PCB Layout 2

[treez]

Hello,

I am trying to do a PCB layout for a mount for a current transducer……

The following is the transducer…

http://web4.lem.com/docs/products/htfs_e.pdf

I am trying to do it with PCB Wizard 3 (Standard edition).

I wish to get a dimensionally correct print out from PCB Wizard and then use that as a mask ready for etching away the copper on the copper clad board.

Here is my effort so far…….(it includes holes for caps and for connecting wires)

However, as you can see from the dimensions at the end of the datasheet, I will need very tight resolution since the 4 signal/power connections are not “true” with the mounting holes…..in fact the 4 mounting holes are at the corners of a square of side 33mm…..the four signal/power holes are in a straight line and are 2.54mm apart. –Also, these four signal/power connections are in a line which dissects the 33mm-side-square….however, the first hole starts at 32.5 mm above the “bottom” hole.

In short, I need the PCB software to have a grid with a resolution of 0.01mm to do this.

Does anybody know if PCB Wizard 3 (Standard Ed) can do this?
Also, if any reader knows of a web help group for PCB Wizard then I would be most grateful for it. I've been to the new wave website but sometimes the best help group operates independently to the main manufacturers.

 

[Warpspeed]

Not sure if this violates any Eng-Tips Forum rules, but here is something relevant that may be of very great interest to many people here.

This company provides a free download of full featured schematic capture software, plus excellent PCB layout software for up to four board layers.

But the most interesting feature of all, is that they offer very sensible pricing for manufacturing very small board quantities.

If this offends, please delete this entire post,

I have no commercial connection with these people. But it cuts to the heart of producing small quantities of high quality boards at a cost that makes "doing it in the sink" a lot more trouble than it is worth.

http://www.expresspcb.com/index.htm

 

[itsmoked]

No problem with this! Relax.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[Warpspeed]

Thanks Keith.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

If I was home, I could list about 10 other companies who do the same, though I wouldn't be able to speak intelligently on their pricing structure. For quick projects with few custom components, these are great... if you ever plan on reusing this design in a larger setup or taking it to someone else to manufacture, forget it, the files are not transferable.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[Warpspeed]

I had no idea, only discovered this service a week ago.

Prior to that, the last time I had boards made cost me $450 for four locally manufactured boards. And that is pretty much what I have been used to paying over recent years.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I often use MyroPCB for quick proto work... with standard turn I usually have my boards in hand within a week and a half. My last project was dual-layer 5" diameter rounds (odd outline, not perfect round), 50 count, for under $400 shipped FedEx.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[GonzaloEE]

In my college days, I used a Stone-age flatbed plotter with permanent ink pen for tracing tracks and pads, doing some simple thru-hole circuits with a short C program.
There was a British supplier of copper rivets, to make home-made vias. Never heard of them again.

These folks got to the extreme with homebrew h/w:

http://www.ustr.net/smt/oven.htm

http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200006/oven_art.htm