So i have been making some boards using the pulsar toner transfer system (i like it a lot except the green foil which is really annoying)
anyways i have been making my boards on expresspcb, i try and do single sided if possible for simplicity, the program is kind of limited so i have figured out a way to modify its output in photoshop (or your favourite image editor)
first of all get a free "printer driver" called doPDF. you can print to a fake printer driver which will trick expresspcb to give you a decent file.
then(with photoshop) when you open the pdf, do not touch the size, just change the resolution to 600 or 1200 depending on your printer, as long as you do not touch the size, the scale will be perfect.
now you have a decent version of the expresspcb image.
now all you have to do is use your image editing skills to make a nice version.
the reason i do it is because i am using 0.5 oz board with he pulsar toner transfer so the power and return need to be as big as i can make em fit. also i like to cover more of the board with copper for better conductivity with such thin copper, and so i dont waste so much etching fluid, and its probably better for it to be on the board than mixed with toxic chemichals.
that turns in to this!
this particular board "carries" 6 chipamp.com lm1875 boards on risers and puts its inputs and output to a header, and there are 10000 uf power capacitors on board. and some other stuff for input star ground, star ground from other parts of the project, and resistor to connect input star to main ground..
just in case you care what it is for it is the string drivers of the "physical guitar synth" at http://neutron-sound.blogspot.com
anyways i have been making my boards on expresspcb, i try and do single sided if possible for simplicity, the program is kind of limited so i have figured out a way to modify its output in photoshop (or your favourite image editor)
first of all get a free "printer driver" called doPDF. you can print to a fake printer driver which will trick expresspcb to give you a decent file.
then(with photoshop) when you open the pdf, do not touch the size, just change the resolution to 600 or 1200 depending on your printer, as long as you do not touch the size, the scale will be perfect.
now you have a decent version of the expresspcb image.
now all you have to do is use your image editing skills to make a nice version.
the reason i do it is because i am using 0.5 oz board with he pulsar toner transfer so the power and return need to be as big as i can make em fit. also i like to cover more of the board with copper for better conductivity with such thin copper, and so i dont waste so much etching fluid, and its probably better for it to be on the board than mixed with toxic chemichals.
that turns in to this!
this particular board "carries" 6 chipamp.com lm1875 boards on risers and puts its inputs and output to a header, and there are 10000 uf power capacitors on board. and some other stuff for input star ground, star ground from other parts of the project, and resistor to connect input star to main ground..
just in case you care what it is for it is the string drivers of the "physical guitar synth" at http://neutron-sound.blogspot.com
Last edited:
PCB express
Very good.
I have fun too with PCB Express. Light, easy and fast program for audio DIY. Here is a 3 ways active filter that i used for positive photo-fabrication process. It give me very good result. I like to use the tool ''Place a filled plane'' to cover more of the board for the same reason.
View attachment 3ways.pdf
Very good.
I have fun too with PCB Express. Light, easy and fast program for audio DIY. Here is a 3 ways active filter that i used for positive photo-fabrication process. It give me very good result. I like to use the tool ''Place a filled plane'' to cover more of the board for the same reason.
View attachment 3ways.pdf
two companies can be confusing
Neutron7
The title of this thread is "PCB express" which is a company that I have used many times. The other company is called "expresspcb" who offers a free online sofware cad package that their customers use. expresspcb offered this package to aid customers in creating an accurate design specifically to be sent to them to be manufactured. PCB express requires you provide Gerber industry standard format files generated by most all of the popular cad packages. Two different aproaches by companies with similar names. I only post this for information, as it could be informative.
Anyone looking for the free software that you are using my specify http://www.expresspcb.com/ to get the free stuff.
Neutron7
The title of this thread is "PCB express" which is a company that I have used many times. The other company is called "expresspcb" who offers a free online sofware cad package that their customers use. expresspcb offered this package to aid customers in creating an accurate design specifically to be sent to them to be manufactured. PCB express requires you provide Gerber industry standard format files generated by most all of the popular cad packages. Two different aproaches by companies with similar names. I only post this for information, as it could be informative.
Anyone looking for the free software that you are using my specify http://www.expresspcb.com/ to get the free stuff.
Last edited:
I know and i couldn't change it after i realized the mistake and could not edit it.
sorry for the confusion.
sorry for the confusion.
OK - I would like to mention that there is a cad package out there witch is powerfull and free called Kicad. Powerfull schematic capture and PCB layout tool with none of the usual restrictions like size of board, or number of componets as in a lot of the "lite" or "student" versions of common cad packages. I know that there are a ton of cad tools out there and everyone has their own favorite, but Kicad is easy to learn, and the price is right.
Later
Later
- Status
- Not open for further replies.