DIY Layout Creator - software for easy drawing PCB, vero and perfboard layouts

[bancika]

added battery snap and strat style switch (standard and super/mega type).

http://code.google.com/p/diy-layout-creator/downloads/list

Cheers

[pakrat]

Thank you very much for this bancika!

[digi2t]

I love the prog, but one thing bugs me with the ver. 3. Whenever I put a resistor or diode upright, I lose the name i.e. R6. I have to manually create "R6" with the text tool, and then place it next to the component.

It's a PITA... but everything else is hunky dory for me.

[snarblinge]

^ where were you one page ago?

[Perrow]

I love the prog, but one thing bugs me with the ver. 3. Whenever I put a resistor or diode upright, I lose the name i.e. R6. I have to manually create "R6" with the text tool, and then place it next to the component.

It's a PITA... but everything else is hunky dory for me.

It's a known bug, but a PITA none the less.

[bancika]

not a bug per se...I could easily do it, but the question is - where do you put the label. Then you may want to be able to place it anywhere which would only apply to standing resistors, which makes it a bit complicated...

[deadastronaut]

not a prob for me.....i just whack a label next to it......

or do your layout better you fussy @#$%ers..

[Perrow]

not a bug per se...I could easily do it, but the question is - where do you put the label. Then you may want to be able to place it anywhere which would only apply to standing resistors, which makes it a bit complicated...

The problem I have with labels are that they don't stick to the component, so they stay behind when I move it. If I could stick that label to the component and have them move together it'd be great, kind of like grouped components, each control point editable when selected, but moved as a group.

Speaking of labels, when do we get rotation and alignment? 

[bancika]

it's still a pain...what happens when you stretch the resistor so it's not standing anymore? Delete the extra component and ungroup...I can't possibly fit that into the framework. Every component is by itself and cannot communicate with other, nor does it know about their existence. I believe that's the way to do it, that architecture is flexible enough to draw anything (just remove library.jar and code your own components).
Cheers

[Perrow]

it's still a pain...what happens when you stretch the resistor so it's not standing anymore? Delete the extra component and ungroup...I can't possibly fit that into the framework. Every component is by itself and cannot communicate with other, nor does it know about their existence. I believe that's the way to do it, that architecture is flexible enough to draw anything (just remove library.jar and code your own components).
Cheers

I'd say, make it a grouping type where all grouped components goes into "edit mode" when the group is selected. I can see how that would be useful in more ways than for standing resistors. One question is of course what happens when the layer of one grouped component is locked. Hmm, I leave that one to you 

[Perrow]

it's still a pain...what happens when you stretch the resistor so it's not standing anymore? Delete the extra component and ungroup...I can't possibly fit that into the framework. Every component is by itself and cannot communicate with other, nor does it know about their existence. I believe that's the way to do it, that architecture is flexible enough to draw anything (just remove library.jar and code your own components).
Cheers

I'd say, make it a grouping type where all grouped components goes into "edit mode" when the group is selected. I can see how that would be useful in more ways than for standing resistors. One question is of course what happens when the layer of one grouped component is locked. Hmm, I leave that one to you 

Call it a "Join"? One of the properties being what layer it's on. Context menu to reach the individual parts properties.

[bancika]

why not just group them. I think I implemented that functionality

[Perrow]

I tried, but couldn't get it to work that way.

[CodeMonk]

Just out of curiosity (And I'm experimenting), for those that use this wonderful piece of software and etch your own boards via the thermal method, What are your default sizes for traces and pads?
Currently I'm using 1.1mm for traces and 2.1 for pads.
Pads for switches and pots I use 2.4mm, wires, generally 2.2mm

Back when I used version 1.x, I think the default size for pads was 1.5mm, but I found that to small.
Can't remember what the default size for traces were.

I'm looking at going smaller.
Maybe 1.8mm for pads. 1.5mm looks to small. Especially for ICs.
My reasoning for the larger (2.1mm) for pads was to allow for my crappy drilling. I've gotten better and have a slightly better setup for drilling.
I set up a magnifying lens on my drill press, which helps quite a bit.

0.8mm for traces

[Perrow]

I like black. The blacker the board, the less etchant I will spend. 1.3 mm traces, 0.09 inch pads, and fill up with as much ground as I can possibly fit.

I don't quite get the "thermal" part of your question, I use photo boards and sodium persulfate.

[CodeMonk]

I like black. The blacker the board, the less etchant I will spend. 1.3 mm traces, 0.09 inch pads, and fill up with as much ground as I can possibly fit.

I don't quite get the "thermal" part of your question, I use photo boards and sodium persulfate.

My bad.
Thermal transfer.
I use an iron to transfer from paper to copper.

[Perrow]

My bad.
Thermal transfer.
I use an iron to transfer from paper to copper.

I thought that might be it, but wasn't sure.

[nicksorenson]

This may have been asked before. I didn't see an FAQ section, but is/will there be the possibility to export Gerber/Other type files for having boards made by a PCB house?

If it's been asked, sorry to ask again! But I'm very curious. Looks like great software.

[Perrow]

This may have been asked before. I didn't see an FAQ section, but is/will there be the possibility to export Gerber/Other type files for having boards made by a PCB house?

If it's been asked, sorry to ask again! But I'm very curious. Looks like great software.

No, not yet. I think there's an "Issue" raised about this, but I might be wrong. It is a big thing to add to a software like this, so I don't see it happening anytime soon, but I might be wrong.

[deadastronaut]

just a heads up  report:

importing an image is fine, but if you want to copy and paste that image...it closes diylc!.