I'd like to use my CAD tools to procure some PCB boards. Most of the
houses I see that quick ship work from Gerber files. Could anyone familiar
with this type of files please give me a resource to figure out what I
need? I usually work in AutoCad, and do have a .dwg to .grb conversion
routine. However, I am clueless when it comes to what to include for drill
lists, dcode lists, and the like.
Check out http://www.apcircuits.com. They have a newuser file with a lot of goon
information. I doubt that your Gerber converter will do drill files. I
suggest using a real PCB program. They have a shareware one that is a whole
lot easier to make boards on than Autocad. It doesn't autoroute, but then
again either does Autocad.
I did just get a demo from OrCad that has a size limited full package. I
haven't loaded it yet, but if it is good and the size isn't too limited I will
post my comments.
> I'd like to use my CAD tools to procure some PCB boards. Most of the
> houses I see that quick ship work from Gerber files. Could anyone familiar
> with this type of files please give me a resource to figure out what I
> need? I usually work in AutoCad, and do have a .dwg to .grb conversion
> routine. However, I am clueless when it comes to what to include for drill
> lists, dcode lists, and the like.
>
> TIA
>
> Ernie
At 11:11 AM 6/27/99 -0700, you wrote:
Also check out http://www.cadsoftusa.com
they have a free fully functional, but size limited, experimenters version
of EAGLE which includes an autorouter. One caution, the demo version is
crippled
so don't bother downloading that one.
-Dan spam_OUTw6DFWTakeThisOuTqsl.net
>Check out http://www.apcircuits.com. They have a newuser file with a lot of goon
>information. I doubt that your Gerber converter will do drill files. I
>suggest using a real PCB program. They have a shareware one that is a whole
>lot easier to make boards on than Autocad. It doesn't autoroute, but then
>again either does Autocad.
>
>I did just get a demo from OrCad that has a size limited full package. I
>haven't loaded it yet, but if it is good and the size isn't too limited I
will {Quote hidden}
>post my comments.
>
>Ernie Murphy wrote:
>
>> I'd like to use my CAD tools to procure some PCB boards. Most of the
>> houses I see that quick ship work from Gerber files. Could anyone familiar
>> with this type of files please give me a resource to figure out what I
>> need? I usually work in AutoCad, and do have a .dwg to .grb conversion
>> routine. However, I am clueless when it comes to what to include for drill
>> lists, dcode lists, and the like.
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Ernie
>
>
I eventually bought Quickroute 4.0 which comes in 300 pin/800 pin or
unlimited pins. It is very good with full schematics and pcb's with
full Gerber outputs.
You may design your own schematic symbols and although I bought it for
PIC based machine control pcbs, I now use it for Electrical and
Pneumatic schematics. I had to create my own symbols, but only once.
The 800 pin version costs around 79GBP/149GBP/249GBP for 300 pin/800 pin
or unlimited pin versions.
Regards
Ron
--
/\
[] Ron Dickinson
[] <<<<< >>>>>
[] Compusolve-Redilec
/--\ Derbyshire England
!!!! +44 01246 - 570281
What? are we talking about the same EAGLE v-3.55 ?
CadSoft is not selling boards, they do have links to
some board houses but that is not their business.
I have been using their product and have not found it
to be full of bugs although there is a learning curve their
tech support, which you get with registration, is quite helpful
and informed. I don't believe the claim that it locks you
into their package is valid either. You have a choice of several
input and output file formats, some of this is through
user supplied routines which are freely downloadable.
I have no financial interest in CadSoft in any way and
consider it to be a useful product at a very reasonable price
so lets just be fair and factual. There may well be other
products that perform better or worse for a given purpose
but lets try & be factual and objective.
>I eventually bought Quickroute 4.0 which comes in 300 pin/800 pin or
>unlimited pins. It is very good with full schematics and pcb's with
>full Gerber outputs.
>
>You may design your own schematic symbols and although I bought it for
>PIC based machine control pcbs, I now use it for Electrical and
>Pneumatic schematics. I had to create my own symbols, but only once.
>
>The 800 pin version costs around 79GBP/149GBP/249GBP for 300 pin/800 pin
>or unlimited pin versions.
>
>Regards
>
>Ron
>--
> /\
> [] Ron Dickinson
> [] <<<<< >>>>>
> [] Compusolve-Redilec
> /--\ Derbyshire England
> !!!! +44 01246 - 570281
>
>
>I downloaded the Eagle software and apart from bugs, it did not give a
>good enough impression. What can you expect for free? They are mainly
>trying to sell boards and the output probably glues you to Eagle.
I think you're confusing Eagle with the Douglas software, they have a
proprietary output format that you can send them to get boards made, but
you have to pay extra for a "Gerber translator". Cadsoft doesn't sell
boards, and Eagle has standard Gerber output built in. It's an extremely
capable program for the price - schematic, layout, and autorouter -
though the interface is less than stellar. Still, once you get to know it
a little, it's a very nice, full-featured program, in my opinion.
I've done a lot of work with AutoCad and PC layout. It is a good drawing
package, and can be monkley-wrenched into making PC board files. But there
are a lot of problems.
Often I would go outside to have ACAD converted to Gerber. BU National
Reprographics has this funny little fellow named Yogi that will convert
DXF's and photoplot them at the same time for $50. I always needed accurate
photoplots anyway. 630-860-7161 phone, no web access. There are freeware
converters for DWG to Gerber, and I had no luck with any of them. There is
an excelent commercial package called CAMCAD. the freeware version will
read DXF but will not write anything http://www.rsi-inc.com that
will import DXFs and write Gerbers. You can get DXF import for free,
writing gerbers will cost you $399 and save you that much in ASPIRIN when
you get a headache trying to get a freeware gerber translator to work right.
qsl.net
