More Express PCB schematic frustration

[mordechai]

So I've drawn up a simple schematic -- a fuzz face -- and though all the lines are connected, when I do a "netlist" check, I keep on getting a respponse saying that such-and-such a pin or point is only connected to one wire, or not connected.  I delete, redraw, reconnect, and the same problem persists.  I have NO clue how to get past this, I've been wrestling with it for over an hour now.  Could someone please help me?

[arma61]

Hi

may be I can, I'm not an expert but all the works I do I do with Express PCB and SCH.

if you can post/send me the schematic, I can check it, ad spot some error.

Ciao

[J0K3RX]

Save yourself a huge headache and use Sprint or diylc...

[R.G.]

It looks like "FreePCB" does the necessary stuff. I haven't tried it but it has design rule checking, including against the schematic for shorts and open (that is, traces not yet routed), and allows the other necessary stuff, including producing Gerber output. And it's free.

http://www.freepcb.com/

[John Lyons]

Freepcb seems to have a few pitfalls.
If only someone would design something like expresspcb with gerber output. 

[EATyourGuitar]

there are hacks for expressPCB to get gerber output but you will NOT have a silkscreen 

I like the software but I dropped it fast when I realized you can not export gerbers directly. I'm using eagle now and I love it. the only problem I have with eagle is the silkscreen text always looks differrent in GerbV when I proof read the gerbers before production.

[R.G.]

Freepcb seems to have a few pitfalls.

They all do. The perfect PCB software suite has not been written yet, and may never be. Then there's the issue of making the perfect software suite become free, which may be even harder to get to .

If only someone would design something like expresspcb with gerber output.

I suspect that expressPCB does generate gerber internally, or the original program did and it was removed. The "lack" of gerber output was intentional, designed to tether you to the company for making PCBs.

[Steve Mavronis]

There was a guy on here at one time offering to convert ExpressPCB files to Gerber format for you as a service.

If you want Gerber format to send off for PCB production what's the difference than using ExpressPCB's board making service? For $50 you can get 3 identical miniboards, single or double sided, and if you fit up to 2 PCB layout per board that's 6 you can cut out for around $8.33 a piece.

Also don't forget the possibility of not needing Gerber files if you can make your own PCB. You can print the ExpressPCB layout at 300 dpi from the program. I've actually done it by 'printing' to a PDF file and importing that into a graphics program like GIMP for final tweaking/duplication to fill a page and then print that at 300 dpi to a transparency sheet and getting someone to light expose contact print it to then etch my PCB. As far as GIMP goes you could probably make a PCB layout from scratch there, even in layers, but ExpressPCB is easier to work with placing traces and components, plus its a breeze to make your own custom components for your parts library.

[mordechai]

That sounds like a very feasible strategy.  I would love to learn how to use GIMP...like most graphics programs, it looks a little involved and mastering the mechanics of the software seems a bit intimidating.  I wonder if there is a good online tutorial for it. 

[Steve Mavronis]

That sounds like a very feasible strategy.  I would love to learn how to use GIMP...like most graphics programs, it looks a little involved and mastering the mechanics of the software seems a bit intimidating.  I wonder if there is a good online tutorial for it.  

GIMP is easier than it first looks. You just have a set of tools and they are pretty straight-forward to use.  There are lots of YouTube videos on how to do different techiques. I used to use Photoshop Pro back in the day but switched to GIMP because its free and does everything Photoshop and Illustrator can do. - www.gimp.org

[EATyourGuitar]

GIMP is good for graphics design, not PCB! GIMP is pixel based, not vector based. but now that adobe is giving away an older version of photoshop for free, GIMP is completely inferior in the free category. GIMP has better python scripting still but thats all it really has to brag about.

just off the top of my head, there are 3 free programs for PCB design that pop-up very often. KiCAD, Cadsoft Eagle, Diptrace. if you want a very limited but easy to use layout designer for single sided PCB's and only through-hole components, DIY layout creator can do the same crappy pixel render that GIMP can do but has a parts library and a grid snap that GIMP does not have.

[GGBB]

GIMP is good for graphics design, not PCB!

Agreed.  If you are going the route of importing PDFs for modification, try Inkscape which is also free and is vector based.  As GIMP is to Photoshop, Inkscape is to Adobe Illustrator.  I've started monkeying around in Inkscape using a DIYLC trace mask export to PDF and I'm liking what I can do.  The only problem is that DIYLC is somewhat imprecise in producing the masks - it rounds trace, pad and hole sizes and traces seem to always  be slightly misaligned from the pads.  Those things can be corrected in Inkscape, but it takes time.  Here's an example of what I have been able to do: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=100178.msg881886#msg881886.  Those are PNG images, but Inkscape can also produce PDF output.

[davent]

I'm with Gord. Inkscape is great for tweaking PCB layouts, either the ones i create with ExpressPCB (font sucks) or other peoples pdf files from the web. Some that are available are locked and only allow limited mods others you can totally deconstruct and tweak endlessly if you're so inclined... guilty. Really Like what you've put up in that link.

dave