hybridfree/eevblog-posts huggingface dataset:
Help convert Allegro Design to ASCII format - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dangntran@gmail.com
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 07, 2020, 04:37:40 am
content: Can someone with Allegro help covert this Allegro file into ASCII format so I can import it into Altium. Thanks

author: Evan.Cornell
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2020, 01:51:20 pm
content: Try attached. No promises.

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2020, 03:34:04 pm
content: I converted it directly from the brd

author: dangntran@gmail.com
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 07, 2020, 06:20:37 pm
content: Thanks this one worked.Pseudobyte's verions that is.
OrCAD 17.2 latest hotfix? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2020, 04:40:07 pm
content: I'm struggling with problems after updating Windows 10 regarding USB-Dongle and license server.Does anyone have access to the cadence download section?Please, what is the latest hotfix version for OrCAD 17.20? Was there an update for "Cadence License Manager v12.08-s001"?Any help is highly appreciated

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2020, 04:06:30 pm
content: I am not sure what the latest hotfix is because we migrated to 17.4.The last hotfix for 17.2 we have on our internal network is Hotfix_SPB17.20.057_wint_1of1On my new laptop i did have install issues with the dongle and license manager.Go through the regular license manager install, it will fail trying to install dongle driver. Go to gemalto's site and get the latest sentinel LDK Run-Time (HASPUserSetup). Run that and install. Restart your PC and then you will need to start the license manager service manually. (winkey + r, services.msc >> find "Cadence License Manager" make sure the startup is set to automatic and then right click and press start.Allegro should now open!

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 19, 2020, 09:18:31 am
content: Heureka! Thank you Pseudobyte.

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2020, 05:30:06 pm
content: Oh and i wrote a script to restart the license server when you forget to boot up with your dongle installed. Save it as a .bat file. The UAC stuff is just for getting administrative privileges because to manage services you need to be elevated.Code:@echo off:: BatchGotAdmin:-------------------------------------REM --> Check for permissions>nul 2>&1 "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\cacls.exe" "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\config\system"REM --> If error flag set, we do not have admin.if '%errorlevel%' NEQ '0' (echo Requesting administrative privileges...goto UACPrompt) else ( goto gotAdmin ):UACPromptecho Set UAC = CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^) > "%temp%\getadmin.vbs"echo UAC.ShellExecute "%~s0", "", "", "runas", 1 >> "%temp%\getadmin.vbs""%temp%\getadmin.vbs"exit /B:gotAdminif exist "%temp%\getadmin.vbs" ( del "%temp%\getadmin.vbs" )pushd "%CD%"CD /D "%~dp0":--------------------------------------net stop "Cadence License Manager" && net start "Cadence License Manager"

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2020, 10:54:39 pm
content: Quote from: Pseudobyte on September 21, 2020, 05:30:06 pmCool, thank you.

author: Evan.Cornell
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2020, 02:13:00 pm
content: I have a node-locked license (no USB dongle) and have found that occasionally I need to restart the Cadence license manager service after a windows 10 reboot. Not sure of root cause.
I designed QFP100 and EQFP64 adapter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ETITsynthesizer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 01:13:32 pm
content: I designed QFP100 and EQFP64 adapter. using surface mounted pin headers I was able to fit two designs on one PCB. flip it over if you need the other one. QFP is 0.5mm pitch. EQFP is 0.4mm. do you think drag soldering is possible 0.4mm?

author: JLCPCB Official
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 01:54:48 pm
content: Yes it is possible as long as you are having the right tools for this

author: ETITsynthesizer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2020, 12:58:33 am
content: JLC did a good job with the PCB's. the customer service was very good. thank you JLC. message me if you would want one of these. I have a few extra. I ship world wide.
Survey of tools used: PCB Design and Simulation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Mike2020
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 06:53:27 pm
content: Hello fellow EEs,I am planning on developing an extension for PCB designers and wanted to make sure it reaches most users.Could you please comment what tools you are using for PCB Design and Simulation, Free/Paid Tool, Company you work for/Hobby.Please take a poll to indicate the tool you are currently using.You can select multiple options:http://www.polljunkie.com/poll/npwejo/survey-pcb-sw-toolFrom a 2017 survey per "Printed Circuit Design & Fab Magazine", Used weekly•Altium Designer: (30.9%)•Cadence Allegro: (29.9%)•Mentor XPedition: (23.9%)•Mentor Pads: (20.3%)•Cadence OrCAD: (15.3%)•Mentor Board Station: (5.6%)•Zuken CR-5000: (5%)•Zuken CR-8000: (2.3%)•Eagle: (1.7%)•Zuken CADStar: (1%)•Other: (12%) "I'm fairly new to these topics and would like to develop skills that are widely used in the industry.Appreciate the response.Best regards,Mike

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 10:16:37 pm
content: The results of the survey will likely be a bit biased since it doesn't allow for one to use multiple tools.

author: Mike2020
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 31, 2020, 02:13:00 am
content: Thank you dunkemhigh, I fixed it with a new poll:http://www.polljunkie.com/poll/npwejo/survey-pcb-sw-tool

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2020, 03:04:12 pm
content: The poll here has just 7 votes, while on polljunkie there are 40 now.Would you like to disclose any info on what your extension is supposed to do and how it relates to "PCB designers"?> "I'm fairly new to these topics and would like to develop skills that are widely used in the industry."Full disclosure: I'm a biased KiCad fanboyWhat may be relevant to you:As an Open Source program, you have full access to KiCad 's source codereview it and learn from it. There are also lots of other people who have ade extensions and side projects around KiCad. For example, this page on github has a manually moderated list of 60+ projects:https://github.com/xesscorp/kicad-3rd-party-toolsAs an Open Source project, you also have full access to KiCad's file format. Files are also in easily parsible plain text which makes scripting easier and also allows for search and replace operations with a text editor.Documentation to the file formats is on:https://kicad-pcb.org/help/file-formats/
pcb-rnd 2.2.4 release - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ScribblesOnNapkins
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2020, 06:08:07 pm
content: From the mailing list;"Hi all,pcb-rnd 2.2.4 is available from the download page. (Windows binaries willfollow later.)Project page:http://pcb-rnd.repo.huThe next development cycle will focus on going on with the librndseparation and finishing the high freq DRC addons.Release notes for 2.2.4:pcb-rnd 2.2.4~~~~~~~~~~~~~This version is mainly a cleanup release that makes the next major stepin librnd separation. It also features important infrastructural improvements.Feature highlight:1. Librnd separationSplit the SVN repositories, librnd is in a separate repositoryand can be compiled stand-alone (but for this release, it's stillspread across pcb-rnd source tree in forms of svn:externs).2. Menu patchingBe able to load menu files and menu patches and merge them runtime.This allows plugins and user patch files to make modifications to themenu, without having to edit and then maintain diffs of the central menufile.3. Generic support for external autoroutersA new plugin that supports both "single click/action" CLI and GUI forexport-execute-import iterations using external autorouters such asroute-rnd.4. Import plugins for four new netlist file formatsIncluding: Accel EDA, Orcad, PADS and Protel netlists.Best regards,Igor2"
Simulating zig zag transformer produces DC output! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2020, 04:14:10 am
content: Using Simetrix to try and simulate a zig zag transformer. If I simply wire it up as per normal I get huge circulating currents in two of the phases. If I put a 10 ohm resistor in the wires that go to ground, one of the wires has zero current and the other two have opposite polarity DC currents, or so the simulator says. I've spent several hours on this and I can't get it right. Any ideas?What a zig zag tranny is ->https://www.mathworks.com/help/physmod/sps/powersys/ref/groundingtransformer.html

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2020, 05:00:40 am
content: Try setting the sources initially to zero?Tim

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2020, 07:02:32 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on September 16, 2020, 05:00:40 amYep, that was it. Phase A was starting at the zero crossing but the other naturally were not. Now B starts 6.66mS after A, and C a further 6.66mS. i had to put 1mR current limiting resistors in series with the sources otherwise the simulator got upset. Now it seems to work. Now to try it out with that three phase rectifier ripple cancelling idea! Thanks Tim.
Free CAD -  Solid Edge Community Edition  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: olkipukki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2020, 10:45:39 am
content: A few times been discussed here and people asked for free CAD.Thanks to OS CADs and a pressure on big players to look a bit further than their nose,more and more commercial stripped down or restricted CADs are available now, so you can try Solid Edge Community Editionhttps://solidedge.siemens.com/en/solutions/users/hobbyists-and-makers/https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/plmapp/education/solid-edge/en_us/free-software/community

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2020, 04:27:26 pm
content: I guess Fusion 360 was getting a lot of attention lately.

author: Ducttape
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2020, 07:42:36 pm
content: Thanks for the heads up. I just successfully used it to create and transfer a trivial ('Hello World' analogous) 2D shape into Diptrace via dxf.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2020, 08:55:48 pm
content: It looks to be a lot more restrictive than fusion360, and there is no upgrade path, odd.But in terms of a permanent standalone license, that may be preferred for some over cloud.QuoteI don't think OS CAD has anything to do with it, IMO.
youtube tutorial on making a coil bobbin in solidworks - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2020, 05:36:07 am
content: I have solidworks and very little experience or patience for learning it,Does anyone have a youtube video that shows something like a spiral being made, basically I want to use my 3d printer to print something to wind an inductor on. I was hoping for a general shape, so I can just learn to resize it for my purposes to get limited use of out solid works.I mean a axial inductor, so I want to learn how to make a spiral on a cylinder, or possibly other shape, like a doughnut or wedge (not necessarily a round inductor).I need something that I can pause and go back on because I am not good at learning 3d cad programs. I did this with a heat sink before, with the video I have some where, I can resize it to make any simple heat sink if I follow the steps and change some numbers, with little fustration in around 30 minutes. I know a heat sink and a inductor bobbin are basically the same thing, but the inductor needs to have a spiral, the heat sink is peice wise unfortunately.I would prefer to start with one that does not have the dumbell shape, just a simple rod (i.e. ferrite rod antenna).

author: E-Design
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2020, 11:48:27 pm
content: Search on Youtube "Solidworks Coil" = ALL kinds of relevant hits..Such as this random oneWhy dont you try out the search feature??

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2020, 01:25:27 am
content: because thats a coil and not a coil bobbin with a moon trench for the wire to sit in?
EasyEDA tutorials - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: zenerbjt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2020, 10:36:47 am
content: Dear Engineers,Please give links to good basic easyEDA tutorials?...i can lay out in Eagle no probs, but EasyEDA is well stumping me...i just spent 3 hours putting two components into the library.Ive searched youtube and the web but cant find anything that good.

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2020, 03:14:08 am
content: Quote from: zenerbjt on August 14, 2020, 10:36:47 amAre you serious?In 3 hours I basically had my whole design laid out. Never ever used it before.It's just first going to your schematic, hit place component, or use the EELib on the left side.Once you're done with that, you save the schematic, and convert it to PCBFor specific components I just look at the LCSC website, the vast majority has footprints.These can also be found with place components.

author: zenerbjt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2020, 10:52:28 am
content: We often need to create components.With easyEDA, we cant seem to be able to make a library file on the computer, then put library components in it. This is necessary since we have a dedicated library for each of our PCBs.

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2020, 03:33:45 pm
content: Quote from: zenerbjt on August 23, 2020, 10:52:28 amMay I ask what components you're talking about?The database with LCSC as well community database is so enormous that I haven't had any trouble finding 95% of the components I need.Obviously EasyEDA's main focus is being an online EDA to more or less promote their PCB service as well as LCSC products.So managing your whole own offline database is going to be tricky, that is just the nature of the beast.I only don't really see what this has to do with you first question, being unable to route anything.
Infineon models and NI Multisim - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2020, 11:54:14 pm
content: Does anyone know a convenient way to load Infineon simulation models (zip file, inside there is *.lib) into NI Multisim? The one I downloaded should have a few different mosfet models inside. I also tried to add it into Altium, no error, but shows empty library. But question is about Multisim.Thanks.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2020, 01:58:00 am
content: Well first rename it to .cir (Multisim) or .ckt (Altium)...SPICE models are plain text, you can read them and see the format; if that's not what you've got, well, keep looking.Tim
Buying older SW - Corel Designer Technical Suite - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2020, 07:09:52 pm
content: Hello. does anyone know a source that would still sell a FULL LEGAL version of this software?Sought is Corel Designer Technical Suite X5 or X6, with license and media. No copy, crack, download and no Edu-version.And please - do not waste my time with any lectures about why the newest version is better or what I should do instead - I have very good reason to do it this way.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2020, 10:37:42 pm
content: I guess nobody will help with the "arrogance" behind

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2020, 11:55:51 pm
content: There is no arrogance, but a pre-established need to proceed exactly as described. I.e. to get a SW that allows to reach back to Drawings made with micrografx designer while having no time for retraining. Must run under W7.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 02:05:19 am
content: All I can think of:2nd hand market, eg eBay. Sadly looks mostly like Personal/Edu copiesEmailing Corel directly

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2020, 03:12:12 pm
content: Quote from: ebclr on July 07, 2020, 10:37:42 pmI also really don't see any arrogance, just a clear explanation?Finding older licenses can actually be very useful, most of the time only minor things are being updated.For the same reason I worked with PADS (for PCB design) and CoCreate 8 (3D CAD) at a certain company.There was just no need to upgrade it and waste money for new licenses.Best place would be either Ebay, sometimes Amazon but in general you just have to be lucky.E-mailing companies directly for licenses won't really work in my experience.They will always try to let you buy a new licenses, sometimes with a discount.
OrCAD/Allegro : ReAnnotate REFDES without affecting layout? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2018, 10:59:25 pm
content: I'd like to reannotate my schematic but the last time I did this after the layout has been performed it seemed to break the component locations. Meaning that any component that changed REFDES was no longer placed and had to manually re-place the affected components.Is there a way to prevent this from happening or am I going to need to manually update the REFDES in the schematic by double-clicking on parts and changing their values?

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2018, 10:34:53 pm
content: You got me there. I'll have to look into it, I guess you're asking for Capture, right? The native Concept tool handles this correctly, but is maddening to use otherwise.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2018, 11:51:47 pm
content: Yes. Capture. If you use the re-annotate feature in capture, export a netlist, then import the logic into Allegro all of the components that changed REFDES are unplaced.I decided to do it in chunks to make the re-layout easier and apparently if you just rename the parts manually it seems to work fine.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2018, 01:30:35 am
content: I think you need to back annotate from Allegro back to Capture first.I've never had to reannotate in Capture. I can dig into it at work in my spare time.

author: U96
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 16, 2018, 01:35:19 pm
content: Hi,What you do is the following:1. Create a netlist of your current schematic and load it into your PCB. (make sure the "device/net/pin name char limit" is set to 255 in the 'setup' menu of the "create netlist" window)2. in Capture, go to the Annotate menu and select 'Unconditional reference update'. Also tick the 'REFDES control required' box. In the table which becomes visible choose your start and end value so that ALL refdesses are to be new ( nothing that will be assigned can be already in the current design.) so for instance Start value 10000 and end value 20000.3. i'm not fully sure about this step, but i always use it when i have to perform this task: enable the box "Preserve designator"4. create a netlist of this newly annotated schematic and load it in the PCB. no components should be removed from the board5. now go to your schematic and do a new annotation of all refdesses the way you like. (make sure NO refdesses are reused from the range earlier specified (10000 to 20000 in this case)6. create netlist and load in the PCB. >> doneAllegro tries to match new/changed components to the pcb based on REFDES. by doing it like above we force allegro to other methods of matching. (some internal referencing)Greetings!

author: jsvirzi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 14, 2020, 02:17:39 pm
content: This worked like a charm. Thank you for the small details about how to make it work.
Is there any free online circuit simulator for beginners? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: novicefedora
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 10:56:54 pm
content: I'm trying a simulate a circuit but all the free online circuit simulators are not intuitive, each one is missing one feature or other. Is there any free online circuit simulator for beginners? I tried easyeda and I couldn't find traces to connect to components. On another one, I couldn't find ground symbol until I checked easyeda and found it referred to as gnd.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 10:58:22 pm
content: I guess the problem is the one in front of the keyboard

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2020, 11:01:37 pm
content: Have you tried ?https://www.falstad.com/circuit/

author: asperised
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2020, 01:59:12 pm
content: What do you mean when you say simulating circuits? If it's just beginner level stuff you can try out TinkerCAD, it has a built in Arduino programmer as well!! I'm using it to practice the circuits present in the book Make: Electronics.If what you're looking after is advanced stuff then I've seen people mention LTSpice in the forums but then I have zero experience with it.I've seen your other posts and it looks like you're a beginner just like me, I'd suggest watching YouTube videos on how to use these tools, they're a lot more intuitive than you might think. I used to have a lot of trouble with KiCAD but then I watched the getting to blinky 5.0 series by contextual electronics and that helped tremendously.All the best

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2020, 02:17:05 pm
content: Circuit Lab:https://www.circuitlab.com/Every Circuit:https://everycircuit.com/
How to obtain waveform data for 1.2/50 us lightning pulse simulation? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: hanakp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 01:25:18 pm
content: Hi all, I'm working on a measurement system that needs to survive standard 1.2/50 us lightning pulse with 9600 V peak voltage. It has somewhat complicated RC network at the input and I want to simulate peak voltages on all components in PSpice. But the problem is obtaining waveform data (time vs. voltage table) of the pulse. Its images are all over the Internet, but not the data. Is it in the EN 61010-1 standard somewhere (I don't have a copy)? Or do I really need to painstakingly recreate the data from the graph? Thanks.

author: MitjaN
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 07:29:43 pm
content: If you're left recreating data from image, this might help you:https://automeris.io/WebPlotDigitizer/

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 08:44:46 pm
content: Approximately this:https://www.seventransistorlabs.com/Images/8-20_Surge_Network.png(Closer to IEC 61000-4-5, don't know if 61010 uses the same or not.)Set initial conditions, don't even need a PWL source or whatever.Note that it's the same network for 8/20 and 1.5/50, just depends on open/short condition. It'll tend to be 1.5/50 for common mode with high resistance, and 8/20 when terminated or shunted by MOVs say. It's shown with a shorted load.Tim

author: hanakp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2020, 12:42:21 pm
content: Thanks T3sl4co1l, your circuit simulates it pretty well. I removed the RL resistor because the inputs on "my" system have high impedance (megaohms). I also tried a simpler 1.2/50 circuit from Addendum to Recommendation ITU-T K.44, but its edge time is about 20% shorter than the idealized waveform:https://pes-spdc.org/content/new-waveshape-definitions-1250-820-and-10700?page=1Well, the standards allow for +-30% time tolerances anyway, so it doesn't matter much in practice.
T-Tech QC7000 / QC5000 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Shiv
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2020, 10:39:24 am
content: Hi all, a department of my job is cleaning out old stuff.I´d get 3 oscilloscopes (TEK 468, TEK TDS310 and PHILIPS PM375) that I have working like new (The TDS310 has only 730 powerups)I´d get another "thing": is a PCB CNC milling machinehttps://t-tech.com/shop/product/quick-circuit-qc7000/It´s complete, CNC table, drills and driver unit, BUT it has the software missing.Does anyone have a old copy of it or, better, a way to make it run again?It´s like new (It also has the protective film on the board)Without it, its expensive trash, but with his software or any open source control software, it will be great for me.thank you in advice.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2020, 03:38:34 am
content: In the absence of the official software, I would look at installing Mach3 to drive it and a selection of off-machine software to generate the g-code. There are free alternatives to Mach3 but it works well for me and isn't that expensive.
Importing Altium DXF to Solidworks Loss Of Details - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: petersanch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2020, 07:33:50 am
content: Hi,I want to import a DXF from Altium into Solidworks.The DXF looks right in the SW import preview but once imported in a sketch, then all of the details in the pads for the IC disappear.Has some one seen this before? Any ideas on how to fix it?Cheers

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2020, 11:34:19 am
content: Solidworks is sometimes very picky with DXF formats.I usually open the DXF in AutoCAD and then save it again as DXF with different parameters until Solidworks accepts the DXF.

author: petersanch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2020, 07:27:33 am
content: Cheers! Unfortunately we don't have AutoCad. Is there another export format from Altium that could work better in Solidworks besides DXF?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 01:18:17 pm
content: What version of Solidworks are you using?If you don't have AutoCAD at hand, I would try a few online DXF editors and save the file new.I am sure Solidworks will import it correctly with a few tweaks.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 01:38:28 pm
content: DXF is the file format from hell ! it should be killed, including the program , and company responsable for creating it !Some versions of autocad can't even read all the versions of DXF !That being said : what you are seeing is the track losing its 'width' . a track in PCB world is a two coordinate pairs ( begin and end ) and a width.So that nice oblong pad is converted into a stroke with a width. in dxf you get a zero width line with two circles. the radius of the circles is the width .Use the solidworks connector. it's free brings all into solidworks directly. don;t use that intermediate crap DXf format.
Recommendations for Hobbyist PCBs in Mexico? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 12:49:20 am
content: Does anyone have recommendations for a hobbyist-friendly PCB fabrication (bare boards only, I think) located in Mexico? Something like PCBWay or OSHPark that would be immune to customs issues (shipping to a customer in Mexico...)I thought I'd seen someone mention such ("Cheaper than the US, Closer than China"), but can't find anything.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2020, 10:55:50 am
content: In Mexico, you can buy tortillas, not PCB's

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2020, 02:12:38 pm
content: Some time ago I was bored and tried some search engines that only search within country limits.I found about 10 very small shops for PCB manufacturing here in the Netherlands, and some seemed to be no more then some hobbyist with an out of hand hobby to etch and sell boards made in his attic or basement (or inbetween).Such small sites have very low "search engine ratings" and are therefore hard to find.Most of those sites also seemed to have stopped in the last 15 years or so. It's almost impossible to compete with Chinese PCB's, and the low search engine ratings makes the sites hard to find. Those combined is enough to take the fun out of it.Gosh, just for fun I typed:https://www.startpage.com/row/search?q=pcb+manufacturing+in+Mexico&l=englishAnd I got:https://www.pcbdirectory.com/manufacturers?country=MexicoWhich mentions 4 Mexican companies.
LTspice sim of LT8312 BCM Boost PFC wont work - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2020, 10:13:04 am
content: Hello,Do you think the attached LTspice sim and pdf schem shows an acceptable way to control the LT8312 BCM Boost PFC controller in an "open loop" kind of way?I am trying to adjust the output power by setting the Vc pin voltage by setting up the internal error amplifier as an inverting opamp, and inputting voltages into that.LT8312 datasheethttps://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/8312fa.pdf

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2020, 03:48:37 pm
content: To begin with, why did you put a voltage source at the output of the converter?

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2020, 05:14:44 pm
content: Thanks, thats a representation of a battery...we have these batteries which are always 400v +/-5v no matter what the state of charge.

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 01:22:45 pm
content: The OTA inside the LT8312 has a maximum possible output current of 63uA.....at least the LTspice sim model of LT8312 does.How, from the datasheet, could this figure of 63uA possibly be calculated?LT8312 datasheethttps://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/8312fa.pdf

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 04:26:07 pm
content: I suppose you're talking about VC, the output of the error amplifier?If so, I haven't seen any spec. regarding the output current capability in the DS, only a couple typical compensation networks (since it's meant to be used as a compensation pin.)I'd also suggest looking at the output voltage of your converter on a pure resistive load (instead of the voltage source you're using to simulate a battery, which BTW is probably not the right way of simulating one properly) to see how it behaves. Wild oscillations. (I used a 1k resistor as load, and had to change the coupling coefficient - for your transformer - from 1 to 0.99 to avoid convergence problems.)
pcb-rnd 2.2.2 release - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ScribblesOnNapkins
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2020, 02:51:35 am
content: From the pcb-rnd mailing list."Hi all,pcb-rnd 2.2.2 is available from the download page.Project page:http://pcb-rnd.repo.huThe next development cycle will be a short one again, focusing on somecleanups and infrastructure for our external autorouter, route-rnd thatis going to replace the half-working internal autorouter.Release notes for 2.2.2:pcb-rnd 2.2.2~~~~~~~~~~~~~This version is mainly a feature release which extends I/O support andthe DRC. There are some smallish features and a lot of bugfixes, pleaserefer to the changelog for detauls.Feature highlight:1. BXL support: footprints available in the (binary) BXL format can beloaded, imported or used from the library (directy, or using any ofthe schematics import methods). A BXL file may contain multiplefootprints; in the library such a BXL file shows up as a virtualsubdirectory. When importing a BXL file name directly, if there aremultiple footprints in it pcb-rnd will offer the choice which one to load.2. query/drc_query: access a list of layers, network segments, net segmentlengths, more geometrical and mathematical functions for more powerfulDRC rules.3. Save/load DRC rules: implemented native lihata format and tEDAx format.Importing a tEDAx netlist automatically loads DRC rules, allowingschematics to specify rules.4. Dedicated GUI and network dialog upgrade for easier network lengthtracking.5. Lihata board v7: new native file format version with more powerful textobject support, new gfx object support and more.6. Online help/support: minimalistic IRC client for direct real-time contactto the developers to reach out for yet passive users.7. Alien format handling: upgrade text object load to a bounding box basedalgorithm to overcome text alignment and font difference problems8. librnd (hidlib) separation: rename all public API symbols to start withrnd instead of pcb--Best regards,Igor2"

author: techman-001
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2020, 08:30:57 am
content: Hi Igor2,I updated my old SVN download, pcb-rnd 2.2.2 compiled on Freebsd 11.1 without any issues, errors or warnings.Fantastic jobCheers,Terry

author: ScribblesOnNapkins
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2020, 05:45:42 pm
content: I am not Igor2 but thanks
Anybody use Cadsync by EMA? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2020, 01:44:22 am
content: https://www.ema-eda.com/products/ema/cadsyncI do experience this "frustration" they speak of. Things like my precious RF PCBs being difficult to send properly to mechanical because there are 5000 ground vias but Allegro's export isn't flexible enough to ignore ground vias, etc.Typically RF boards are not very dense electrically, but have many mechanical features that need to be worked out like cavities, mouse holes, hot vias, cutouts for active devices, mounting holes, heat spreaders, critical heights for some parts, holes need to be lined up in machined covers for LEDs, feedthroughs need to be located critically, wiring and waveguides aren't really PCB parts so they sometimes float around ambiguously and can be forgotten... etc...Sooooooo, this tool looks interesting but I would like some critical feedback from actual users.

author: CadenceAE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2020, 02:25:23 pm
content: Allegro IDF, IDX, and STEP output all have filters which can filter vias and all types of objects from mechanical outputs.
pad hole size - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GilbertWaltoon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 04:57:04 pm
content: HiI'm a newbie trying to make sense of some PCB design rules (specifically on the JLCPCB sitehttps://jlcpcb.com/capabilities/CapabilitiesUnder "Drill/Hole Size" they list things like "Min. Via Hole Size 0.2mm" - Which is clear enough.But they also have "Pad Size 0.7mm, the pad hole size will be enlarged 0.15 in production "(The 0.7mm definitely refers to a hole size - I attach screenshot)Why are PCB pad holes constrained to be so much larger than via holes?Or to express my confusion another way, what is the difference between a via hole and a pad hole. Aren't both simply metallised holes through the pcb?thanks for any helpGilbert

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 07:26:06 pm
content: I don't see how it would matter. I'm sure I've used component "pads" that were <0.7mm (27mil).As you say there is no real difference between a via and a pad of the same specifications.If you are using kicad/altium there are pre-written design rules people have made, maybe for other packages as well:https://forum.kicad.info/t/jlcpcb-design-rules/22591/2
"Singular matrix" error in LTspice sim of Two transistor forward? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2020, 07:39:22 pm
content: Hi,Do you know why this LTspice sim of a two transistor forward wont run? The error message says “singular matrix node N029”.

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2020, 08:07:04 pm
content: Hi,Yes I do.Jay_Diddy_B

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 05:10:20 am
content: Hi,Thesingularityis caused by SG and FG only having one connection, B1 and B3 doesn't count.Simply adding a resistor from SG and FG to ground will resolve this issue:(Buffering the gate drive like that may have other bad effects, you have zero impedance in the gate drive circuit. I would connect SG and FG to the MOSFETs, like they are supposed to be.)In addition you need to add UIC to the .tran statements.These two modifications will allow the model to run.Other ErrorsBoost should not be connected to TS.Remove R3, none of the datasheet schematic or demo boards have this resistor.Remove the 10resistors.The transformer turns ratio is backwards.There may be more issues ...NRNDI would look at the LTC3765/66 chipset.Look for DC2199A-BRegards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 10:00:04 am
content: Thanks very much Jay_Diddy_B, greatly appreciated, i never thought i would see that sim come to life.Its running now, but i think i need to tune the soft starts of LTC3705 and LTC3706 so the '3705 can hand over smoothly...also, my pulse transformer signal is noisy, and i need to look at the Ls and Cs in this Pulse transformer circuit.Incidentally i have it running fine with just the LTC3706 on its own (as attached). I wonder why this kind of circuit isnt used...a digi isolator could port the drive signal across and the secondary side sense resistor could be used as the current sense in current mode control
Cheapest PCB supplier with ENIG and castellated pads? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2020, 10:53:10 am
content: I often find myself looking to make some small modules that I would like to be able to board-on-board mount. However, at JLC castellated pads and ENIG adds about AUD$75 to a AUD$3 PCB ($23 for ENIG and $52 for castellated holes); let's call it $50 USD total. Does anyone have any tricks or know of any suppliers which can do this for cheaper? I'd be willing to give up ENIG if it makes any difference to the castellated price for some reason.Edit:PCBWay quotes $49 USD totalElecrow quotes $33 USD total, not bad...

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2020, 03:04:46 pm
content: https://docs.oshpark.com/tips+tricks/castellation/

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2020, 03:43:12 pm
content: In many cases ENIG and castellations have flat rates, so ordering more boards in a batch will help to offset these added charges. Same thing applies to many other "high-tech" subprocesses during PCB manufacturing, like blind/buried vias or laser-drilled microvias.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 09:06:56 pm
content: Are you doing bottom pads with castellations or castellations only. Is ENIG really necessary?

author: JLCPCB Official
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 02:08:18 am
content: yeah, the requirement of your PCB cost high, do you have any suggestion for our this kind of service, price or something else we need to prove.

author: JLCPCB Official
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 02:15:16 am
content: you can see the difference. the board is low-cost, the castellated hole cost so much
Current through Polygons(EAGLE CAD) ?? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kshirsagar564
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 15, 2020, 10:42:35 am
content: Hi Guys, Hope you all are fine!!I have the following questions :-1) What is better suited for high currents, Polygons or Traces?2) How do you determine current carrying capacity of a polygon?Note:-This question is based on the fact that many of the online tools available as well as books do not provide a calculator or a solution.Secondly, a lot of experienced guys suggest to consider smallest polygon width and carry out the calculations online.Through this esteemed column I would request this amazing community to help me get clarity on this topic.Thanks in advance..Stay Healthy and Safe!!
Orcad Work from Home program - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Eternauta
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2020, 01:10:12 pm
content: I'm reporting two Cadence Initiatives for the time being:- one month free license for Orcad PCB professional + Pspice (https://www.orcad.com/orcad-work-from-home-program)- free access to the eLearning site for 15 daysRegards

author: envisionelec
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 05:52:23 pm
content: Woah - this is nice. Thank you!
Rigid-flex, How to document where flex starts en ridgid end? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: implor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 11:27:24 am
content: This is my first Rigid-flex card that isn't a straight piece of flex.Now when i'm doing the production files I don't really get how the fab should know where the rigid part ends and the flex start.Do you really have to do a detailed mechanical drawing to show the flex shape and dimensions?also. How do the FAB know how the coverlay should look like? I can't find that as a layer in the Altium gerber settings. Do they just fixa it them self? I have coverlay in my flex stack.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 11:51:26 am
content: Layers are just separate layers in Gerber. There is no firm standard on what layer what goes. For the classical layers like copper and overlay a lot of tools use similar names, but not always. For example in multilayer boards the PCB house often wants you to specify the exact order of the layers to make sure they get it in the same order as your PCB software intended.In general the mechanical layers in gerber are for any miscellaneous drawing that does not fit anywhere else. They might have names like G1 GM1 M1...etc where the number is just the index of it. For Altium Mechanical 1 2 3... get put into thoseSince these layers could contain anything means its a good idea to also include some instructions on that layer for what it is for. For example if i want Vcuts i will typically draw a line on one of the mechanical layers and place the text "V CUT" next to the line. For cutout holes i will typically place the text "Cutout" in the middle of it to make it clear. These layers could also just contain other text instructions like telling them not to place the board identification code in a certain area, it could contain instructions for penalization. etcJust make sure any instructions are as simple as possible so that you don't confuse the Chinese workers at the PCB plant.

author: implor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 11:55:09 am
content: All right.Then I could do a mechanical layer drawing and show where all flex-rigid transition points are.Better to have that on a gerber layer then a PDF file.How about the coverlay? how do the fab know where to put it? Or do they add it over all the flex area?

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 12:01:11 pm
content: Yeah its best to just include it all in gerbers.For overlay you might want to check your particular PCB house because it might not be possible to have overlay on both simultaneously.
Some thoughts about auto-routing (for software developers) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2020, 03:03:01 pm
content: I am always quite amazed how skewed priorities are with certain EDA PCB programs.Today I bumped into a video who basically really summarizes the problem with auto-routing and why a lot of professionals don't really use it, except for some specific case.I personally also ONLY found it SOMETIMES useful when having to route a very complicated BGA part or similar.Even than I only use the auto-router when I haven't been able to come up with a satisfying solution, and just let the auto-router do its thing overnight to see if it came with something I overlooked. Which is actually a pretty rare case to be very honest.For general PCB design tips and advice I highly recommend following Robert Feranec's channel btw.A lot of useful and interesting stuff! Especially about HF PCB tracing and such.
Kindle Edition of My Books - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Singapura
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2020, 01:39:50 am
content: The current CoVid-19 situation has many countries imposed restrictions on import and export of non-essential items. Similarly, Amazon has limited its delivery service of printed books overseas. After much deliberation, I decided it's time to go the ebook route.After reformatting the layout of my books to fit the Kindle platform display, the following titles of my PCB-RE series are now available on the Kindle store:1. The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering (full-color)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088JX8SMD2. PCB-RE: Real-World Exampleshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B087V4GJ94If you do not have Kindle tablet, you can still install the Kindle App on your Android devices to order and download my books to read.Take care and stay safe everyone!
Automatic PCB layout: theory verses practice - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: lukego
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 04:00:00 pm
content: I'm reading Yan Tan's dissertation "Algorithmic studies in PCB design"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/18367/Yan_Tan.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. He presents a series of algorithms for escaping traces from BGA pins, keeping differential pairs routed together, ordering escaped traces to that they can be routed to their destination on a plane (i.e. without crossing), and assigning traces to a minimum number of signal layers. He seems to have been employed by Synopsys Inc during or around this time.The algorithms that I've understood so far seem quite compelling. However, they are clearly "computer science" solutions to "electrical engineering" problems. An algorithm might provably be able to (say) escape pins using the least amount of copper trace and obeying the maximum number of orthogonal/diagonal connections across an inter-pin tile, ut these results are not (afaik) transported into the physical domain. There are no SPICE simulations, no designs being fabricated, no oscilloscopes measuring signal integrity, etc.So I'd like to understand: How do these kind of algorithms relate to industrial practice? If I write a program to implement these algorithms can I expect the resulting boards to actually work? Are these kind of algorithms commonly used in EDA tools and if so which tiers (e.g. Eagle, Altium, Cadence, etc)? Supposing you had access to software that does this, would you actually use it e.g. for escaping large numbers of I/O pins from large FPGAs?

author: ETITsynthesizer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 01:28:14 pm
content: in theory, eagle can do this because eagle is extensible through ULP scripting. in practice the ULP is slow because it is a high level user defined script that runs in a runtime interpreter. I actually saw something that would export the data into a third party autorouter written in C. then it would export the result of the autorouter back to eagle.in the professional world, people use altium. anything that is not part of altium will be made by the programmers at the company that needs this special software. if the company is not big enough, they will not have the budget to develop custom tooling. a company like apple will find the cheapest way to get this custom software. then they will buy the best software. a company like IBM will develop this software, and try to sell it to companies like apple. it goes both ways. you call them, they call you. researchers are slicing up human brains to map all the neurons. custom software used to develop new computers is being developed everyday. microsoft is working on chemical messaging computers. amazon developed freeRTOS while developing the silicon to run freeRTOS. they can optomize a PCB layout at the silicon level.