Good, relatively low cost PCB layout SW?

I really appreciate the mention of copying groups; i have one very busy board with 40 items that interconnect to each other exactly the same way. So i layout four, and "step and repeat" to get 8, then dup the set for 16 etc until have 32 then dup a group of 8 for that total of 40. So i know exactly what you mean. The bad thing was that Ivex winBoard would not allow any SM on the back side - otherwise i could theoretically have dupped the 40 and flipped for the back side. Being an electronic tech for over 40 years, i agree that documentation should be complete - even if the schematic looks "messy". One never knows when troubleshooting is needed, and pin functions have always been vital since the days of 4-pin, 5-pin, etc tubes and with plate and grid caps. The added info (eg: Tektronix) of voltages and waveforms at notable or useful test points adds to the useability of a schematic for the test tech.

Am open to all; will look into it and compare with the others. Thanks.

Leon ...

Do you have a legit copy of an obsolete Windows version of Easy-PC you'd be willing to sell? I used Easy-PC DOS about fifteen years ago and it was a bitch kitty when trying to make new parts. It was also DOS-Version specific so when Microlimp came out with a new version of MSDOS, Easy-PC choked on it. I couldn't mess around with what was then hobby-level software with buggy parts.

I've heard you all rave over the newer versions, but I'm not all that thrilled with the demo I downloaded a couple of years ago. Perhaps the cripple code made it less than I expected.

I've also got about ten years of CircuitMaker/TraxMaker PCB files that I will have to port over to whatever new program I decide upon. CM can export in Protel, Tango, Orcad, and a few more, and TM can export in Gerber or ProtelText format. Do you happen to know if EZPC can accept any of these formats?

Thanks,

Jim

In New Zealand they're no longer allowed to cut down new rimu, so there's now a thriving market in recycling old rimu furniture into new pieces. Having to leave in some of the holes, cuts, etc. that are already there from the original piece sometimes makes the new piece quite artistic...

Rimu happens to be a beautiful hardwood tree very popular among furniture manufacturers. It also looks far better in a forest.

Simon

It REALLY is easy now.

They are making a big mistake in not letting you create a very limited design as Eagle does. Though I think Eagle might have to limit a little more in the future. 80x100 is now one of my larger PCBs!

Paul Burke

I don't know how good Eagle's copper pour is (EasyPC's is excellent), but I've had very good EMC results using a poured groundplane with plenty of vias stitching the two sides together. Though most PCBs tend to be 4 layer these days.

Paul Burke

I don't pay by the minute for dialup internet (or for local calls), and neither want nor expect any phone calls while I sleep. I say let the computer work while I sleep.

why am I nuts?

Bye. Jasen

Hi everyone,

My name is Todd Clifton, I am the product manager for PCB123.

I admit I am biased, but PCB123 is an excellent tool, PCB123 has had over 200,000+ downloads and thousands of downloads of our manuals with no issues. We are even willing to mail, at our cost printed user manuals to all that ask.

We know that our schematic tool is weak and it is slated to be replaced in 2006. I challenge anyone to try out our technical support, call us free of charge, you will not be disappointed. The number is

Please keep the feedback and constructive criticism coming our way.

Todd

Jasen Betts wrote:

gEDA/PCB produces industry standard gerbers (RS-274X) but I've seen at least one fab that charged extra if you didn't send them a cad-package-specific all-in-one file. I.e. a gerber surcharge.

Except, you idiot, you have written software that can only be used to make boards at your facility.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Go AWAY. How's THAT for constructive criticism?

Jim

Except its serious disadvantage is it can only be used to make PCBs in your factory.

Ian

I know, I was offering a contrast. Plus pointing out that it's not just the software vendors that penalize standards.

Not sure about your point but I was not referring to gEDA.

Ian

PCB-Pool (my favourite PCB supplier) charges extra for Gerbers, but they accept GC-Prevue GWK files, so one doesn't have to use one of their supported packages.

Leon

Be nice. Top-posters should generally refrain from imprecations and calumny.

Standard Gerber files are indeed, well, standard. However, for the onesie-twosie user, a proprietary format isn't that big a deal -- especially if the overall project cost is acceptable. It's not like their target customer is intending to go out for multiple bids on 100K lots, is it?

I'm personally happy with the gEDA toolchain but I can see where the PCB123 guys could have a useful market niche.

Yeah, that's the one I was thinking about. I was also thinking about adding GWK support to PCB but with such an easy workaround... except for the windows dependency.

Got you.

Ian