC boards for things like 300 watt UHF amplifiers, that limitation can
  be a killer.

  What do others use?

  Kindly,

  Dave



  Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs 



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Re: What software is in use?

2004-03-25 by ballendo

Hello,

Circad, primarily. By Holophase. GREAT program! Can do it all, from 
Schematic, to pcb layout, to milling. Even allows you to reverse 
engineer from bitmaps/scans of existing boards.

 Also Eagle, and contour2(French) included trace isolation. VHF is 
another I useta use. Good program; German origin, isolation milling 
possible.

Hope this helps,

Ballendo

P.S. Circad used to be offered to Hams at a greatly reduced price. 
May still be in effect.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "emailw8nf" <emailw8nf@y...> 
wrote:
> I've been a lurker on here for a while.  I haven't seen much
> discussion of the layout software we experimenters like to use.
> 
> The last time I did any "volume" of homebrew PCBs, I just used
> something like Microsoft Paint!
> 
> But now, it seems there are many freeware or demoware software
> packages available for this work.  I'm curious what people tend to
> use, and what the particular benefits are of the package chosen?
> 
> I've been using QCAD - has its ups and downs.  Good news it can 
output
> a Gerber file, which can then be manipulated in any Gerber viewer, 
and
> printed/zoomed, etc.  Also it ties together the schematic and the PC
> board, so once you're done with the schematic, you go to layout, 
move
> the parts around, and place traces to satisfy the rat's nest.  But a
> lot of this is clumsy, and doing re-work is very tedious.  It's also
> very time-consuming to create anything other than 90 degree straight
> lines with any accuracy.  For those of us who are trying to roll out
> PC boards for things like 300 watt UHF amplifiers, that limitation 
can
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> be a killer.
> 
> What do others use?
> 
> Kindly,
> 
> Dave

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] What software is in use?

2004-03-25 by John Johnson

Eagle works great for me. You can start off with basic schematic/board 
editing.
As your skills and needs grow, you can get into more advanced things 
like
editing the parts libraries, writing scripts and ULPs, etc.

It's an excellent tool, and I feel privileged that they make a
free version available.

Regards,
   JJ
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Thursday, Mar 25, 2004, at 00:25 US/Eastern, emailw8nf wrote:

> I've been a lurker on here for a while.  I haven't seen much
> discussion of the layout software we experimenters like to use.
>
> The last time I did any "volume" of homebrew PCBs, I just used
> something like Microsoft Paint!
>
> But now, it seems there are many freeware or demoware software
> packages available for this work.  I'm curious what people tend to
> use, and what the particular benefits are of the package chosen?
>
> I've been using QCAD - has its ups and downs.  Good news it can output
> a Gerber file, which can then be manipulated in any Gerber viewer, and
> printed/zoomed, etc.  Also it ties together the schematic and the PC
> board, so once you're done with the schematic, you go to layout, move
> the parts around, and place traces to satisfy the rat's nest.  But a
> lot of this is clumsy, and doing re-work is very tedious.  It's also
> very time-consuming to create anything other than 90 degree straight
> lines with any accuracy.  For those of us who are trying to roll out
> PC boards for things like 300 watt UHF amplifiers, that limitation can
> be a killer.
>
> What do others use?
>
> Kindly,
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

Re: What software is in use?

2004-03-25 by Steve

This is going to sound sad, but... CorelDraw. I have Eagle free
version installed but I just haven't had time to figure it out. I've
never used schematic/PCB software before.

The boards I'm doing right now are pretty simple.

In the past I've made negative and positive films by hand using a
variety of drafting pens, paint, drafting tape, those rub-on PCB
shapes, etc. with spray-on negative photoresist and presensitized
positive boards.

Steve

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] What software is in use?

2004-03-25 by Leon Heller

----- Original Message -----
Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: "emailw8nf" <emailw8nf@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 5:25 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] What software is in use?


> I've been a lurker on here for a while.  I haven't seen much
> discussion of the layout software we experimenters like to use.
> 
> The last time I did any "volume" of homebrew PCBs, I just used
> something like Microsoft Paint!
> 
> But now, it seems there are many freeware or demoware software
> packages available for this work.  I'm curious what people tend to
> use, and what the particular benefits are of the package chosen?
> 
> I've been using QCAD - has its ups and downs.  Good news it can output
> a Gerber file, which can then be manipulated in any Gerber viewer, and
> printed/zoomed, etc.  Also it ties together the schematic and the PC
> board, so once you're done with the schematic, you go to layout, move
> the parts around, and place traces to satisfy the rat's nest.  But a
> lot of this is clumsy, and doing re-work is very tedious.  It's also
> very time-consuming to create anything other than 90 degree straight
> lines with any accuracy.  For those of us who are trying to roll out
> PC boards for things like 300 watt UHF amplifiers, that limitation can
> be a killer.
> 
> What do others use?

I use Pulsonix:

http://www.pulsonix.com

It's easily the best of the mid-range packages.

Leon

Re: What software is in use?

2004-03-25 by Phil

I've been watching this thread with somewhat bitten tongue.  heh heh.

I use eagle for a number of reasons but primarily, you get a very 
full featured product in the demo version (limited to size of 
board).  I tried a number of other packages but the demo versions had 
confusing restrictions and the price for the paid version was pretty 
steep (for an amateur).  They have a very active and helpful (with 
attitude, though) user group and there are tons of libraries 
available.  

I have to say that eagle is not with out its problems, especially the 
user interface which has it moments of user hostility.  (clipboard 
interface is just plain a PITA) and the library editor could be 
better.  So I have a love-hate relationship but I'm not moving to 
some other package.

A big factor for me was that I could get a "non-comercial" license 
for the full product for 150.  Now that's a bargain.  And should I 
need to design commercial products, the full license is less than a 
grand.

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