gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk
Hi, I try to draw my first PCB with the gEDA Tools. So far everything has worked and the Layout is almost finished. For the last stage it is required for me to add a massive cooper polygon over the pcb, because our milling machine would not be happy to mil all the copper away. The tool makes a perfect clearance around the pad's, but not arround the routes. Has anyone an idea what i could change? Eventually I have done something wrong with the layer because I don't really understand the palette from solder over component, ... , silk, ..., to solder mask. I have drawn the routes on the component layer. The next problem is, how can I add pcb-outlines, fiducial marks and add the (0,0) coordinate? If someone has some general tips that are related to pcb and milling machines I would be happy also. Regards ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk
Hi, I try to draw my first PCB with the gEDA Tools. So far everything has worked and the Layout is almost finished. For the last stage it is required for me to add a massive cooper polygon over the pcb, because our milling machine would not be happy to mil all the copper away. The tool makes a perfect clearance around the pad's, but not arround the routes. Has anyone an idea what i could change? Eventually I have done something wrong with the layer because I don't really understand the palette from solder over component, ... , silk, ..., to solder mask. I have drawn the routes on the component layer. The next problem is, how can I add pcb-outlines, fiducial marks and add the (0,0) coordinate? If someone has some general tips that are related to pcb and milling machines I would be happy also. Regards ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk
What milling machine / software are you using? I have used an LPKF milling machine; no special considerations are needed re. copper fills for the CAD design process. Choosing whether to remove excess copper or keep it is determined during the CAM process where the standard PCB layout / drill files are converted into milling machine directions. Removing the excess copper is not as bad as you might think. Use e.g. 1 mm and 3 mm end-mills for this job keeps the process relatively inexpensive. The LPKF software does isolation milling with the 8 mil bit, then switches to the 1 mm end-mill and then the 3 mm end-mill, so that clean and precise trace edges are maintained. The small added cost is worth it to me, because I don't put a solder mask on my milled boards. Which means that isolation milling only, increases the chance of solder bridges, never fun. Especially when dealing with surface-mount parts, if you get a solder bridge from a surface-mount part's pin to a large copper fill underneath the part, it's not fun - I often have to remove the entire part with hot air, clean things up, and try again. So I just remove that copper to save myself the trouble later. With a good milling machine, you can solder most any part. I've done small leadless packages like QFNs, and fine-pitch parts like TSSOP, etc. without any solder mask. It's not a problem. Of course, I routinely keep copper on many of my PCBs for things like ground / power planes. Usually I put ground on the bottom and keep signals on the top as much as possible; it's worked for me so far for the relatively simple PCBs I've done so far. --James -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Bortis Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 15:22 To: geda-user@moria.seul.org Subject: gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk Hi, I try to draw my first PCB with the gEDA Tools. So far everything has worked and the Layout is almost finished. For the last stage it is required for me to add a massive cooper polygon over the pcb, because our milling machine would not be happy to mil all the copper away. The tool makes a perfect clearance around the pad's, but not arround the routes. Has anyone an idea what i could change? Eventually I have done something wrong with the layer because I don't really understand the palette from solder over component, ... , silk, ..., to solder mask. I have drawn the routes on the component layer. The next problem is, how can I add pcb-outlines, fiducial marks and add the (0,0) coordinate? If someone has some general tips that are related to pcb and milling machines I would be happy also. Regards ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk
On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 5:41 PM, James Johnston [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What milling machine / software are you using? We use the Windows only CircuitCAM software at school. In Altium I had to add a new polygon with a 30mil clearance. This is only a school rule and the pcb's are not going into production if this rule is not met :) Of course, I routinely keep copper on many of my PCBs for things like ground / power planes. Usually I put ground on the bottom and keep signals on the top as much as possible; it's worked for me so far for the relatively simple PCBs I've done so far. How you connect a polygon to the GND layer? A polygon connected to GND would also needing a clearance to signal layers. I think this would be the same problem. On which layer do you draw the top-layer routes? In the Altium software and OrCAD there were always a TopLayer, BottomLayer, TopOutline etc. , but in PCB I don't fully understand the naming schema. Regards --James -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Bortis Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 15:22 To: geda-user@moria.seul.org Subject: gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk Hi, I try to draw my first PCB with the gEDA Tools. So far everything has worked and the Layout is almost finished. For the last stage it is required for me to add a massive cooper polygon over the pcb, because our milling machine would not be happy to mil all the copper away. The tool makes a perfect clearance around the pad's, but not arround the routes. Has anyone an idea what i could change? Eventually I have done something wrong with the layer because I don't really understand the palette from solder over component, ... , silk, ..., to solder mask. I have drawn the routes on the component layer. The next problem is, how can I add pcb-outlines, fiducial marks and add the (0,0) coordinate? If someone has some general tips that are related to pcb and milling machines I would be happy also. Regards ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk
Kevin Bortis skrev: Hi, I try to draw my first PCB with the gEDA Tools. So far everything has worked and the Layout is almost finished. For the last stage it is required for me to add a massive cooper polygon over the pcb, because our milling machine would not be happy to mil all the copper away. The tool makes a perfect clearance around the pad's, but not arround the routes. Have you checked the option 'new lines/arcs clears polygons'? A quick check would be to position the selection tool over a line and press 'j'. /Daniel ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: PCB: rectangular polygons and route clearance in pcb-gtk
On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:24:19 +, James Johnston wrote: Top layer is component side and bottom layer is solder side. This annoyed me too. My favorite fab complained about strange layer naming scheme when I sent geda gerbers. What other EDA software uses the solder/component names? If you want to continue working on them after school you'll have to buy an Altium license, which is probably overkill for most of your needs. Replace school by previous job and this statement pretty much tells why I converted to geda :-) ---(kaimartin)--- -- Kai-Martin Knaak tel: +49-511-762-2895 Universität Hannover, Inst. für Quantenoptik fax: +49-511-762-2211 Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover http://www.iqo.uni-hannover.de GPG key:http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?search=Knaak+kmkop=get ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
gEDA-user: moving a trace in pcb
I have a trace after doing an auto route that I'd like to move, is this possible? Can I push the trace to another layer, insert a via, and suggest or force a signal path? I have three electrodes (410 mil circles from 4 fat arcs) and the signal trace from one electrode crosses over a portion of another electrode. Also, I created electrodes from 4 fat arcs on a signal layer. I then put the pin from an electrode symbol (just a pin) on the arc circle. If I find the net in the pcb netlist window it highlights the pad of the resistor the electrode is connected to, the signal trace and the circular electrode. Does this verify the electrode is connected to the pin and net? ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
gEDA-user: two more pcb questions
1. How do you put pcb mounting holes in the board, say for 10-32 screws? 2. Can someone recommend fab houses to make pcbs? ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: two more pcb questions
1. How do you put pcb mounting holes in the board, say for 10-32 screws? What I do is make a symbol for them, and a footprint, and they're treated like any other part on the board. But, you could just use vias if you know what size hole to use. 2. Can someone recommend fab houses to make pcbs? I've used 4pcb and pcb-pool without any problems. ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: omnibus order 0805
On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:37:24 + (UTC) Kai-Martin Knaak [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: A few days ago I started an omnibus order of common 0805 components in de.sci.electronics (see thread Sammelbestellung R und C in SMD-0805). Hello Kai-Martin... I'm not sure my mail is disappearing, but after answering your question (2 messages), I didn't get any reply? John ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: moving a trace in pcb
On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:41:14 -0400, Robert Butts wrote: I have a trace after doing an auto route that I'd like to move, is this possible? yes Can I push the trace to another layer, insert a via, yes, yes and suggest or force a signal path? Do you mean a keep-out area? Currently, there is no such feature in pcb. A workaround is to draw some lines on copper without connecting them to any known net. Autorouter tracks will not cross these lines. ---(kaimartin)--- -- Kai-Martin Knaak http://lilalaser.de/blog ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: file format for symbols (to automatically build symbols)
You could try djboxsym: http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/dj_delorie/tools/djboxsym.html The input file is pretty trivial; you could create it with a perl script or something, then pass it through djboxsym to convert it to a symbol. ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
