Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, David McNab <rebirth@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> 
> I've been using Eagle for my PCBs, mainly on the strengths of its
> above-average user interface, the good component libraries (made better
> by user contributions), but especially its autorouter.
> 
> The autorouter is a pain, but gets the job done. Even if sometimes I
> need to tweak some of the parameters, and manually move traces around a
> bit after the job's done.


I like the auto-router in WinQCAD.  I usually place chips,
auto-router, move things, re-router, move other things, and so on
until I get the board about where everything will fit.

then I go in an lay out the power lines, and any guard rings or any
other odd feature needed.

I place any important traces and at some point, I run the auto-router
to let it fill in the other stuff.

Then I go back and tweek it as needed.  usualy there is a lot needed.

But for the help of the autorouter in the early layout, it would be
much harder to find some very useful layouts.

Dave