Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!haven!umbc3!cbw1!brian
From: brian@cbw1.UUCP (Brian Cuthie)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Recommendations for PC board layout programs?
Message-ID: <128@cbw1.UUCP>
Date: 4 Jan 89 17:40:15 GMT
References: <2794.23E998F3@mailcom.FIDONET.ORG> <436@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP>
Reply-To: brian@cbw1.UMD.EDU (Brian Cuthie)
Organization: CBW, Columbia, MD 21046
Lines: 58

In article <436@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> hermann@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Michael Hermann) writes:
>In article <2794.23E998F3@mailcom.FIDONET.ORG>, postmaster@mailcom.FIDONET.ORG (Bernard Aboba) writes:
>> Just wondered if users of various PC board layout programs might be 
>> willing to recommend an (inexpensive, if possible) program to layout a PC 
>> board.  It would be nice if there were also an autorouting module 
>> available for it.
>
>    I'd be interested in any advice in this direction as well.
>

Well... I just evaluated a couple of them and here's what I found out:

First, they fall into two catagories: smart and stupid.  How can you tell
which is which ??  Easy.

Stupid: TANGO ($500.00)

Tango is virtually useless other than as a replacement to taping methods.  It
doesn't know anything about nets.  Basically what you draw is what you get.
It can't tell you that you've just connected +5v to GND, for instance.

Smart:	PADS-PCB ($1000.00)

This product is actually a suprisingly good PCB layout program.  It has
extensive support for SMD (surface mount devices) as well as true multilayer
designes.  It has several autorouter options available including a rip-up
router that claims %100 completion on almost any board that is routable.
Tracks can be dragged.  Vias are automatically inserted when you switch
layers of a trace.  Vias are deleted when you edit a trace such that a via
is unecessary.  As you route a trace the RAT is rubberbanded to the place
you are trying to route to (so you know where you're going).  It's a good
program.

PADS-PCB can be purchased from a number of sources.  ZYREL (408) 433 - 0488
also offers a full service bureau including: PCB fab, Assembly, and artwork
plots.  They even will lease time on their super-router.  So, you can place
the parts and hand route the critical signals and then let them auto-route
the tough sections :-).

I would not recommend programs that are tape replacements (like TANGO) to
anyone unless you just plain can't afford something like PADS.  The
difference in price versus functionality is more on the order of 100 to 1
rather than the 2 to 1 the list prices would suggest.  ZYREL will also send
a free demo package upon request.

If you want more info than I feel like typing here, you are welcome to call
me on the phone.

-brian

BTW:  I liked PADS enough to buy it.  I do not, however, have any
affiliation with ZYREL (or anyone else for that matter...)

(301) 381 - 1718

-- 
Brian D. Cuthie                                 uunet!umbc3!cbw1!brian
Columbia, MD                                    brian@umbc3.umd.edu