[kicad-users] Re: has anyone sent their designs to a fab company? what settings? I want to use ...
I've found that two very good (and free) tools are the ViewMate Gerber viewer from www.pentalogix.com and the free DRC check at the Advanced Circuits www.4pcb.com site. Regards, Bob --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Pedro Martin wrote: > > Hi, > > As Kicar Gerber viewer has some limitations (although is works fine), I also > use gerbv, from gEDA. Opensource and free. > > Regards, > Pedro. > > > Use Linux version of Kicad. It works perfect. > > Gerber viewer in Kicad is fine but it does not do all of the spacing tests. > > For that you have to use ERC checking in PCBnew. > > However, the PCB houses each have their own limitations and it is easier > > for > me to use their checkers so that they flag any limitations they have. > > Martin > > > > NeonJohn wrote: > > > > > > > > > Richard wrote: > > > > > > > > That said, I do recommend that you preview the Gerber files and the > > > > drill file using the free previewer ViewMate > > > > (http://www.pentalogix.com/). It's not FOSS but it is sort of a de > > > > facto industry standard. If everything lines up and looks correct in > > > > ViewMate then you're probably good to go. > > > > > > > > > How does this compare to the gerber viewer included in KiCAD. I'm a > > > Linux user so it's not so easy to test software that won't run under > > > Wine and this one won't. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > John > > > > > > > > > -- > > > John DeArmond > > > Tellico Plains, Occupied TN > > > http://www.neon-john.com<-- email from here > > > http://www.johndearmond.com <-- Best damned Blog on the net > > > PGP key: wwwkeys.pgp.net: BCB68D77 > > > > >
[kicad-users] Re: Track width for Thermal Pads
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "mikebeauchampdotcom" wrote: > > I submitted my first board with Kicad to BatchPCB and it got >rejected because traces were below their 8 mil minimum trace width. > > > How many thermals are there on the board? If there aren't too many of them, a workaround would be to manually draw new tracks over the spokes with a Gerber editor to widen them. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Removing inner pads with vias
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, kajdas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Yes, I did that, I use standard vias, 0.01 drill. 0.025 pad, no >micro, no buried, no blind. > I just need to specify different pad size (or remove) on inner layer. > I'd suggest making the via sizes an odd-ball number, say 0.026". That's close to the 0.025" you're already using and shouldn't cause any problems on the outer layers. It does, though, give you a unique Gerber aperture which will make it easy to strip them from the inner layer Gerbers. Note the aperture number in the table and search for the corresponding 'D##*' line in the file. You'd then just delete all of the lines from it down to the next 'D##*' line. Another option would be to use a Gerber editor to strip the vias from the inner layers. My personal preference is ViewMasterEZ. (about $50 from www.pentalogix.com) Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Comparing gerber files for changes
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "barkerben" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > I have two sets of gerber files that I THINK are identical. Any ideas > how to be sure? I can load multiple gerbers into the viewer, but if I > load layer1 from one set and layer 1 from the other, they both seem >to > be loaded the same colour, so it is impossible to tell if there is a > difference. > You can use the PentaLogix ViewMate viewer (a free download) to import each of the Gerber files into a different layer. Doing this will display them in contrasting colors. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Import other format
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Carlo Garberi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi. > Please excuse me, but: > > you write... Check "Files" section. You can find there few >utilities, also for > conversion ... > where is the "FILES" Section ? what is the "file" section? I'm using the Win's > version of Kicad. > The 'Files' section that's being referred to is part of the Yahoo group rather than part of KiCad. On the left side of the group's home page, it's the fourth link down in the list. You'll find it directly below the 'Home', 'Messages', and 'Post' links. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Import other format (follow-up)
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "Bob_xyz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "megasquirt_evolution" > wrote: > > > > Hello, > > I've just posted some samples files of Altium Designer >(in "Altium > > Designer sample files" folder), in binary and ASCII format. > > Regards, > > > > Thanks. I'll take a look at them. > > Regards, Bob > I've found that the file "4 Port Serial Interface_ascii.PcbDoc" isn't an ASCII file. Could you repost it? Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Import other format
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "megasquirt_evolution" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hello, > I've just posted some samples files of Altium Designer (in "Altium > Designer sample files" folder), in binary and ASCII format. > Regards, > Thanks. I'll take a look at them. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Import other format
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "megasquirt_evolution" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hello everyone, > I would want to know if there are addons that can import popular > format like Altium Designer, Protel or Orcad, for schematic and PCB. > I'm an altium designer user, and I would eventually switch to Kikad. > Thanks in advance. > Does Altium Designer have the capability to save files as ASCII text? If so, it *should* be possible to create a conversion program to translate from one format to the other. While it may take a significant effort to do this, it should still be possible to do. If Altium Designer has an ASCII save capability, can you post a simple schematic and its associated PCB to the 'Files' section of the group? It should only take a circuit with a couple of components to see what would be involved. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Multiple board panels
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > From the "File" menu in pcbnew, use the "Append" selection to add >other > boards to the current board. You can have multiple copies of the >same > board or several different boards or a combination. My prototype pcb > supplier (4pcb.com) accepts panels done that way for their $33 >special but > charges extra for step and repeat. > Thanks, Dave. I had missed the "Append" capability. I'll have to check that out. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Multiple board panels
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "cpudave50" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I usually try to squeeze several small circuit boards onto one larger > panel. Can anyone tell me where I can find panelizing instructions for > KiCad? > Are you looking to do a step-and-repeat to place multiple copies of the same board onto the panel or do you want to put different layouts onto the panel? Step-and-repeat is very easy to do with simple edits to the Gerber files. I'll post a description and example files a little later today. First I'll have to figure out where I parked those files. :=) For merging different layouts onto a panel, I don't know if KiCad has that capability. I always use ViewMasterEZ from www.pentalogix.com for doing that. (ViewMasterEZ is a Gerber Editor that's available for about $50. It works very much like their free ViewMate Gerber Viewer but adds a lot of features for editing.) Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Orcad .OLB to KICAD
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Kondner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > I put a schematic with its EDIF output. > > http://www.kondner.com/files/ps10.zip > Thanks for posting the files. I've downloaded them and will take a look at them later today. > I have a copy of the spec, yes that is what I paid. Come on, >what is a > month of your time worth? That's cheap :-) > You're right - That is cheap for a commercial project. It's not so cheap, though, when you consider doing a hobbyist project. > If you can do this I will help pay for it and your time. Contact >me at: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > That raises a very interesting possibility. I'll email you directly to discuss this. That would certainly move this out of the hobbyist environment. > You might want to look at www.aapcb.com. I wrote all their >internal code > and I licensed it to them. I want to do for SCH to PCB what I did >for PCB to > Assembly. I like the idea of KiCAD but the required features and >library > structures does not make it possible to use KiCAD. > Thanks for the link. They seem to take a very customer-oriented approach to contract assembly with all of the options they offer. I really like the whole idea of providing an online quote calculator. A consulting client of mine may be interested in investigating their services further. (I don't usually get involved in their manufacturing operations but I do know that they're not too happy with their current assembly house.) Based on their address, I can't help wondering if aapcb is associated in some way with Advanced Circuits. Either that or 32nd Parkway in Aurora is quite a high-tech magnet. :=) > Do you use Delphi? > No, I don't. It's been a long time since I've used any Borland products but I still have fond recollections of using Turbo Pascal. (I won't say how long that's been but I think I had just upgraded to the 80286 and a 10-meg hard drive.) When TP was released, it was a huge breakthrough for PC software. I understand that Borland has made a freeware version of Delphi available. IIRC, it's similar to what Microsoft has done with its 'Express' products. I'll have to look into that a bit more. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Orcad .OLB to KICAD
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Kondner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > For a sample EDIF export an OrCAD schematic or library. > Unfortunately, I have no access to a system running OrCAD. > You will need the EDIF 2.0.0 documents they cost a couple hundred >dollars. > I just found the spec - OUCH, it's US$372. That's a bit more than I was planning to spend on this effort. I'll have to see if I can get access to a copy without buying one. With a few example files, though, it should be possible to figure out the basics from the files themselves. The descriptions and examples that I've seen indicate that EDIF is a fairly straightforward format. If noone in this group is able to post a few EDIF files, I'll try to get someone over on the OrCADexchange Yahoo group to post some. > If you really want to do this keep in touch, I have plans on >doing the > same at some point in the near future. > Will do. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Orcad .OLB to KICAD
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Kondner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > You can export OrCAD to EDIF, which is not only text but well >documented. > That's terrific. If someone could post an example EDIF file or two, I'd like to take a crack at writing a utility to do the conversion automatically. I do have a different target CAD system in mind. Once the basics are in place, though, I wouldn't expect it to be too difficult to adapt the program so that it can output kikad-format files as well. I do need to review the kikad and EDIF formats but I'm fairly sure that this would be quite possible to do. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Orcad .OLB to KICAD
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > On 14 Sep 2007 at 14:12, stephen_alexander_1 wrote: > > > David, > > > > Apologies if this is a resend, the original reply seems to have > > disappeared. > > > > Did you ever get a solution to this problem? > > > > I have an OrCAD olb file which I downloaded from ST >Microelectronics, > > which I would like to convert for use with KiCAD. If you managed >to > > get a solution for this, I would apreciate the info. > > > > Thanks, > > > No, I more or less gave up. > Does OrCAD have the capability to export to text files? Or might there be a utility program around that could do the binary-to-ASCII extraction? I've never been able to make any sense of the .olb file format. If they can be converted to plain text, though, automated translation to another EDA program's format should be possible. Alternately, is there any documentation available that describes the details of the .olb file format? Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Making panels in pcbnew (follow-up)
Sorry, I should have said 'inserted into' rather than 'appended to' with regard to step-and-repeat commands in Gerber files. I'll be posting the file 'StepAndRepeat.zip' shortly to the 'Files' section of the group which shows an example. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Making panels in pcbnew
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "shaun_flann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I am working on a project at present involving a network. > This involves making up a set of three or more identical boards. > > Is there anyway of doing this with kicad that makes the job easier >than > effectively cutting and pasting blocks containing the original >board > layout. Moving individual blocks around to get spacings right and > trying to optimise board usage is proving very error prone. > Rather than messing with the PCB layout file, I'd suggest leaving it as a 1-up version of the board. You can manually append step-and-repeat codes to the Gerber and drill files to make the array. (Sorry, I don't recall if step-and repeat is implemented in kicad. If it is, so much the better.) The Gerbers and drill file for the arrays can then be opened in the free ViewMate Gerber viewer (http://www.pentalogix.com) which will allow you to print out the layers. Regards, Bob
[kicad-users] Re: Laser printer
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "vlmprod" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > I'm a new user of kicad (I've been using Layo1EE (dos version)for many > years) : un grand bravo à J.P Charras !!! > I'm looking for a laser printer which could give me a good quality for > PCB direct printing with kicad > Should it be a postscript model ?. > Are there some models or some constructors to prefer or on the > contrary to avoid ? > > Best regards > > Vincent Le Mieux > Here's a link to a Yahoo group that deals specifically with these questions: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/ It's a fairly busy group with a lot of people sharing their expertise in making their own PCBs. Regards, Bob Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please contribute your symbols/modules to the library folder in the group files section. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-devel Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[kicad-users] Re: Toaster oven soldering
Yahoo strips attachments from messages that are read on the web. I understand that people receiving individual emails or digests do get them. Those of us who don't never see them. Regards, Bob --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "Danilo Uccelli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > You can try this one, I have reduced the TQFP64_08 that I use but I have no > 44pins body at home to check it. > > The file is an export (.EMP), you can use the "Kicad module editor" to > import it, an place it into your favorite module library. > > Let me know if is suitable and I will put it on my site > http://kicadlib.site.voila.fr > > HTH > -- > Danilo Uccelli > CH-2400 Le Locle > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please contribute your symbols/modules to the library folder in the group files section. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-devel SPONSORED LINKS Open source software Symbol software Symbols Open source YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "kicad-users" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[kicad-users] Re: Toaster oven soldering
--- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, hiroshi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > It's intersting ! I googled "Reflow Soldering Oven toaster" and got many > pages how to do with pictures with out any pay. > I printed those pages and now start to read those pages. > Another resource can be found here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/E-Z_Bake It's a very inactive group but the message archive and other sections of it have quite a bit of information. Regards, Bob Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please contribute your symbols/modules to the library folder in the group files section. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-devel SPONSORED LINKS Open source software Symbol software Symbols Open source YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "kicad-users" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
