I apologize in advance for not reading the 125 page thread on DIYLC. I am wondering is there a tutorial for learning how to do vero layouts?

If not can anyone give me some tips? I can manage to convert some small circuits but anything bigger than a single transistor boost is outside of my skill set

Thanks,

Kevin

Helpful info here,
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/09/vero-layout-guide.html
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/04/vero-build-guide.html
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/offboard-wiring.html
dave

Google your thread Subject

Would save davent from collating those good links, and gives you some others.

The biggest problem with DIYLC is the lack of connectivity checking.
There was some minimal functionality added within the last year or so, to show all tracks connected to the point you click on, but there is no way of seeing if you have missed a connection or accidentally shorted tracks together. So you are basically stuck doing connectivity checking manually (which should really be a machine's job).  The "highlight connected tracks" mode is also too slow on my hardware.

I wrote my own free software for doing vero and perf layouts (but it's not for Mac's I'm afraid).
If you have windows or Linux Mint 18.3 you can get it from here.  I'd recommend it but then I am biased.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/veroroute/

It was designed from the start with connectivity checking in mind.  You can import a netlist or even specify the netlist graphically by clicking on components.
So long as the netlist has been specified correctly it is ***impossible*** to produce a design with a short circuit (the software won't let you).  Not only that, it shows you all the things that should be connected together but are not. So it catches all open circuits for you too.

It's geared towards my own compact style of Vero building (which is not for everyone) but the plus is that the layout can be quite close to a PCB layout.
So you can take a vero design in the software like this...


and with a couple of clicks get to a perf layout like this ...



or a mask for toner-transfer ...


and as of this last week it will export Gerber files (still technically a Beta) so you can get single-sided PCBs manufactured.


There's a built in tutorial in the software, and you pretty much have to go through it to be able to use it.

I do my vero layouts with paper and pencil.  It is an iterative process, and will require a lot of erasing before you can finalize your design, but at least there is no software learning obstacle.  Making/breaking your own rules is simple with paper too.  Want to add a component to the underside of the board? Bend component leads to go around other parts?  Simple.

Quote from: EBK on February 11, 2020, 06:47:52 PM
I do my vero layouts with paper and pencil.  It is an iterative process, and will require a lot of erasing before you can finalize your design, but at least there is no software learning obstacle.  Making/breaking your own rules is simple with paper too.  Want to add a component to the underside of the board? Bend component leads to go around other parts?  Simple.

I do my layouts on paper as well, and for the same reasons as Eric. Also, as you only need paper, pencil and the schematics, you Can do it anywhere. Back in the day when I often took the train to work, I did a lot of layouts. More fun than soduko. Now that I am riding my bicycle every day, it's a bit harder....

wow, didnt know veroroute can perf too
thanks, will try

Quote from: EBK on February 11, 2020, 06:47:52 PM
I do my vero layouts with paper and pencil.  It is an iterative process, and will require a lot of erasing before you can finalize your design, but at least there is no software learning obstacle.  Making/breaking your own rules is simple with paper too.  Want to add a component to the underside of the board? Bend component leads to go around other parts?  Simple.

me too, but perf
the reason i still do, make my brain work a bit fast to remember, so when not in front cad software, i still can do, and to killing time is the best do what i love, drawing

error? mistake? just a lesson
i dont care when someone laugh when im doing that. hahaha

Here is the largest layout I've done on paper.  You can see what I meant about bending component leads with a couple of those resistors and several of the jumpers.  I'm not sure if I could have done this in software (maybe).

Quote from: cab42 on February 12, 2020, 01:27:31 AM
More fun than soduko.

I fully agree.  There is a fun puzzle element to it for sure.  It can be really satisfying when you discover a small optimization here and there.

Quote from: SpikeVelvet on February 11, 2020, 04:00:53 PM
If not can anyone give me some tips? I can manage to convert some small circuits but anything bigger than a single transistor boost is outside of my skill set.

Some tips:
1.  Choose a general placement for ICs and other large components first.  You can shift them around later if necessary.  On the example I showed, I also placed the external connections early to keep them tightly organized, but this is somewhat less important.

2.  After placing the large parts, route the power connections to everything and establish power and ground buses.

3.  Identify the busiest nodes in your schematic (places where the most parts connect), and lay those out as individual subcircuit blocks.

4.  When laying out subcircuits, I have found it helpful to place film caps first, using their 0.2" lead spacing to establish where the corresponding circuit nodes will be.

I think  dino @digi2t did a few huge  veroboard projects a number of years ago. Maybe lost to the great photobucket purge.

I go paper and pencil & eraser for tube projects, like others have mentioned great puzzles to do anywhere you can manage the required tools.
dave

> huge  veroboard projects

Quote from: PRR on February 12, 2020, 10:14:34 PM
> huge  veroboard projects

Dino's going to need to trace that one out.
dave

oh my word , Eric did without grid helper.

now im officially jealous

Thanks Everybody

That's a big help and points me in the right direction.

I will check out Dr. Alx's software. It just so happens I run Ubuntu 18.04 so if it works with Mint it should work.

Quote from: SpikeVelvet on February 13, 2020, 09:27:31 AM
Thanks Everybody

That's a big help and points me in the right direction.

I will check out Dr. Alx's software. It just so happens I run Ubuntu 18.04 so if it works with Mint it should work.

Depends on what version of the Qt libraries are installed.
If it does not run, then you can compile it yourself quite easily using the following steps.

1) Download latest version of the source "VeroRoute_V177_Src.zip"
    from  https://sourceforge.net/projects/veroroute/files/
2) Unzip it to a folder.  Go to the folder.  It should have several subfolders and a file called "README".
3) Open a shell (i.e. command line) in that folder, and type the following commands.
      mkdir build
      cd build
      qmake ../Src/veroroute.pro
      make
      cd ..
      rm -f build
4) The compiled program "veroroute" will be in the folder containing the "README" file.

EDIT: Last step should have been

      rm -rf build

EDIT 2:  Get V1.78.    I rushed out V1.77 and it had an annoying bug in how it rendered wires that were not connected to anything.