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PCB software Comparisons

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  • Timothy D. SwieterTimothy D. Swieter Posts: 1,613
    edited 2008-10-10 05:02
    I can't speak for particulars, but the next thing to do after you layout a PCB is to produce Gerber files. There is probably some means inside DipTrace to do this.

    With the Gerber files made, you will want to double check them. Use the following web site to upload and verify your files. I even recommend printing them out to check component fit and looks.

    http://www.circuitpeople.com/
    http://www.gerber-viewer.com/

    Once you verify the Gerbers are good, then start sending to different houses for a quote. There are all sorts of options for design houses. For myself, I use www.PCBCart.com. The tooling is fair price and the PCBs are decent price too. I even found shipping to be reasonable, but you might want to double check which carrier you use as I found DHL to be the cheapest to where I am.

    Are you looking for only PCBs to be made or for PCB assemblies as well?

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.

    www.brilldea.com·- Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, uOLED-IOC, eProto fo SunSPOT, BitScope
    www.sxmicro.com - a blog·exploring the SX micro
    www.tdswieter.com
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2008-10-10 07:58
    I use GC-Prevue for checking Gerbers. At least one company (PCB Pool) likes to receive .gwk files, and charges more for Gerbers, as they use GC-Prevue for panelisation, and it saves them some work.

    Batch PCB is popular with hobbyists in the USA, see the SFE Forum:

    http://forum.sparkfun.com/

    They can take up to three weeks, but they are very cheap.

    You could post your design here, for people to make constructive (rude) comments about it.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2008-10-10 16:49
    Ditto to GC-Prevue. Every Gerber/drill file set that I send out gets a thorough perusal with GCP first.

    I use Advanced Circuits for proto boards.

    -Phil
  • Lord SteveLord Steve Posts: 206
    edited 2008-10-10 20:16
    hmlittle said...
    ...I've switched to DipTrace...
    I tried DipTrace in March/April.· Bye bye, Eagle!
    hmlittle said...
    ...I have no clue witch (Board House) to use...
    If you can wait about 3 weeks,·www.batchpcb.com is your friend.
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