16 Jun
2007
16 Jun
'07
4:06 p.m.
At 12:02 -0500 06/16/2007, cctech-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:31:22 -0400
From: "Richard A. Cini" <rcini at optonline.net>
Subject: PCB CAD Programs
To: "Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Message-ID: <C298B5AA.6E2A%rcini at optonline.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
All:
I?m working on a 6502 project and I have a PC board CAD recommendation
question. I tried out the software that comes with ExpressPCB and it?s kind
of bogus. There?s no autorouter, which is exactly what I need (even if it?s
a basic router).
Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced schematics
capture and layout program for either Windows or Mac OSX that can autoroute
do boards up to say 6? x 8?? When I say reasonable, I?m thinking $250 or
less.
Osmond runs on OSX (and earlier Mac OS) and I've found it to be very
usable. I have not used the latest version so I can not comment on
the quality of the auto-router. However, you can try it for free.
If your design's pin (meaning inflection point of traces, I believe)
count is below a certain number, you can use it for free.
Regardless of your design's pin count, you can lay it out and route
it, but if your design reaches into the paying region, you won't be
able to output it. Still, that will let you try out the
auto-router without investing any money. If you do want to purchase
it, I think (IIRC) it is in the $200 region.
<http://www.swcp.com/~jchavez/osmond.html>
I've used it for a few board designs so far which I've output as
Gerber for manufacture and it has worked well.
Jeff Walther