*PCB Transfer Pattern ReSizing*

[formerMember1]

hi,

Phillip at Fuzzcentral says:
*PCB Transfer Pattern Sizing*  
For the PCB and Layouts that I've drawn, scale them down to 30% of their original size in order to print them out properly for ironing on to copper PC boards.

i was wondering how to do that?  Should i get a shareware/freeware program?  Any sggestions for which one?

Or could i use MS Paint?

thanks

PS:What do you do to accomplish the above?

[Paul Marossy]

If it's not a PDF file, I usually copy a PCB layout into MS Word and manipulate it until it prints out at the right size...

[formerMember1]

yeah i tried that , it won't work, guess the format is not supported or something.
:cry:

[Paul Marossy]

What is the file format?

[mojotron]

With MS Word there is a ruler at the top and left side. I save the layout as a .gif file then use (from the top pulldown menu)

insert->picture->from file

Then select the file with the picture (the .gif) file. From there, you can grab the bottom right corner with the mouse and move the corner of the picture (that just got paisted in) up to the left until the ruler marks align with the ruler marks on the top or left side of the MS Word program.

Then, you know it will print out to the correct size. I do this with PDF's as well - what I do is to do a screen capture, then cut the part out of the capture and use that for the .gif file after paisting into MS Paint.

[formerMember1]

thanks, good idea, but how do i know how many inches to print it out with or whatever?


ill go try it in a few minutes

[mojotron]

thanks, good idea, but how do i know how many inches to print it out with or whatever?


ill go try it in a few minutes

There is a ruler, or a set of ruler marks, on most layout images. When the ruler marks align with the ruler on MS Word that's when it's right.

[formerMember1]

oh thanks but i might have to go another method, since the pedals i am building off of fuzzcentral, don't have those ruler marks, etc..
(axis FAce and Vox CLyde MCCoy wah and output buffer)

thanks mojotron i appreciate your help

[Paul Marossy]

thanks, good idea, but how do i know how many inches to print it out with or whatever?

If the layout has dimensions on it, then you can do what mojotron suggests relatively easily. If you don't have dimensions, then you are kind of guessing - in which case, if you have an IC chip on it, the pins are spaced 1/10" from eachother. If it's just transistors or something, then you are totally guessing. Fortunately, that type of circuit is more forgiving...

EDIT: mojotron beat me to the punch!

[formerMember1]

yeah, one got a inductor, resistors, caps, transistors and other got transistors, caps, resistors.   thanks

I am gonna send phillip a private message, he said on the site to downsize it 30% from original for the exact size.

[Paul Marossy]

The distance between posts on the inductor are the determining factor on the size of the PCB. It's probably 1/2"... :wink:

[mojotron]

Fortunately, that type of circuit is more forgiving...
EDIT: mojotron beat me to the punch!

Great minds think alike  :wink:

Paul makes a good point, what I have done in that situation is to print off one copy on paper. Then fit it to the components you need to put on the board as well as the enclosure. If that size works - you're good to go. From experience though, I have learned to not make things too small when I had to wing it like this. Until you have a larger-sized IC to place - the size/fit is not that important as long as you don't make it too small.

[formerMember1]

i'll do that, thanks guys,

i just gotta wait till i get my parts,

cool

[Paul Marossy]

From experience though, I have learned to not make things too small when I had to wing it like this. Until you have a larger-sized IC to place - the size/fit is not that important as long as you don't make it too small.

Yep.  

[formerMember1]

i still have been having trouble fitting some parts. I want it right.  Anybody use a freeware/shareware program to shrink a layout to print the correct size?(in my case 30%)  What program?

thanks

[Paul Marossy]

i still have been having trouble fitting some parts. I want it right.  Anybody use a freeware/shareware program to shrink a layout to print the correct size?(in my case 30%)  What program?

thanks

There is a free program called "Printkey 2000" that will do that sort of thing. I have it on my computer, and it works great for that sort of thing.  

[KORGULL]

Another free program I've used to shrink down some oversized schematics so they are easier to print is LVIEWP19. I haven't used it on PCB layouts yet - but it should do the trick. If you run the program and click on the edit menu there is a redimension or resize option.
http://www.uwal.org/download/software.htm

[Paul Marossy]

You get Printkey2000 from my site by clicking here

[formerMember1]

cool man, that printkey program works perfect. That's Just what i needed.  Now i could figure out what size of pc board stock to buy

thanks a bunch

[Paul Marossy]

cool man, that printkey program works perfect. That's Just what i needed.  Now i could figure out what size of pc board stock to buy

thanks a bunch

Glad you could use it.