Can I do V-Cuts with Sprint Layout? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kazzle101
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 11:20:55 am
content: HelloI have a small board I have designed in Sprint Layout and want to put a number of them together on the same panel to save costs, I can find loads of information on how to use v-cuts but nothing on how to add them to Sprint Layout.So, can they be added in Sprint Layout, and if so, how?I've been using JLCpcb, here's what they have to say about v-cuts:https://support.jlcpcb.com/article/49-pcb-panelizationand making gerber files from sprint layout:https://support.jlcpcb.com/article/67-how-to-export-sprint-layout-pcb-to-gerber-filesThanksKarl.

author: greenpossum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 11:34:17 am
content: I don't know Sprint layout, but a V-cut is indicated by a line in the Edge Cuts layer that goes from edge to edge. So maybe look in Sprint layout for how to draw a line in that layer.

author: SMdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 01:05:02 pm
content: I have a friend that uses Sprint, I honestly don't know why. The amount of things you can't do with it just leaves me gobsmacked. And he paid good money for it too!We wanted to penalize his design, in the end, I just re-did the design in Diptrace and panelized it with that.I also found an error in the layout between the conversion from schematic to layout as Sprint can't have a schematic linked to it, whereas Diptrace can.Honestly, use something else other than sprint. It is especially good to use a package that allows you to have a schematic and pcb linked.Diptrace, Kicad, Designspark.You should be able to have JLC panelize your pcb for you. Just select "Panel by JLC" and fill in the extra details.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 05:52:47 pm
content: Quote from: SMdude on March 06, 2020, 01:05:02 pmSprint Layout sure is pretty limited, but as to cost... it's barely 50 euros.

author: SMdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 10:26:56 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on March 06, 2020, 05:52:47 pmThat is 50Euros more than I would be willing to put down on it! I think he purchased a few addons for it. I don't remember what they were.If it was 1998 Sprint would be great, but with all of the other packages out there, there are so many that just run rings around it and cost less/free. If you are using Sprint and you are beginning your PCB building, do look for another package. It might seem ok at the moment, but once you start to build more advanced PCB's eventually you will realize that it has serious limitations.I see so many newbies get hooked on Sprint and it disturbs me! Correct me if I'm wrong, if you have traces going to say a chip and then move that chip, the traces disconnect and stay behind and you need to manually re-connect them again.Of all the packages I have used I found Diptrace to be extremely user friendly and it just worked and made sense. It does have a 250 pin limit for free users and I think you can beg for a free 500 pin key for hobbyists. Their commercial keys are one off payment and really quite reasonable. Admittedly I have not tried Kicad or Designspark in recent years but have heard they have improved things, so they may be very good free packages too.

author: kazzle101
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2020, 08:21:32 am
content: I use Sprint Layout because its easy to use, I've done the drawings for all these custom parts and it mostly does what I want. Its not big and its not clever, and yes I agree, there are better.I tried some of the others like KiCad, Eagle and DesignSpark but didn't get along with them - they felt old fashioned and too complicated for the type of boards I make, I don't really have the time required to learn the software. I've not tried Diptrace, I'll have a look.I've been playing with LibrePCBhttps://librepcb.org/I think it could be the next big thing :-) but for now its early in the development cycle and is still full of bugs.Karl.