Which autorouter?

[waltr]

How then about using Auto-placer only (module that many of better PCB designer software have) and finishing manual?

I haven't found the auto-placer to be any better.

[dbanner]

Diptrace seems easier to use than kicad. It is very intuitive, which makes learning curve very steep.

There is an "arrange components" feature which is brilliant.
Schematics are easy and quick to draw, it has a vast built in component library with all the component patterns included. It even has manufacturer based libraries.

I don't think I need to look any further than Diptrace. It is absolutely fantastic.

[dbanner]

I just attempted a metal detector circuit layout using diptrace autorouting.

Two layers. It turned out very good indeed. A little bit of manual tinkering and tweaking and I have a viable layout. Sweet.

I spent some time arranging the components on the board, keeping the net lines as short as possible between associated components of the circuit.

The router did a great job. I was left with just a few unresolved issues which I was able to solve manually. I went from schematic to PCB layout in just a few hours. As I get more familiar with the software, I expect things are going to be even better.

There are lots of the tricks to learn as this is a powerful software no doubt. I am pleased with the results so far.

[ivconic]

How can I ask this, when you set out your PCB's do you have a favourite order or structure ? that you use ? I dont know like power connectors then logic then whatever ?

Most of the time i deal with simpler and low number component circuits. My job is easy and game play, often joy.
I can not count my works in category with what professionals do.
But i also try to obey general rules.
Pay attention on high gain "areas", high Z, high currents etc.
Ground plane etc.
As mostly diyer; i try to use all what's available from materials. So i am mostly focused on enclosure and how to fit pcb in it.
Lately with use of 3D printer; situation became more comfortable. Now i design enclosure to suit pcb, or plan both at the same time.
Things what i do as hobbyist with very low scale products ... differs much from what's usually done in industry. Can't compare.
With appearance of very affordable pcb productions in China; things become even more relaxed and easier.
Now we can play with small and complex SMD designs, knowing that somebody else will produce nice pcbs for us.
Funny history; i started my firs pcb drawings using two sheet of paper taped on balcony window glass, using it as "scanner" and "copier"!
Also i made various "templates" made from paper, wood, plastic, to draw fast components. Good old times!
In just 20 years things changed a lot and moved so fast.

[ZED]

Yeah i have been using Diptrace for over 10 years and i think its a great Cad program,its doesnt appear to do flex rigid PCBs although you can squeeze one out of it im told,gerber files are easy to,just keep the drill
file separate.

[dbanner]

I'm falling in love with Diptrace. My first impressions have been a joy. I always thought that schematic capture was a tedious exercise because of bad experience with other software. But with Diptrace, schematic capture is fast and easy. One hand on the mouse and the other hand on the space bar, you can blow through a schematic in short order.

Geotechnical forum has had it's own very powerful PCB router for more than ten years.
It is a powerful software embedded in the brain of Ivconic. You put brain in glass jar and interface via USB, the device is automatically recognized by computer. Only single layer available free. For more layers. You'd have to pay extra.

[Ferric Toes]

Geotechnical forum has had it's own very powerful PCB router for more than ten years.
It is a powerful software embedded in the brain of Ivconic. You put brain in glass jar and interface via USB, the device is automatically recognized by computer.

That is retro technology. For many years, I have used wireless optical between brain and computer. Fast and reliable and the brain stays where it is, connected to its dedicated psu and noise filtering. My system since the days of black adhesive tape and pads has been Number One Systems EasyPc. I have stopped at version 10 as this has most of the features I want plus the autorouter. I see they are now up to version 23. I never got on with the the autorouter, hence the optical connection used since the early days.

Eric.

[dbanner]

That is retro technology. For many years, I have used wireless optical between brain and computer. Fast and reliable and the brain stays where it is, connected to its dedicated psu and noise filtering. My system since the days of black adhesive tape and pads has been Number One Systems EasyPc. I have stopped at version 10 as this has most of the features I want plus the autorouter. I see they are now up to version 23. I never got on with the the autorouter, hence the optical connection used since the early days.

Eric.

Some of your pulsepower boards look autorouted. You must have super noodle autorouting technology.

Or you third partied the circuit layout.

I managed to download easy-pc version 15. I'll give it a go.

[Ferric Toes]

Some of your pulsepower boards look autorouted. You must have super noodle autorouting technology.

Or you third partied the circuit layout.

I managed to download easy-pc version 15. I'll give it a go.

All Pulsepower boards are self routed. I enjoy doing it that way as it is like solving a puzzle, getting all the components on a given size board, in the right place and with the minimum number of vias.

Eric.

[dbanner]

Noodle power! I'd bet you're a pretty good chess player as well.

Then you'll reply that you never touched the game.

[Ferric Toes]

Noodle power! I'd bet you're a pretty good chess player as well.

Then you'll reply that you never touched the game.

Nope! off topic but used to love the game. Haven't played for a while though, except against the computer. I lost. Now, back to the pcb I am designing .

Eric.

[6666]

I just attempted a metal detector circuit layout using diptrace autorouting.

Two layers. It turned out very good indeed. A little bit of manual tinkering and tweaking and I have a viable layout. Sweet.

I spent some time arranging the components on the board, keeping the net lines as short as possible between associated components of the circuit.

The router did a great job. I was left with just a few unresolved issues which I was able to solve manually. I went from schematic to PCB layout in just a few hours. As I get more familiar with the software, I expect things are going to be even better.

There are lots of the tricks to learn as this is a powerful software no doubt. I am pleased with the results so far.

Which metal detector circuit did you layout, did it fit in the 300 pins or have you got the 500 pin licence ?
I asked them several times for the 500 pin licence but never got a response.

[dbanner]

Ah, I see you have observed an obstacle I faced.

The circuit I routed was the compass xp350.

I done it in two sections, first section was the filters right up to just before the Audi stage.

Next I did the tx, phase shifter, preamp and 4066 switching.

The audo stage I routed manually as it is simple.

I exported the jpg images and traced them out on Sprint, all I need to do was to connect the power and ground rails of the two sections.

I define the board outlined for each section as rectangular so they join together to make a somewhat square PCB.

Now it's much easier to do than it sounds.

Even if the software is with no restrictions, I still think for analog circuits, section by section can be easy.

If I am not mistaken, the 300 pin limit only restricts the export of the files. Not the actual use. So you can do a large schematic, but it would be useless as you couldn't export it in any format.

I'll upload the xp350 layout, along with the sections from the diptrace autorouting. You can see the results.