[OT] Reflowing PCBs in toaster ovens

PCB

I use and recommend EAGLE from Cadsoft. It's available for Linux, MacOS and Win32. The full unrestricted version is $1200 for all modules. I think it's the best bang-buck out there by a LONG way.

I haven't used the Mac version, but the Linux and Windows versions are near-as-dammit identical in behavior. Not quite standard, there is a learning curve, but very powerful tools.

Just curious, but do you know if Cadsoft will discount the Linux versions if a user has a paid-for version under Windows or do they consider it as two separate licenses and charge full $$ for each?

Generally - and obviously this is not a Cadsoft policy statement - they charge the price differential. There's an extra fee of something like $100 for a cross-platform license. I think that's all you'll need to pay to get a multi-platform unlock code.

Ask their sales staff. They're pretty flexible, particularly if you already own a license.

I got my cross-platform upgrade free, but I was giving their software away with a book so that's a special case ;)

There is one package that is Windows and Linux. There is a limited version for free download at:-

The only thing you will need to do is pay for improved capability (board size). I am thinking of using this one myself.

Thanks for responding. One of the issues with investing in the package was a bit of a concern of being orphaned by an eventual move to Linux. Good to hear that they're reasonable about the licensing.

Yeah -- got it. Good book!

Do you understand what a solder mask is? Apparently not. The bare bones deal very clearly doesn't include masks, which makes it worthless for the BGA's.

They

prototype

if

bones

I didn't look at the barebones deal that closely, because it never made sense for me economically. No need to get so shirty.