Emailing: PCB EAGLE CAD and simple Z80 computer design.htm - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

19 Mar 2008

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008, Andrew Lynch wrote:

...
  Hi,

 I am interested in making a simple Z80 computer.  I would like to use a CAD
...
  program, preferably one with autorouting, to design a
PCB for it rather than
...
  use prototype boards.

 Eagle PCB CAD looks promising but I have no experience in using a PCB CAD
 program.  As this is a hobby, I'd like to keep the costs less than $200.
 The hobbyist license costs $125 which would be ideal. 
Have you looked at gEDA?

-- 
David Griffith
dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk>

A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
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A: Top-posting.
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________________________________

-----REPLY-----

Hi Dave,
I did try gEDA about a year ago and I recall having problems finding the
Zilog chips supported by the library.  Maybe that has changed?

I downloaded the Eagle freeware version just to test drive it.  I was able
to make a rough layout of the SBC with out the chips placed on the
schematic.  

Of course, I would still have to connect all the wires and such but at least
the bare minimum components seem to be present and supported.  It even gave
a crude layout of the PCB, again with no traces due to no connections.  

Even with that simple Z80 SBC, it exceeded the capacity of the Eagle free
version PCB. 

Has anyone used gEDA to make a simple Z80 SBC or something like it?

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch