I have asked this a million times but again

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8/15/1999 12:33 AM
nic	I have asked this a million times but again I am asking this since the archives are still missing. What CAD software do you use for your schematics and boards. I am trying PCB elegance. I have tried it before but it is a bulky thing to learn. Any suggestions? Is paper the easiest way?         thanks,     nic

 

8/15/1999 1:12 PM

R.G.

I use the free Easytrax software from Protel. In terms of how you use it, it's like paper drawings on steriods. No autorouting (well, not worth using) and no fancy autoplace features, no netlist entry or schematic capture. Just the ability to easily move things around and reduce that to copper layers.         A word about autorouters. The common wisdom in the industry is that for analog circuits, autorouters are at best no good, and at worst downright obstructive. A human can do better analog layout than any computer these days. That may change once they start applying enough effort, much like chess playing did, but for now, a human mind is the best analog router.

 

8/16/1999 1:41 PM

paul perry

R.G. is right about autorouters... there is a lot more to (analog) layout than just 'connecting the dots'. The key to avoiding noise and instability problems is to think about which are the critical points on the circuit. And, think about earth return currents. And, remember that PCB traces have finite resistance. And impedance. Also, it's easy to forget that the rules apply to all the wires coming OFF the board, too.

 

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