Diptrace output files need advice - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: cleanworkbench
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 10:58:29 am
content: I went for Diptrace as Kicad and Eagle were a bit of a pain to use . I want to generate files of the PCB design and take em down town to a high street print shop, they have laser print facilities . My question is what file types do there laser print machines accept. Making single sided board for homebrew etching . Any hints and tips please.

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 03:08:51 pm
content: Exporting to DXF is probably your best bet.Wait, I misread, I thought you were talking about laser cutting. If you just want to print your layouts on a regular old laser printer, printing to a PDF should do.

author: cleanworkbench
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 02:49:14 pm
content: Ok thanks for the info i will give it a go .Do you know anything about Diptrace connection in PCB mode ie a net not fully completing, not fully connecting to its desired point, everything else is connected up bar one connection to the ground plane , it just flat refuses to make the connection like theres a no go zone , very weird ?.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 10:32:07 pm
content: Quote from: cleanworkbench on January 21, 2019, 02:49:14 pmThe nets are seen by DipTrace as different nets & so it is refusing to let you "short them together".Right click on the net & choose "Net Properties" to change the net name to match the one it won't connect to.Firstly recheck you schematic. In schematic, hover over each net to ensure the other net also highlights. It probably does not (as they are seen in schematic as different nets). Right click over the nets to see (& change) their properties.Once changed, re-save the schematic & then update the PCB from the schematic.

author: cleanworkbench
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2019, 09:43:42 am
content: Ah i see, thanks for the advice, yes i went through net properties and other possible solutions and done my head in changing this and that , basically button pushing ! several cups of coffee later , Until i thought about it and went back to the beginning ie the schematic and thought, how does it know what to connect and where , answer , the button i had not pushed yet RATLINES !!!, so i went to the bottom board layer and connected the two points it refused to connect up and linked them with a ratline and bingo now it makes a trace between the two points. Somehow in my re-jigging of the component placements i erased traces and these did not show the original ratlines and hence when trying to re-install a net trace the points are clueless as to where to connect because there is no ratline.Anyhow thats how i figure it works , strange because it is not always the case ?.So to re-install a net trace connection that is being a pain my solution is to goto ratline button, choose, and re-connect the two points . It worked for me.Thanks for all the contributions of help, i,m on a learning curve here LOL !!!. Cant imagine what KiCad or Eagle is like to learn i have seen mixed reviews about many design softwares but i like Diptrace.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2019, 11:46:25 am
content: Quote from: cleanworkbench on January 22, 2019, 09:43:42 amIf you highlight a net (on the PCB) then press delete, or right click on a net & select "Unroute Trace" or "Unroute Net" the "Ratsline" connection is erased. You are then unable to simply "join the original tracks back together".To rectify this, choose "File" then "Renew Layout from Schematic" then "By RefDes". This will renew all the PCB connections according to the schematicQuoteI have extensively used Altium (all the way from the early Protel days) & Proteus, but I like DipTrace the most

author: cleanworkbench
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2019, 05:42:23 pm
content: I understand now , ok thanks for the help.Cheers