ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

previous: MHELIN Hello,I've been using Easyt... -- 3/16/1998 5:30 AM

Re: PCB CAD recommendations?

3/16/1998 9:03 AM
R.G.	Re: PCB CAD recommendations? I have used Easytrax for all the GEO layouts. It fits my personal style for layout and it's free - what more could I ask for??? Your point about not having integrated schematics and ground fill is well taken, but I find that I've patched around that, and I personally have never found a schematics editor that does schematics the way I like them drawn. I don't do much ground fill, so that doesn't bother me. I realize that my needs are a very small subset of how the generic world of PCB layout works, so the things Easytrax is missing may be critical for you. Rules checking, ground fill, autorouting, and so forth are MANDATORY on modern state of the art layout, but layouts for effects are NOT state of the art, as this technology was current 25 years ago. I'm now trying out Electronics Workbench, so we'll see about that one in terms of schematics. Others may want other things, of course. I have played with PADs, Protel's advanced packages, and some others. I understand that TraxxMaker was the Easytrax package, bought from Protel and enhanced with an integrated schematics package, but I have not used it. Tango, Orcad, and Protel's Advanced series are good, but out of the question financially. I have not tested WinBoard. I demand Gerber, as you do, since I do have boards made at pro houses and Gerber is the lingua franca of board houses. Options are not good at under $500 or so. You might look into TraxxMaker and it's other packages. Let me know if you find something good.

3/16/1998 9:03 AM

R.G.

Re: PCB CAD recommendations?

I have used Easytrax for all the GEO layouts. It fits my personal style for layout and it's free - what more could I ask for??? Your point about not having integrated schematics and ground fill is well taken, but I find that I've patched around that, and I personally have never found a schematics editor that does schematics the way I like them drawn. I don't do much ground fill, so that doesn't bother me.

I realize that my needs are a very small subset of how the generic world of PCB layout works, so the things Easytrax is missing may be critical for you. Rules checking, ground fill, autorouting, and so forth are MANDATORY on modern state of the art layout, but layouts for effects are NOT state of the art, as this technology was current 25 years ago.

I'm now trying out Electronics Workbench, so we'll see about that one in terms of schematics.

Others may want other things, of course. I have played with PADs, Protel's advanced packages, and some others. I understand that TraxxMaker was the Easytrax package, bought from Protel and enhanced with an integrated schematics package, but I have not used it. Tango, Orcad, and Protel's Advanced series are good, but out of the question financially. I have not tested WinBoard.

I demand Gerber, as you do, since I do have boards made at pro houses and Gerber is the lingua franca of board houses.

Options are not good at under $500 or so. You might look into TraxxMaker and it's other packages. Let me know if you find something good.

Replies:

GVB I had EW5 but it does not contain a... -- 3/16/1998 3:26 PM