[sdiy] PCB/Schematic software

[David G Dixon]

> If I hadnt run out of layout tape and pads a couple of years 
> back I still would be.. I liked tape. Quick, intuitive and 
> easy. I don't know where to get the materials nowadays though :(

Actually, my Excel method is very similar to laying out with tape (presuming
you've drawn it on grid paper first), only without the tape.  I presume
Rich's MS-Paint method is similar.

One thing I really like about my technique (which I was reminded of the
other day when I etched and drilled a YuSynth Quadrature LFO for somebody
from the layout transfer pattern on the website) is that all my drill holes
line up in a 0.1" square grid.  This makes my boards much easier to drill,
as you don't have to hunt down all the pads -- just follow the straight
lines.  I also make my pads bigger and circular, which also makes drilling
nice.