Panelization software - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2016, 07:34:06 pm
content: Besides CAM350 and FAB3000, is there a decently priced software package out there that I can use to panelize some designs? I can wing it when the design is in Eagle but it's a bit painstaking but if I'm using another software package, I'm not quite sure how to go about it.I noticed that Pentalogix has a package called Single Design Panelizer that costs about $300. This is definitely what I'm looking for but you have to buy one of their other software packages to use it. So I would be paying around $1000. Is this the going rate for a software package like this? Or is there a standalone option in the $300 range?

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2016, 08:01:18 pm
content: Quote from: Pack34 on February 03, 2016, 07:34:06 pmAny decent pcb design software will have this included. Perhaps this is a limitation of the EAGLE software.Panelisation in DipTrace (this package will cost you less than the full version of EAGLE & it is significantly more powerful than EAGLE):Panelisation in Proteus:Panelisation in Altium:http://wiki.altium.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=4426668

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2016, 09:00:18 pm
content: I mainly use Eagle and PADS. I do not believe that either has this built in. You can duplicate the board easily in Eagle but it can be painstaking to add all of the tabs and sacrificial material. I think Mentor is relying on outside tools.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2016, 09:49:45 pm
content: Quote from: Pack34 on February 03, 2016, 09:00:18 pmI located this on the Mentor Graphics forum:https://communities.mentor.com/docs/DOC-5232"Yes, you can make a step and repeat panel with PADS. I have done it many times.Admittedly, it is quite a tedious process and not so great for complex layouts, but you can do it by making a reuse block from the completed design."Pretty sad given the cost of PADS.Remember you can send your single circuit to a board manufacturer & they will panelise it for you (generally at no cost). You just specify the size of the board you want (which is generally the largest size your SMD robot & infrared reflow oven can handle)

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2016, 09:59:35 pm
content: Go towww.graphicode.comand look for the Gerber editor software.They also have a time limited fully functional demonstrator software.I use their power station software and if You wish I can panelise the odd job for You...Note a lot depends on the PCB shop whether in fact you do actually need to do the panelising Yourself.

author: mazurov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2016, 01:03:59 am
content: There is an ULP in Eagle called ( surprise ) panelize.ulp.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2016, 02:12:27 am
content: Quote from: mazurov on February 04, 2016, 01:03:59 amThe replicate board one works better. But there's still a good amount of cleanup if you want to have nice edges by tab routing.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2016, 02:29:48 pm
content: Okay, I think I've made a decision for this. I'm going to write my own.I've been able to find an open source, Python project called GerbMerge that seems to do what I want but it's strictly command line and I do not think that it has the nice "knobs" I'm interested in with the Single Design Panelizer that Pentalogix has.