PCB CAD/CAM Software

[Unregistered]

Carl, what software are you using for PCB design, i tried some free demos like Eagle from cadsoft but can´t generate the Gerber files, am i missing something ? thanks

[Carl-NC]

I use "Easy-PC" from the UK, http://www.numberone.com. It's pretty cheap, and has good features. I suspect the free version of Eagle does not generate Gerber.

- Carl

[Qiaozhi]

Eagle PCB Gerber-out

The freeware version does appear to have the capability to output gerber. You need to use the CAM Processor. See instructions below:

Generating Gerber Data with the CAM Processor

The same steps are usually required for each board whenever films and
manufacturing data are generated. This process can be defined as a CAM
Processor job.
The file

gerber.cam, which can be found in the default subdirectory for
CAM jobs, automates the output of Gerber data for double sided boards.

Attention:

The process described can only be used for Gerber photoplotters
with flexible aperture wheels, not for photoplotters with fixed aperture wheels.

Please contact your board house to confirm which data are needed.
Load the job into the CAM Processor, either by double-clicking the entry
with the name

gerber.cam in the Control Panel's tree view (CAM Jobs), or
by clicking the CAM Processor icon in the Layout Editor window and selecting

gerber.cam

in the file dialog (Þ File/Open/Job).
In case you have started the CAM processor from the Control Panel, load
the board file demo3.brd:

Þ

File/Open/Board and · · demo3.brd

Click the button

Process Job and confirm both prompts Delete name.$$$...

and

More than ... with · OK.
Now all of the necessary files will be written into the Project directory
(where the drawing and board files for this project are located).
The files have the following meanings:

demo3.cmp

Component side

demo3.sol

Solder side

demo3.plc

Silkscreen for component side

demo3.stc

Soldering mask for the component side

demo3.sts

Soldering mask for the solder side

demo3.whl

Aperture wheel file

demo3.gpi

Information file, not relevant

demo3.$$$

Temporary file, to be deleted
The first six files need to be sent to your board manufacturer.

[Unregistered]

Qiaozhi, thanks for your help !
Carl, the software seems to be very good,...did you buy it on-line ?

[Carl-NC]

Carl, the software seems to be very good,...did you buy it on-line ?

Yup.

[Unregistered]

diptrace

You might take a look at this package:
www.diptrace.com

Pretty good with a simple to use autoroute PCB package and the price is right for hobby use.

[Unregistered]

free pcb software

Kicad is an open source (GPL) software for the creation of electronic schematic diagrams and printed circuit board artwork.

http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/index.html