nzoomed

Im looking for some software that can print out nice, clear 1 layer overlays for UV exposure, it it can export to jpeg, that would be good, too, i havnt as of yet found anything useful, they all seem to be really advanced, more for pcb manafacure, rather than the hobbyst

blueroomelectronics

I use Sprint Layout for my designs. Everyone else here uses Eagle.

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3v0

If you can find software that does it I find that the pdf format allows for smoother scaling.

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nzoomed

if sprint does it well, i will use that

mneary

Everything exports to pdf. Just install PrimoPDF; it's just like any printer except that it creates a pdf file. There are other programs too.

Rolf

I have been tooting the horn here for a couple of years about the free ExpressPCB! Were have you been?

Rolf

The free ExpressPCB exports to DXF, Bitmap, and Metafile. I have used for a couple of years to make my toner transfer on Press-N-Peel with excellent results. I guess you just need to print on acetate.
ExpressPCB don't have as steep a learning curve as Eagle and is much more user friendly.

Pommie

Are Sprint Layout and ExpressPCB the same program? I tried ExpressPCB about 4 years ago and found it pretty useless due to the lack of schematic capture. Has it now got the schematic part?

Mike.

KMoffett

Pommie,

I think you must be thinking of another PCB program. ExpressPCB has always had schematic capture are far as I know. I've used it for years. It doesn't have a router, but the PCB program does "link" to the schematic program and show net list connections as you route the traces. I always make small PCB's and found that I can almost always do better routing than Eagle' programs. A personal "thing"...I don't like the appearance of Eagles schematics...too many distracting details...OK when developing, but ugly for presentation. But, that's just me.

Ken

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Rolf

No they are not the same program!!!!
ExpreswsPCB have ExpressSCH for their schmatic capture but I have little experience with the use of it because my fairly simple designs. The program is being updated from time to time and the developers even answers questions (at least they have for me) and takes suggestions.

Pommie

Maybe I'll give ExpressPCB another go then. I like Eagle but tend to manually route most of the board and then let the autorouter do the "around the houses" traces. I agree, the schematics are a bit ugly.

Edit, We are talking about the free board design software from the board manufacturers ExpressPCB aren't we?

Mike.

blueroomelectronics

Does ExpressPCB create Gerber and NCDrill files?

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Rolf

[quote= {snip}
Edit, We are talking about the free board design software from the board manufacturers ExpressPCB aren't we?

Mike.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is correct.

Rolf

Not as far as I can tell, it only exports to DXF, Bitmap, and Metafile

3v0

It is good of Cadsoft to provide a free program as powerful as Eagle. I think we all agree that Eagle is a complex program and it could have a better UI. They are working on that.

Most gripes I have heard about it here are nonsense. If you do not to use it, for whatever reason, I can understand that. It is wrong for people who do not use it for layout to tell others how bad they think it is. Their view of what it can and can not do is flawed. Trying it once or twice is not enough experiance to learn much anything about it.


With eagle you can turn schematic details on and off. The most useful ones are nets, buses, pins, names, and values.

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