DaveCad PRO - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 07:09:00 am
content: Hey everybody, I just saw Mike from Mikes electric stuff using a pirated version of DaveCad, and decided to create my own version - DaveCad PRO. The PRO version includes a revolutionary grid system, and solutions to most electronic problems you will encounter. I was thinking of selling it, but quickly realized that the shipping cost would be about 30x the price of the product (stamps are expensive) and decided to give it away for free, a PDF for printing is attached, enjoy

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 04:16:36 pm
content: I watched some other YouTube channel the other day with only one video on it and he went to draw something and said "I just got DaveCAD"

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 04:56:19 pm
content: "Useful INFO" footnoteYou really need that written down?CAD is all caps, as it is an acronym for "computer-aided design".

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 05:30:59 pm
content: i suppose i have to print it 2 sided to print the sticky part on the back?

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 05:34:21 pm
content: Quote from: Dave on November 24, 2013, 04:56:19 pmI just noticed the CAD mistake, I know what CAD is, I made this at 2am and wasn't paying attention.As far as the footnote it was meant to be funny, I really hope you know that useful info.

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 05:39:20 pm
content: Quote from: deth502 on November 24, 2013, 05:30:59 pmNot sure what you mean, if you want to print - print it in landscape mode. Its made to fit one page.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 05:40:16 pm
content: Quote from: Ment11 on November 24, 2013, 05:34:21 pmA better funny caption would be like what Mike Harrison did: "unregistered trial" or something like that.

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 05:47:36 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on November 24, 2013, 05:40:16 pmYa, but that would be just copying him, I wanted to add my bit of originality to it, and FAILED lol.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 05:48:39 pm
content: Isn't it already a copy? Unless "DaveCAD" was your idea in the first place...

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 06:03:04 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on November 24, 2013, 05:48:39 pmDaveCAD PRO is an "improvement" to Dave's open sourcepaperprogram. If I just copied Mike's stuff it would just be YADC (Yet another DaveCAD)

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 06:24:28 pm
content: I'd love to see one with some space on the side dedicated to more involved analog circuit calculations. Maybe a small (40mm?) plot with BJT curves (not labeled with numbers, of course, but following the usual shape) for quick load line approximations, semilog for frequency domain stuff, maybe some of the more commonly forgotten formulas (RC step response, RMS/peak/avg ratios of common waveforms, propagation delay of coax, etc.)I might be the only one, though. I like to design my circuits without Internet access - lets me clear my head a bit more. Most people, I think, would just Google or SPICE these things.

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 07:03:21 pm
content: c4757p, I was thinking of doing that, but there are 2 problems with that, the first problem is that I just started doing analog stuff, and I am still pretty new to it and don't know what will actually be useful ( I kinda went backwards, and started with microcontrollers, and now starting doing analog) the second problem is that info is very project specific, but a solution to that would be to have multiple versions for different types of projects. If anyone is interested let me know what you would like to see on it, and I'll make them.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 07:29:28 pm
content: Possible to make a few pages in a single PDF so you can either print a pad, or just the most used pages. Some pages with a basic log log graph and a similar set with a log linear scale ( one page vertical log horizontal linear and vice versa) and simple linear graph pages with no units will also be usable. Have some with different bottom sections so you can have variations, and pretty much all like the Jim Williams and Bob Pease artwork doodles they put in their data sheets.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 08:01:29 pm
content: What would probably be much more useful would be to get rid of all the writing space, and put together a load of useful information for designing circuits, like c4757p mentioned. Putting it around that empty writing space and printing it numerous times seems kind of ridiculous to me. Print it once, maybe laminate it, and problem solved.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 08:51:09 pm
content: Quote from: Jon86 on November 24, 2013, 08:01:29 pmOr spread lots of different useful info out - different hints on each page. A bit expensive though...

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:01:03 pm
content: What paper format is it American or one of those silly letter/number sizes?

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:23:54 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 24, 2013, 08:51:09 pmYa it would only be cost effective if you print it on a laser printer, otherwise graph paper and internet is more useful. I am going to play around with a few layouts and see if I can come up with something useful.Quote from: Stonent on November 24, 2013, 10:01:03 pmits made for regular 8.5x11 letter paper.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:25:44 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 24, 2013, 08:51:09 pmI could definitely see that being useful. Who wants to have to open up google every time they need some formulas/constants?

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:34:34 pm
content: Quote from: Ment11 on November 24, 2013, 10:23:54 pmTime to nip this in the bud. I'm going to trunk it and provide localisation for the international community

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:42:25 pm
content: Quote from: AlfBaz on November 24, 2013, 10:34:34 pmOK, but who will translate it into Polish?

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:51:52 pm
content: Well my trial version will have google adsense , each time you print one a different ad appears, which ties in nicely with G++ and google translate

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:56:05 pm
content: I'm also thinking about virtualisation and sitting it atop a java vm. The config.ini file to set it up will be #bash based and should be limited to about 3 pages. you'll have to down load a few plugins, some from eclipse.org, the rest from oracle

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 10:59:16 pm
content: Quote from: AlfBaz on November 24, 2013, 10:56:05 pmDon't forget to include Flash, what would you do without all the updates?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 11:32:40 pm
content: Quote from: Ment11 on November 24, 2013, 10:23:54 pm

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 09:36:20 am
content: While you are creating Dave CAD pro. don't forget the special set of foot print pencils that are required.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 07:41:49 pm
content: We don't typically use multiple paper sizes in the US. Letter is nearly used for everything. We have Legal size which is basically a long Letter. There's also Tabloid but only used in publishing.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 09:26:57 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on November 25, 2013, 07:41:49 pmThat must get very restrictive sometimes. Many large office printers and photocopiers in the rest of the world can handle A3 paper as well as the usual A4. Very handy for large schematics and charts.And of course if you fold an A3 sheet in half you get A4. Each ISO standard size is half the previous one, beginning with A0 with an area of 1 m2. Not so silly, really...

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 09:40:16 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on November 25, 2013, 07:41:49 pmTabloid - 11"x17" is also an ANSI size B drawing.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 09:41:55 pm
content: I always use Legal for schematics, Letter is too small.The idea of using a sqrt(2) aspect ratio so you can scale is clever... but how often is it really necessary to scale paper sizes?Maybe in engineering, but elsewhere?

author: strangelovemd12
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 10:18:13 pm
content: It makes the "enlarge" button on a photocopier much more useful, though the US does do some paper size doubling itself.Also want to note that this project was forked in about 36 hours. Over paper sizes. New record.

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 10:24:06 pm
content: Quote from: strangelovemd12 on November 25, 2013, 10:18:13 pmI didn't even think too many people would be interested in it when I posted it.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 11:09:46 pm
content: Quote from: strangelovemd12 on November 25, 2013, 10:18:13 pmIn the open source software world, I would not be entirely shocked to see a huge project forked over one dude's opinion on whether C++-style comments // are appropriate in C /* */.

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 11:15:04 pm
content: Quote from: Ment11 on November 24, 2013, 05:34:21 pmI can see a lot of people justifying they had a mistake because they were doing the work at 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 am.You either accept the error and do not justify or don't work that late.David.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 11:20:03 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on November 25, 2013, 09:41:55 pmYou already have advantages in production. And it continues with packing/shipping, down to the end user who wants to scale or place multiple pages on one sheet.And there is the special fun of of folding an A0 or A1 page to A4, so it fits in a normal binder, and can be unfolded to full size without the need to take the sheet out of the binder. That is a technique which is even standardized somewhere and makes use of the aspect ratio.

author: strangelovemd12
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 11:21:15 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on November 25, 2013, 11:09:46 pmC is a fundamental constant. This concept of C++ confuses and infuriates me! Fork!

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 11:49:45 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on November 25, 2013, 11:20:03 pmOK.... you just sold me on the ISO sizes.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 11:57:50 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on November 25, 2013, 09:26:57 pmThe printers themselves are no different, the trays have markings for A(n) sizes. I just don't think the paper is commonly available without special ordering it.

author: Ment11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2013, 12:06:11 am
content: Quote from: DavidDLC on November 25, 2013, 11:15:04 pmPoint taken, I still feel like an idiot for making that mistake.

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2013, 01:08:43 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on November 25, 2013, 11:09:46 pmWhether C++-style comments are what? Why'd you cut off there? Where's your semicolon?COMPILER ERROR

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2013, 09:56:39 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on November 26, 2013, 09:40:33 amMy traditions are superior to your traditions!It's just what you were raised with that's all. I fully understand the technical merits and benefits from an engineering standpoint. Just sometimes it's easier to quickly eye-ball something and say "That's about 4 inches" than think, "Ok 4 inches, now what's the conversion factor to cm. Crap!"

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2013, 12:40:48 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on November 25, 2013, 11:20:03 pmWe did that all the time when i was involved in working with electrical schematics for paper machines (there was a lot of that stuff per one machine!) Practically every schematic was at least an A3 or A3-extended (doubled on the short instead of the long side). All sheets were neatly folded to A4 size to fit standard binders. The sheet borders even had small tick marks to show the proper folding lines.

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2013, 04:00:18 am
content: Regarding the paper sizes debate, out of the blue I stumbled on this video. Obviously from a European/Metric point of view. Enjoy!

author: johnnyfp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2013, 05:03:43 am
content: It's just too big and useful.I Re-engineered it.Presenting the DaveCAD Pro Mini. Half the size, Twice the price. And has the word Mini on it.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2013, 04:11:55 pm
content: Quote from: Dave on November 24, 2013, 04:56:19 pmThese days it's called EDA ;-)