Anyone here use Ultiboard?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TopherTheME
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2010, 09:08:57 pm
content: I've started using Ultiboard v11.0 to design my PCBs but I'm having a lot of trouble with it. I sent my first design to the fab house (BatchPCB) to be made but they are telling me that my gerber files show infinite board size. I have no idea on how to fix this or why this would even happen. Can anyone out there help me out?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2010, 09:14:47 pm
content: being a very expensive piece of software I doubt many use it. I've tried a cracked version but really I think KiCAD looks to promise all that it can offer for a hobbiest/small business

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2010, 09:37:05 pm
content: I used Ulticap from Ultimate studio for a while (Ulticap and ultiboard were packages made by a company called Ultimate Technologies®. Interactive Image Technologies® -the creators of Electronics Workbench- acquired those products to convert them into Ultiboard and Multicap). The schematic capture (ulticap) was quite good and Electronic workbench had some useful features. Problem with all these programs is your working with a moving target. For simulation I still use Pspice and I really like Kicad for simple PCB use. I tried eagle but I don't like the limitation on board size and not being able to use hierarchical design to split a large design into reusable blocks/pages.Using Altium for all my serious stuff from now on as It's more than I'll ever need (bought it mainly for the FPGA stuff anyway).David.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2010, 10:06:15 pm
content: I have no idea about Ultiboard, but gerbers can effectively have a "large sheet" embedded in them, and the board can be anywhere on the sheet.It's all about the reference (origin) point and having a board outline on one of the layers (I use a separate Mechanical layer).Do you have a board outline drawn? if so then there should be no problem.Dave.

author: TopherTheME
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2010, 12:24:36 am
content: Ok, I think I figured it out. I did have a board outline drawn but by default Ultiboard doesn't include it when generating gerber files. Once I selected to have the boarder outline included it seemed to work. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2010, 09:52:40 pm
content: DownloadGC-prevueand use it to check gerbers before sending off - saves a lot of problems...!

author: Strube09
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2010, 12:37:58 pm
content: I use Ultiboard (although an older verson than 11). It is okay but it is what I have here at work so I make due.And yes there should be a layer that is called "board outline". Make sure you create your shape on that layer... I believe (if it hasn't changed) this is default "Yellow" color.Let me know if this helps or have other questions.

author: TopherTheME
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2010, 11:13:45 pm
content: The board outline is part of the design but it wasn't being included in the construction of the gerber files. I changed the settings so it includes and so far so good. My design hasn't been fully processed yet but I haven't gotten any emails so I guess its ok.QuoteI prefer Viewplot. It's free as well and doesn't require you to give up your personal information to download it.http://www.viewplot.com/