Re: gEDA-user: a pcb level panelizer tool

[John Griessen <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rick Collins wrote:
There doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in making it do what is
> required.  Rather I get suggestions on how to hand edit files to produce 
> XYRS centroid files and such.  So for my next project, I am looking for 
> a tool that is more complete and works efficiently (by that I mean does 
> not require *ME* to do the kind of work a computer can do).

[jg]IF you are going low cost, PCB is likely closest to what you desire. 
  Some of the big $$ CAD like cadence, mentor, cadstar  have what you 
want almost.  It's still possible to come up with reasons to tweak when 
manufacturing needs something and your output doesn't have it for 
whatever reason...


 > I do
 > production work and always need multiple panels to complete a job.  So
 > there is no point to putting more than one board on a panel.

[jg]I can see having a product mix when producing a line so that I want 
4 of A, 8 of B, 4 of C 6 of D on one panel that I repeat as needed in 
large volume, lowering handling costs over dealing with 4 different 
panels during a run of boards.

My goal is to automate as
 > much as possible and to eliminate any sort of manual work, including
 > running script files.

[jg] This sounds like you want > $20K per seat software -- subscription 
software from the Cadence and Mentor kind of company where they do a lot 
of service for you, (they run the scripts, or encapsulate them in a GUI 
and you happily use their product customization).  But PCB, gschem etc. 
can be just as good, and faster/easier to afford and use and customize.

There's something you might not have noticed yet.  You can hire people 
to make customizations for gEDA tools, and you've been talking with one 
of them already -- DJ.   :-)


 > I'm suggesting that the panelization be
 > integrated into PCB rather than use a separate tool.  If this scripting
 > tool is editing the PCB design file, then it has to "know" about the PCB
 > file format and be kept up to date with any changes.

[jg]Scripts are separate, but can be controlled by a custom program that 
is command line or GUI for purposes of avoiding mistakes.  If you  like 
"integrated" apps, PCB has plugins that can drive scripts and hide their 
existence from you, but they will always be there to satisfy many who do 
not like GUI front ends for everything.


 > I prefer to use tools
 > that do the job simply and effectively without unnecessary manual
 > steps.  I think a step and repeat option should be in any good layout 
tool.

[jg] By manual, you seem to be meaning mouse clicking is OK, but script 
running isn't, or needs to be started by a mouse click.  That's all 
possible and hirable.  The only thing you won't be able to do dealing 
with PCB and gschem developers is demand features be removed for 
simplicity.  That still might be possible for most things as things 
evolve.  PCB has a way to customize menus without recompiling the code 
-- that lets you set up pushbutton access to features you want to use 
and not to others.

John Griessen



_______________________________________________
geda-user mailing list
geda-user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user