Article View: sci.electronics
Article #3713Re: PCB vs. wirewrap--AMIGA PCB CAD
From: peg
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1989 02:18
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1989 02:18
65 lines
2754 bytes
2754 bytes
>>> Oh, can anyone recommend a cheap auto-routing PCB design package?
>
> I don't care, but preferably somthing DOS, GEM (i.e. IBM or Atari ST),
> or Amiga. Don't wanna buy a 386i or Sun-4.
Damn, damn, damn! I will never throw away another thing in my life! I
had hardcopy of info I received on PCLO--now BoardMaster--for the Amiga.
See Dave Haynie's post on here. I had inquired about PCLO on comp.sys.
amiga. Someone replied with copies of earlier postings which I threw
out just a few days ago.
Anyway, BoardMaster is an upgrade of the original PCLO that cost $1000
or so, and it now costs about $80 mail order. Yes, $80. Its main
limitation is that it only lays out parts on a 0.050 or 0.025 inch
grid--DSUB connectors and some other stuff is difficult to fit. For
the money I really don't think you can complain in the slightest. If
you are doing hobby or small production work, BoardMaster may be good
for you--but it won't keep up with the pro stuff on "other" computers.
As for autorouting: the authors suggest using ARexx to implement it.
I have no idea how practical a suggestion that is: I haven't used
ARexx. I actually talked to someone at the publisher and it sounded
like it HAD actually been done and did work.
Features from an ad:
60 PCB ARexx commands
library facility
multiple silks
excellon drill tapes
iff images of boards
interactive router
diag or rect
dynamic trace sizing
global trace following
autorouting w/ ARexx
export hole size to silk
auto dip,sip,pga
global undo
onscreen plotter simulation
macros
pan w/ prop gadgets
not copy protected
Needs more than 1 Meg! About 960k.
support for hpgl, hiplot, hpljII
Schematic capture on the way for about the same price.
So there it is. You could easily use a utility to do hpgl to printer
conversion. Hope this helps.
By the way, I am not associated with Black Belt Systems in any way. I
was looking for PCB software, found this, and as soon as I can buy 2Meg
of RAM I will buy the software!!
Some dealers have BoardMaster (make sure they have the PCB--not the game!!)
or call:
Black Belt Systems 406-367-5509
Good luck! (GO AMIGA!!)
Paul
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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!psuecl!peg From: peg@psuecl.bitnet Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: PCB vs. wirewrap--AMIGA PCB CAD Message-ID: <65559@psuecl.bitnet> Date: 14 Nov 89 02:18:23 GMT References: <850@carroll1.UUCP> <65276@psuecl.bitnet> <852@carroll1.UUCP> Distribution: usa Organization: Engineering Computer Lab, Pennsylvania State University Lines: 65