Path: 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

>>>    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