Homebrew PCBs

On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 22:21:23 +0200, Greg Codori <greg_codori@...>  
wrote:

>
> Thanks for the info, I'll check that group out for more technical
> questions.  To get back on the topic of board design...
> In my previous post, I listed the link for the PDF board files (in
> addition to the schem).  Is there an easy way to convert this to an
> eagle file?  This was the reason I first posted, as I have to redraw
> the schematic to a board and couldn't find american versions of the
> two listed parts.  If I could convert the pdf to a board, half of my
> problem would be solved.  Then I could ask the other forum about
> electronic part suggestions.
> GC


There is no way to just "import" a pdf (which is basically a picture) into  
a layout software.
The information about connections, components, ... , while obvious to us  
is very hard to automatically find with software and i'm not aware of any  
software that can do it.

You need to either make the PCB as is (maybe with small changes in a image  
editing software), or you need to re-draw the board in a layout software.
If you don't want to redesign it completely it might help to import that  
picture into your software as picture, and work "over" it laying the new  
components and tracks over the picture. I do that sometimes but i dunno if  
eagle can import pictures.

A quick look at the pdf shows me the layout is not unreasonable, but would  
require small changes (bigger pads in some places) if you want to homebrew  
the PCB (It is very, very hard to plate the holes at home so you need  
larger pads or you can't solder to them). This could be done in a graphics  
software.

ST