Re: gEDA-user: .pcb viewer

[Peter Clifton <pcjc2@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 2009-10-25 at 11:25 -0400, Harry Eaton wrote:
> > Does geda have a .pcb file viewer, such as is output by the ExpressPCB free
> > software for windows?  I've got a small tabletop milling machine, and have
> > been asked to do a board that is about half the size of a postage stamp.
> >
> > And, if so, can it convert a .pcb into a couple of .ngc's for feeding a
> > milling machine, one for each side of the board?
> 
> I think there may be some misunderstanding what you are asking here.
> 
> I interpret your question to be "The windows program ExpressPCB has
> created a ".pcb" file. Does geda have a viewer for this file?"

Ah - looks like I misread the question.

> Now I don't know anything about ExpressPCB, but it probably creates
> files in its own (probably proprietary) format and gives them a .pcb
> suffix.

IIRC, it is a vendor lock-in design program for their fab, so there is
no way to export from it, not even gerbers. http://www.expresspcb.com/
Sorry!

Like Harry said, re-designing the board in (gEDA) PCB would be the only
option here, but I'm not 100% convinced about the output to mill
commands anyway. Best test that bit first before investing too much time
in re-designing the board!

If the board's designer can take a screen-shot from express-pcb (perhaps
one on each layer), you can import the screen-shot as a background to
trace over in PCB.

(Just a note.. the PCB+GL branch _can not_ render background images).

Best wishes,

Peter C.




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