Homebrew PCBs

Hi there!

I'm trying to teach myself to design and etch PCBs and I was wondering what software should I start with? I've been messing around with FreePCB and it seems pretty good, although if I understand it right it doesn't have any auto-routing function built in to it. Is there something decent (and FREE) that I can get that will handle the routing or is there a better overall software package I should be learning?

Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles to rub together right now.

On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 03:38:29PM -0000, Andrew Deschenes wrote:
> Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles 
> to rub together right now.

gEDA is both free and Free. There is a learning curve involved, of 
course. It does have an autorouter. Quite a few people here use it.

Dylan Smith <dyls@...> writes:
> gEDA is both free and Free. There is a learning curve involved, of 
> course. It does have an autorouter. Quite a few people here use it.

Actually, it has two autorouters now:

http://wand.net.nz/~amb33/toporouter/

I'm one of the gEDA/PCB developers, and hang out here.  Also, there's a geda-user
mailing list for general gEDA queries, see http://www.gpleda.org/

PCB tutorial for raw beginners: http://www.delorie.com/pcb/docs/gs/

Diptrace is free for non-commercial use, up to 250 pins.
http://www.diptrace.com

After you install it, email them and tell them you are on the Homebrew_PCBs list and they'll send you a free registration code that enables it up to 500 pins, same limitations on non-commercial use but otherwise unlimited.

I found it very easy to start using, I've even made a few new part patterns. It seems to have every PIC made in there and a lot more ICs.

Steve Greenfield
no connection, just a happy user of the free version

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Deschenes" <andybob_2@...> wrote:

>
> Hi there!
> 
> I'm trying to teach myself to design and etch PCBs and I was wondering what software should I start with? I've been messing around with FreePCB and it seems pretty good, although if I understand it right it doesn't have any auto-routing function built in to it. Is there something decent (and FREE) that I can get that will handle the routing or is there a better overall software package I should be learning?
> 
> Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles to rub together right now.
>

Is there a yahoo group or similar support group for Diptrace?

Steve K8JQ

Steve wrote:
> Diptrace is free for non-commercial use, up to 250 pins.
> http://www.diptrace.com
>
> After you install it, email them and tell them you are on the Homebrew_PCBs list and they'll send you a free registration code that enables it up to 500 pins, same limitations on non-commercial use but otherwise unlimited.
>
> I found it very easy to start using, I've even made a few new part patterns. It seems to have every PIC made in there and a lot more ICs.
>
> Steve Greenfield
> no connection, just a happy user of the free version
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Deschenes" <andybob_2@...> wrote:
>   
>> Hi there!
>>
>> I'm trying to teach myself to design and etch PCBs and I was wondering what software should I start with? I've been messing around with FreePCB and it seems pretty good, although if I understand it right it doesn't have any auto-routing function built in to it. Is there something decent (and FREE) that I can get that will handle the routing or is there a better overall software package I should be learning?
>>
>> Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles to rub together right now.
>>
>>     
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>   

-- 
Read The Patriot Post
hppt://PatriotPost.US/Subscribe/ Vetitas vos Liberabit

Steve wrote:
> Is there a yahoo group or similar support group for Diptrace?
> 
> Steve K8JQ

Yes

diptr@yahoogroups.com

Wayne wa1bbb

> 
> Steve wrote:
>> Diptrace is free for non-commercial use, up to 250 pins.
>> http://www.diptrace.com
>>
>> After you install it, email them and tell them you are on the Homebrew_PCBs list and they'll send you a free registration code that enables it up to 500 pins, same limitations on non-commercial use but otherwise unlimited.
>>
>> I found it very easy to start using, I've even made a few new part patterns. It seems to have every PIC made in there and a lot more ICs.
>>
>> Steve Greenfield
>> no connection, just a happy user of the free version
>>
>> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Deschenes" <andybob_2@...> wrote:
>>   
>>> Hi there!
>>>
>>> I'm trying to teach myself to design and etch PCBs and I was wondering what software should I start with? I've been messing around with FreePCB and it seems pretty good, although if I understand it right it doesn't have any auto-routing function built in to it. Is there something decent (and FREE) that I can get that will handle the routing or is there a better overall software package I should be learning?
>>>
>>> Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles to rub together right now.
>>>
>>>     
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>   
>

One more off the wall question . . . can DipTrace print a mirror image 
of a PCB layout?

Thanks.

Steve K8JQ

Steve wrote:
> Diptrace is free for non-commercial use, up to 250 pins.
> http://www.diptrace.com
>
> After you install it, email them and tell them you are on the Homebrew_PCBs list and they'll send you a free registration code that enables it up to 500 pins, same limitations on non-commercial use but otherwise unlimited.
>
> I found it very easy to start using, I've even made a few new part patterns. It seems to have every PIC made in there and a lot more ICs.
>
> Steve Greenfield
> no connection, just a happy user of the free version
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Deschenes" <andybob_2@...> wrote:
>   
>> Hi there!
>>
>> I'm trying to teach myself to design and etch PCBs and I was wondering what software should I start with? I've been messing around with FreePCB and it seems pretty good, although if I understand it right it doesn't have any auto-routing function built in to it. Is there something decent (and FREE) that I can get that will handle the routing or is there a better overall software package I should be learning?
>>
>> Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles to rub together right now.
>>
>>     
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>   

-- 
Read The Patriot Post
hppt://PatriotPost.US/Subscribe/ Vetitas vos Liberabit

The one that I would recommend is Dip Trace, it is not Free,  Well think they might offer a Free Version with some limits.


Ben

Steve wrote:
> One more off the wall question . . . can DipTrace print a mirror image 
> of a PCB layout?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Steve K8JQ
>

Also a Yes.  Go to their site and Download the PDF manual (User Guide).
It walks you through the whole process.  Overall it is one of the best 
manuals I have used.

Wayne

> Steve wrote:
>> Diptrace is free for non-commercial use, up to 250 pins.
>> http://www.diptrace.com
>>
>> After you install it, email them and tell them you are on the Homebrew_PCBs list and they'll send you a free registration code that enables it up to 500 pins, same limitations on non-commercial use but otherwise unlimited.
>>
>> I found it very easy to start using, I've even made a few new part patterns. It seems to have every PIC made in there and a lot more ICs.
>>
>> Steve Greenfield
>> no connection, just a happy user of the free version
>>
>> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Deschenes" <andybob_2@...> wrote:
>>   
>>> Hi there!
>>>
>>> I'm trying to teach myself to design and etch PCBs and I was wondering what software should I start with? I've been messing around with FreePCB and it seems pretty good, although if I understand it right it doesn't have any auto-routing function built in to it. Is there something decent (and FREE) that I can get that will handle the routing or is there a better overall software package I should be learning?
>>>
>>> Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles to rub together right now.
>>>
>>>     
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>   
>

Will do. Thank you.

Steve K8JQ

Wayne Topa wrote:
> Steve wrote:
>   
>> One more off the wall question . . . can DipTrace print a mirror image 
>> of a PCB layout?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Steve K8JQ
>>
>>     
>
> Also a Yes.  Go to their site and Download the PDF manual (User Guide).
> It walks you through the whole process.  Overall it is one of the best 
> manuals I have used.
>
> Wayne
>   
>> Steve wrote:
>>     
>>> Diptrace is free for non-commercial use, up to 250 pins.
>>> http://www.diptrace.com
>>>
>>> After you install it, email them and tell them you are on the Homebrew_PCBs list and they'll send you a free registration code that enables it up to 500 pins, same limitations on non-commercial use but otherwise unlimited.
>>>
>>> I found it very easy to start using, I've even made a few new part patterns. It seems to have every PIC made in there and a lot more ICs.
>>>
>>> Steve Greenfield
>>> no connection, just a happy user of the free version
>>>
>>> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Deschenes" <andybob_2@...> wrote:
>>>   
>>>       
>>>> Hi there!
>>>>
>>>> I'm trying to teach myself to design and etch PCBs and I was wondering what software should I start with? I've been messing around with FreePCB and it seems pretty good, although if I understand it right it doesn't have any auto-routing function built in to it. Is there something decent (and FREE) that I can get that will handle the routing or is there a better overall software package I should be learning?
>>>>
>>>> Note: Whatever I use it must be freeware, as I don't have two nickles to rub together right now.
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>   
>>>       
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>   

-- 
Read The Patriot Post
hppt://PatriotPost.US/Subscribe/ Vetitas vos Liberabit

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Wayne Topa <linuxone@...> wrote:
>
> Steve wrote:
> > Is there a yahoo group or similar support group for Diptrace?
> > 
> > Steve K8JQ

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diptr

Steve Greenfield
fresh CET, Associate and two Journeyman on one go

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@...> wrote:
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Wayne Topa <linuxone@> wrote:
> >
> > Steve wrote:
> > > Is there a yahoo group or similar support group for Diptrace?
> > > 
> > > Steve K8JQ
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diptr
> 
> Steve Greenfield
> fresh CET, Associate and two Journeyman on one go

It is very much in active development, too. The programmers are very active on their mailing list.

There is a Tutorial PDF, well worth reading.

Steve Greenfield