Circuit Board Cad.

[The_Doctor]

I have an ancient copy of GerbTool which I swear by (and use LTspice to make my schematics). I have seen that RS Components sell a DesignSpark or some such, a suite of electronics design tools aimed at low cost support for British industry. Anyone use it? If so, how is it?

(I once bought a copy of Seetrax Ranger, and have seen Eagle's output often. I'm dead fussy about what I use, so most stuff annoys me. But I'm open to new ideas, especially if I do not have to change from my tiny, fast, very customised W98 to do it).

[james]

Well, I've been at it for a while and I got a lot of input from fab fav...

Thanks Chris!

I'd have to say that Eagle is pretty nice and useful for being totally free.

I guess it's like a lot of apps. Once you get how it represents and what the caveats are all about, it lets you get the job done.

You need to learn about how Eagle fits into the real world with board spec limits (dru checks) and how (cam process) to generate gerber files.

A big part of this is to get a non related gerber file viewer (gerbv) to see what you actually have before you send it anywhere to be made.

James.

[VDX]

... if you need bigger PCB's than possible with the free Eagle version, you can use Target - it's only limited in pin-counts (AFIK 250 pins), one drawing sheet and two copper sides:
http://server.ibfriedrich.com/wiki/i...itle=Main_Page

Viktor

[james]

Success!

Works great!

http://laserboy.org/forum/index.php?...;topicseen#new

James.

[movax]

I used Altium Designer for all our of laser control boards, I just find it much less maddening to use than EAGLE.

The downside of course is that it is pricey.

[james]

I guess I can't do any comparison of one circuit CAD to anther because all I have ever used is Eagle CAD.

But, once I got the hang of it, I thought it was really easy to use.

It seems like just about every fab house is ready to go with Gerber files made from Eagle CAD.

What is it that people don't like about Eagle CAD?

James.

[cfavreau]

Very Nice Looking Boards!

Success!

Works great!

http://laserboy.org/forum/index.php?...;topicseen#new

James.

[james]

Thanks Chris.

You were a huge help with the Eagle CAD and stuff!

James.

[james]

I am going into the hospital on 9/11/13 for a total left hip replacement. This will be the third one on the left. I have already had three hip replacements on my right! So I will be out of the game for about a week or so. But I will try to get back to it ASAP!

I'm going to need something to keep me busy for a while while I get back on my feet (literally).

I have a limited number of these new boards, so PM me if you are interested in getting one, either in a kit or a completed LaserBoy DAC.

Reserve yours now. Get your name on the list!

James.

[The_Doctor]

Wow. Good luck. I thought those things were meant to stick, my grand-dad only had one.. Hopefully arthritis won't be fast enough to put me through it. Does run in my family though.