Charles
I second that
Malcolm
I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!
--- On Fri, 12/31/10, Charles Patton <charles.r.patton@...> wrote:
From: Charles Patton <charles.r.patton@...>
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Software for PCB and misc notes on process, too
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, December 31, 2010, 11:52 PM
The board layout pgm I personally like and use the most is
FreePCB ( www.freepcb.com ) for Windows to do layout and generate
Gerber files It's free and open source. Among its good aspects is:
1 to 16 copper layers
Board size up to 60 inches by 60 inches
Imports and exports PADS-PCB netlists
easy to use footprint editor, modify from libray parts, etc.
I also like that I can go into the board file that is saved in ASCII
and edit changes with a simple editor. This is especially useful to me
when I'm working with someone who supplies me with an NC file for a
complex board outline. Some word processor editing and I can paste a
thousand plus points into the outline file. This allows very complex
board outlines.
Then
GCPrevue (http://www.graphicode.com/GC-Prevue_Gerber_Viewer) to view
those Gerber files and print them out 1:1 with my laser printer using
magazine glossy pages. Thanks to this discussion list for that great
suggestion. It works better than any photo paper I ever tried. Scrub
the PCB with Comet, rinse, air dry, and don't touch with the fingers,
iron on the image with a modified cheap GBC laminator that I took out
the thermoswitch controlling the platen temperature and substituted the
higher temp version from Mouser, part # 802-STO-325, Mfr. #:
3L11-325,a Stancor 315-335F OPENS N/C with a temperature control range
of + 157 C to + 169 C.
FreePCB is not as powerful as Kicad (and I have done some simple boards
in Kicad) particularly since it does not have a schematic package, but
it is simpler, so that for the infrequent times I use it, I can remember
and re-learn how to use it quickly. I use a very old ORCAD pkg for
schematics that outputs PADS, but there is also a method at:
http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1114
that requires a bit of list editing that can take LTspice. LTspice is a
fantastic combined free schematic pgm/SPICE simulator available from:
(http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/ltspice.jsp)
So do your schematic and simulations in LTspice, then export the netlist
and make it compatible to FreePCB.
In putting together this email I stumbled across
http://printedboardcircuit.blogspot.com/
with a list of free PCB tools, a couple of new names I haven't run
across before. Need to look at them, I guess.
So just some other ways to accomplish a homebrew board.
Regards,
Charles R. Patton
Leon Heller wrote:
>
>
> On 31/12/2010 15:32, John wrote:
> > What is the best software to design pcb.
> > It is not for comercial use. I'm currently using Eagle but would
> like to be make boards lager than 80x100mm.
> >
>
> Have a look at Design Spark from RS Components.
>
> Leon
> --
> Leon Heller
> G1HSM
>
>
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