Re: PCB Layout Designers

On May 22, 4:32 pm, Tom <t...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Morning All

Guess this is really 2 questions, first up.....

I am still using an old DOS version of EasyPC Pro for PCB layout,
mainly because they want a stack load of money to upgrade. I did a
long time ago post a question about free PCB packages, and found one,
but the problem was that the package really relies on entering the
schematic first, creating the nets the polishing the layout afterwards
in PCB mode.

I don't actually dot he circuit designs, the company is my fathers, he
designs them, I translate his PCB designs on paper to designs in
EasyPC for printing out and either home manufacture or for sending of
for bulk manufacture.

Does anyone know of an existing package that allows for this approach,
ie not bothering with the schematic?

The second question....

This is kind of related to the first, I'd be interested to know if
everyone designs their PCB's from the schematic stage upwards on
computers, or whether there are many people creating the PCB layout
only?

Tom

Protel AutoTrax will do exactly what you want, it's now freeware.
http://www.altium.com/Community/Support/Downloads/

A lot of people (Hobbyists and one-man-bands mostly) still do the PCB
only from a handdrawn schematic, but almost no one does that in
professional circles.

AutoTrax will even let you generate a netlist from your hand drawn
PCB, and then you can still do some basic DRC checking.

Dave.

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