pcb design package

[Tony Clark]

> I've was wondering which are good capture/autorouter packages? I have =
> been looking at eagle, protel 99SE and ultiboard and
> some problems I have seen is that the output created by ultiboard is not =
> the quality I expected to get. It gives edges on corners=20
> and tracks. Another problem is that the router generates a lot of vias =
> which are not nice to drill.

   The problems you describe can sometimes be solved if the router has 
configurable "design rules".  OrCAD, which I use, has extensive 
configuration allowing you to set the percentage of via use (and yes, 
down to zero!).  IMHO, the only way to get an autorouter to even route 
decently is to let it use vias.
   Also, you might check to see if the router is capable of doing 45 
degree routing, which will solve your corner edge problem.

> Protel 99SE looks very nice but it doesn't generate output with holes in =
> the pads so it makes life very difficult if you
> have to drill the holes in a prototype.

   Most don't generate outputs with holes, at least as far as I can 
tell.  The reason of course is because when you send a board to a PCB 
house, the holes are drilled FIRST, before the board is etched (or 
plated, depending on the process).

> Protel 99SE doesn't have a footprint for standard potmeters (like crappy =
> Piher black pots).

   Welcome to the dirty world of PCB design.  Most PCB packages aren't 
going to have a complete library of every known PCB part in the world.  
In fact, you'll be lucky even if they contain industry standard parts!  I 
remember when I had to evaluate MicroSim for my PCB class and I was 
shocked to find out that they didn't have simple I/O connector footprints 
like .100" double row headers!
   Even with OrCAD I still have to make footprints.  There are various 
reasons why, like different drill sizes, pad size increases, or the part 
just plain doesn't exist in the library.  Quite common.
   Of course, if all you are ever going to use is 8 or 14-pin DIPs and 
1/4 watt resistors, you might get away with any package, but even when 
you get to simple capacitors, they vary so widely that you nearly have to 
build a special library _just for them_!

   Anyway, I don't feel that there's going to be a "perfect" package out 
there, you just have to buy what you can afford with the features that 
you really _need_.

   Tony

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I can't drive (my Moog) 55!         |     The E-Music DIY Archive
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Tony Clark -- clark at andrews.edu     | aupe.phys.andrews.edu/diy_archive
http://aupe.phys.andrews.edu/~clark |     Contributions welcomed!
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