CadStar pcb software

[zeitghost]

Hi guys,

I'm having a problem with the antique version of CadStar (2.4.1) that my institution uses for student instruction.

Specifically, I can't get the apertures to appear at the centre of the pads when I print out the pcb design.

This makes it a bit tricky to drill since the drill has a tendency to wander.

Every other pcb design program I've used (Vutrax, Orcad, EasyPC etc) have had no difficulties with this, so it's got me stymied.

Sadly the previous incumbent has passed on to a higher plane, so I can't ask him.

rgds
Zeit.

 

[zeitghost]

Hi, guys.

Don't suppose any of you are interested, but...

There's a "special parts library".

However, it isn't sufficient on its own to generate pads with apertures.

After much effort, it transpires that in pcb mode under Settings/Assignment/Pads you can select "Annulus" instead of "circle" as the pad type.

And it has to be the particular pad type used on the pcb of course.

Not forgetting to set the size of the hole to something other than zero (such as 20 thou) also helps.

As obscure methods of doing something easy, this plainly takes the biscuit...

cheers,
Zeit.

 

[MikeHalloran]

I wanted to help, but I couldn't find the book, the computer on which it's loaded is resting, and I found it impossible to remember how to drive Cadstar from one day to the next, never mind skipping a decade.

Glad you were able to help yourself.



Mike Halloran
NOT speaking for
DeAngelo Marine Exhaust Inc.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA

 

[felixc]

You may want to convince your school that using this old Cadstar to teach students does not give them an experience that has a good value when they're looking for a job.

 

[leonar40]

I use ExpressPCB a lot. They give you a free program that has schematic capture and PCB layout, and then you send the design to them electronically and you get your boards back in a few days. It's pretty economical for low count orders too, so it would be perfect for a school.

 

[zeitghost]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

The reason for using this antique is that there are existing libraries that for whatever reason cannot(?) be converted to a more recent version.

We have version 6 already, but my predecessor was reluctant to throw away his libraries.

I suspect that once this semester is over, I shall address moving on to the latest version since I personally have no investment in the existing library.

rgds
Zeit.

 

[richs]

Hi-

For a student layout program you might want to look at
PCB on sourceforge. This is a LINUX package, but it's
free, and although it's just layout, can do a real nice
job. Source code in case you want to dink with it.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pcb/

In fact, I'm using it right now for a quick and dirty here
at work. Does up to 8 layers, is free, has a nice selection
of SMT parts available and is very inutuitve to use.

Has both gerber and postscript output. I use the postscript
output, directly to my lazerjet. There is some thermal
transfer paper that you can laminate onto a blank piece
of copperclad, soak the paper backing off, relaminate
with another coating, and presto, instant etch resist.

Throw it into the ferric chloride and you've got a
prototype board all ready to go. If you can stand
green "silk screen" you can easily do a silk screen
on the board too.

I started using PCB/postscript with kodalith. Did the
printout onto cheap photo quality paper and then
contact printed it to the lith film. Then a photoresist
on copper and contact printed the lith onto the
copperclad.

The laminate is much faster.

Hope that this helps the students and the others of
us who do it during the day, and we who are also
"midnight engineers"

Cheers,

Rich S.