[TriEmbed] Fwd: [Splat Space] Re: PCB design software

[Scott Hall]

Charles,

One of the difficulties I've had with PCB routing and layout in the past is
considering crosstalk between traces.  You have to consider if similar
signals are on adjacent traces and whether signal levels at that point are
strong enough to induce inductive currents between them.  In audio you can
hear this as two disparate channels having a low-level "ghost" of the other
channel present.  Another consideration is the frequencies involved and the
shape of the traces -- sharp corners tend to radiate RFI at higher
frequencies.  Routing different segments in different shapes using
different lengths and possibly adding ground or power traces between them
or routing them at angles to each other helps with these two problems.
Then you can introduce timing differences between parallel signals -- think
how the Olympic tracks have a staggered start for lanes to compensate for
larger distances on the outside lanes.  You may need to add an S curve to
sync things up again.  Finally consider the width (and thickness) of traces
per the currents that they will have to handle.  Most folks underestimate
trace losses with routing power (Vcc) and ground (Vdd) signals.


On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 7:17 PM, Charles West <crwest at ncsu.edu> wrote:

> Just a quick mention.  I'm currently working on an open source
> auto-router, if anyone is interested in that sort of thing.  Too early to
> tell how useful it would be (but I think I am bad enough at PCB design that
> it wouldn't be that hard to do better).
>
> Gonna start with a JSON/text based format and use A*/shortest path first
> routing with an off the shelf gradient free optimizer for component
> placement.  We'll see if it is any good in a few months.
>
> Thanks,
> Charlie
>
> On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 6:53 PM, Shane Trent via TriEmbed <
> triembed at triembed.org> wrote:
>
>> The latest Free version of Eagle Supports two schematic sheets. It is
>> also for non-commercial use.
>> https://cadsoft.io/pricing/
>>
>> Eagle PCB was recently purchased by Autodesk.
>> http://hackaday.com/2016/07/05/the-future-of-eagle-cad/
>>
>> Shane
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 6:30 PM Robert Gasiorowski via TriEmbed <
>> triembed at triembed.org> wrote:
>>
>>> With free version, you can create 2 layer, 100mm x 80mm boards.
>>> You can only have one schematic sheet, but it is pretty much unlimited
>>> in size.
>>> Also, you can create boards that are larger than 100mm x 80mm with free
>>> version, but it requires some trickery.
>>>
>>> Rob.
>>>
>>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 6:06 PM, Scott Hall via TriEmbed <
>>> triembed at triembed.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Over the last year or so the TriEmbed group has had this very
>>>> discussion.  So I am cross-posting this to TriEmbed's discussion so that
>>>> folks can reiterate the information.
>>>>
>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>> From: Ian Baillie <mountainman28753 at gmail.com>
>>>> Date: Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 4:57 PM
>>>> Subject: [Splat Space] Re: PCB design software
>>>> To: Splat Space <durham-makerspace at googlegroups.com>
>>>>
>>>> On Monday, August 15, 2016 at 2:14:48 PM UTC-4, bill wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Can someone give me the quick rundown of Eagle PCB design software? I
>>>>> was thinking it was free but it appears that it is limited restricted based
>>>>> on various design requirements,
>>>>>
>>>>> If I need to make some simple two sided boards, what version of the
>>>>> software would I need? Can I produce schematic files to send to a fab shop
>>>>> with the free version? What are the restrictions?
>>>>>
>>>>> I appreciate any help offered.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill
>>>>>
>>>>> Look into Kicad, that is the software we've been using at our space
>>>> (Asheville), with good results. It is actually free, instead of partially
>>>> free. Prior to that, we used Eagle. Just.my .02
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Scott G. Hall
>>>> Raleigh, NC, USA
>>>> scottghall1 at gmail.com
>>>>
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>


-- 
Scott G. Hall
Raleigh, NC, USA
scottghall1 at gmail.com
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