Re: CAD software for PCB engineering and routing
> Hello Larry,
>
> Am 2008-06-18 11:35:04, schrieb owens@peak.org:
>> Michelle
>> My (no defunct) company went through a similar search as you. What we
>> found was some very good and very expensive software, primarily ported
>> to
>> Suns, and some reasonably good and reasonably inexpensive software,
>> unfortunately ported to XP. Perhaps others can suggest something that
>> combines the XP-like cost with (some of the) UNIX-like features. Due to
>> cost reasons we ended up with the XP stuff. Hope you find something
>> that
>> matches your needs.
>> Larry
>
> My VariCAD is runnin on Debian and there is nothing which beat it.
> Handling, Usability, Performance and Price <SIGH> 20.000 Euro.
>
> Do you mean a Layout-Software for PCBs?
> What "expensive" and "less expensive" was it?
>
> Thanks, Greetings and nice Day/Evening
> Michelle Konzack
> Systemadministrator
> 24V Electronic Engineer
> Tamay Dogan Network
> Debian GNU/Linux Consultant
Michelle
The software I used included a schematic capture package, and a PCB layout
package. As do most layout packages this one required some human input
for the layout rules (line widths, hole sizes, etc.) and for routing in
case the built-in algorithm got "stumped". The output of the PCB layout
package was a file in standard (e.g. Gerber) format that one could send to
someone to make the boards themselves. The schematic package was called
Circuit Maker and the companion PCB board layout package was called
TraxMaker. The packages at that time were relatively inexpensive (e.g.
several hundred US dollars) and only ran on XP. I believe both packages
and the (Austrailian) company that developed them were bought by someone
else but some Googling will tell you the new names if you are interested.
Again these were more for boards that had perhaps up to a few hundred
components and for relatively small boards--"perfect" for a small company
doing in-house layout but out-house board manufacture.
Larry
P.S. The Sun packages were Mentor Graphics' and VERY complex and VERY
expensive (several tens of thousand US dollars as I recall). These are
used, for example, by the PC motherboard companies (multilayer boards,
plated-through holes, vias, etc.)
>
>
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