ElectronicDesign (2005-07-14 10:24:19)

developer notes on tools we use or thinking about


Recommended parts

During sch + layout design there are often compromises. Sometimes designer hesitates to add some board optimization that would increase BOM linecount, such as using both BAV99 and BAW56 instead of just BAV99. BOM linecount and partcount has related manufacturing costs, naturally, but usually fairly small. In general I recommend to make optimizations, a few added BOM items are no problem.

Some notes: think about parts below and use them with cheers:


Spice SW


PCB SW:

Eagle schematic and PCB editor (and it's license terms!) from http://www.cadsoft.de/

I use the Eagle 4.11 professional license, but eagle with any license can view sch or pcb, and any can edit the one-page (therefore a bit clumsy looking) schematic. Eagle is a relatively shitty program. The lack of some very simple functions make your life hard.

Eagle wishlist:

eagle working list:


GEDA GNU electronic design automation.

These software are good for simple design. VEMS team mostly uses Eagle. Autorouter functionality is poor, but 2 layer boards must be routed manually for sane result anyway :-)

[eagle help]

do you know how to share info between PADs and Eagle schematics and layouts? Have links? A friend insists on PADs (which he paid serious money for) and would make smaller boards (eg. stepper-driver for a special app, special form-factor).

Spice and clones (eg. acs) for simulation

[LTspice]


HW:

scopes (like Vellemann K7103), signal generators

Virtual trigger signal generator by Ray Hall, handles the most common stock trigger arrangements:

http://www.autronic.com/software/SignalGen.zip

Lab equipments

http://www.e-lab.de/index_en.html


Interesting links, practices, examples:


ManuFacturing links, eg.: ManuFacturingInHungary

See also MechanicalDesign, BuildProcedures


4.11 Eagle Lite Sources

[German]

[English]


AVR simulation (should have it's own page?)


See also