MISNAMED TRACKS ON PCB  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MrsR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 05:33:46 pm
content: I wonder how many EEV Bloggers use DS PCB.I have been using Ver.6 since it's release and feel it isn't as good as Ver.5, mainly because of a couple of problems that never happened before.The worst is having a nearly finished PCB have all the tracks change their names to GND. or Vcc8. or Vcc3. or Vs3 to GND3v I can go on but I'm sure the reader has the idea.I have one drawing that has taken up 6 schematic pages in a Project had the PCB finished ready to go went to make the Gerber Files to send to the client and Bingo all tracks turned to ground and lost the BOM file.I can make the 2 side board (saved as a pdf file ) but that doesn't help the customer.Any one else having problems like this? I know one thing RS hasn't fixed the problem. I may have to go back to Eagle but I never liked it and Altium is out as its changed to much since I used it.The others (free ones) just don't have the capability to do large component quantity and would need half the components drawn up.If you know why DS PCB is doing the lost and not found on the tracks PLEASE HELPALL THE BESTRachael

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 09:22:44 pm
content: Quote from: MrsR on July 10, 2014, 05:33:46 pmI used Ver 6 pretty intensely for about 10 days earlier this year & in the end went back to DipTrace for the entire project. When you had to make your component footprint, things rarely went smoothly in attaching the footprint to the schematic component & then having it placed the final board.QuoteAt least there are workarounds for pretty much all the quirks in Eagle, even if it does have a pretty non-intuitive interface.Altium increased in price by $2K on the 1st July 2014 & is now approx 9.2K all up (you have to take the annual maintenance which takes Altium over the $9K).Unless your boards are very complex, I would recommend taking a look at Proteus. Much better value & more intuitive to learn than Altium. I used it on a major contract about 18 months ago & liked it very much.I own the latest version of DipTrace & Altium 6.9 & have used Altium 14 extensively of late for a company I've been contracting to.So I feel my comments above are well qualified.

author: MrsR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 09:56:57 pm
content: Hi! DerekG, Head office will only allow me to buy EAGLE or ALTIUM I took on Design Spark PCB when it first came out. I buy a lot of components from RS and you could Email the BOM and have it next day. EAGLE and ELEMENT 14 Do not work as a combination like that. Head office though will only allow ALTIUM and EAGLE I looked at another one PADS and it looks good but if I want it, I pay for it and it's about the same as Altium. I will look at Proteus if not to dear. Our boards are densely Packed 0402 passives a lot.I will work out why DS PCB is changing tracks eventually. I Hope LoL or go nuts.THANKSRachael

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 12:04:32 am
content: Quote from: MrsR on July 16, 2014, 09:56:57 pmWell that's a no-brainer. Buy Altium. It costs a lot more than Eagle but it also does heaps more (& its user interface is easier to learn). Once you set up the auto-placer & the auto-router it will save you considerable time over using Eagle.QuoteI spent a week with DS ver 6, but building & attaching my own component footprints is way too hard. Altium & DipTrace & Proteus leave Design Spark for dead in this area.QuoteThis is the very reason that RS Components purchased Design Spark (which is a cut down version of Easy-PC from Number One Systems). Design Spark Mechanical is a cut down version of SpaceClaim's software suite.QuoteIf you are ordering volume components you can probably save your employer money by ordering from Digikey or Mouser. Delivery around the world is normally just 3 or 4 working days.QuoteTake Altium. It is regarded at a defacto standard in the industry these days which will help you lots if you decide to change employers.QuoteProteus is my favourite. It has a great user interface & therefore is easy to learn. It is more powerful than DipTrace but not as feature filled as Altium. Price wise it sits between DipTrace & Altium.