msd@enh.nist.gov (M. Scott Dewey) (08/20/90)
Hi folks,
Recently I've been called upon to use printed circuit board software
(PC/TANGO, a commercial product in this case). I've learned that the
procedure using this software involves three steps: first a schematic is
entered from which a net list is generated; second, the board is outlined
and components placed on the board; and third, a router takes the board and
net list and attempts to route the connections. Whatever connections
aren't made by the router are finally done by hand. I suspect this
procedure is pretty familiar to those who commonly use such programs.
Unfortunately we're missing the software for the first part of the
procedure (the schematic capture program) which generates the simple ascii
file (or net list) listing groups of pins that are connected. Of course
such a list can be entered manually using an editor. In looking at what's
available on the simtel archives, the following programs caught my eye:
Directory PD1:<MSDOS.CAD>
Filename Type Length Date Description
==============================================
AUTOSK13.ARC B 109245 890821 Drawing pgm optimized for schematics (DEMO)
EDRAW32.ARC B 132096 881017 Electronics drawing CAD
PCB.ARC B 127508 890325 Small PC board CAD pgm w/'C' src, 286 only
PCCD205.ARC B 252194 891221 PC-Draft-CAD drawing/drafting CAD pgm, v2.05
PCROUTE2.ZIP B 104499 900413 Computer aided design, printed circuit boards
PSPICE.ARC B 590622 880507 Electronic circuit design aid, limited demo
I would be interested in hearing about any experiences people have had with
any of these programs. I'm especially interested in finding out whether
any of these programs is particularly good at prompting for a schematic and
generating a net list.
Thanks!
--
NAME: Dr. M. Scott Dewey TELE: (301) 975-4843
DIVISION: Quantum Metrology INTERNET: msd@enh.nist.gov
USMAIL: NIST (formerly NBS) BITNET: msd@nbsenh
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