Homebrew PCBs

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stefan Trethan [mailto:stefan_trethan@...]
>
>
> I can't stand badly routed boards, and i have yet to see an autorouter
> that can do an acceptable job. 99% of layout is parts placement,
> once i'm
> finished placing parts it is no work at all to route a board, i have no
> need at all for an autorouter then which will at best make a mess of my
> hard-won parts placement. I consider layout an art (of the real
> kind, not
> modern art), and i won't have to say something good about autorouters
> unless i see one do a decent job, which so far i have not.
>

I have to say I agree with Stefan.

I like my boards to look neat. Because the majority of my boards are for
Audio and Video use, layout is VERY important and one board that I took a
long time designing was single sided with only 3 links.

When my PCB package (Proteus) was upgraded to the next level I decided to
see what the Autorouter would make of the board. I left all the components
in place but ripped up all the tracks. The Autorouter FAILED to route the
board even as double sided PTH despite me having boards already made that
were single sided with just 3 short (0.2in) links

I have tried various time to see what the autorouter would do on a board and
have yet to find any of its eforts to be acceptable. It usually does get
100% routing but with tracks going in and out of everywhere. I dread to
think what sort of crosstalk would result on the finished boards :(

AUTO PLACEMENT was even worse, it just seemed to cram as many components as
it could into the smallest possible space despite the board having quite a
lot of space.

Regards

Keith