I'm getting ready to actually nail down a simple phase splitter design to a PCB, so that I can use it in a bunch of builds, as I'm a bit tired of lashing it together P2P each time I go to build something. I need some direction as to a PCB design program that would be easy for a beginner to play with, and that supports common noval and octal sockets, as well as TO92/TO220 transistor packages. Supporting 28TSSOP would be nice as well, so I can get back to designing a dual mono PCM1794 board too...
The circuit in question will be a bipolar CCS loaded triode gain stage, followed by a concertina, and I may put in a couple source followers on the same board. I plan to put in extra pads for a simple resistor in place of the CCS, and an LED or two in series with cathode resistor, with a spot for a feedback resistor. This will be a more or less universal PCB, and I plan to have both an octal and noval version to play with once it's all said and done. It will look very similar to the front end of the Impasse preamplifier, just with a bipolar CCS arrangement, rather than a DN2540 cascode, so I can set lower current. No power tubes on this board, they will sit off board as this is meant to be a universal driver board.
Also, if anyone has any leads on affordable PCB houses for a small run of boards, I'd appreciate it. Especially ones that will make your board with a purple instead of green or red that everyone else does if possible 😛
here's the circuit, more or less...
The circuit in question will be a bipolar CCS loaded triode gain stage, followed by a concertina, and I may put in a couple source followers on the same board. I plan to put in extra pads for a simple resistor in place of the CCS, and an LED or two in series with cathode resistor, with a spot for a feedback resistor. This will be a more or less universal PCB, and I plan to have both an octal and noval version to play with once it's all said and done. It will look very similar to the front end of the Impasse preamplifier, just with a bipolar CCS arrangement, rather than a DN2540 cascode, so I can set lower current. No power tubes on this board, they will sit off board as this is meant to be a universal driver board.
Also, if anyone has any leads on affordable PCB houses for a small run of boards, I'd appreciate it. Especially ones that will make your board with a purple instead of green or red that everyone else does if possible 😛
here's the circuit, more or less...
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I design with Cadsoft Eagle (free for smaller boards) and fab with Iteadstudio. You can get boards of five, fairly cheaply. Purple is available.
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for board houses, these guys have some good prices, has anybody used them?
https://www.elecrow.com/services/pcb-prototyping.html
I think I would need to learn eagle first, as it seems to be the most versatile...
I hear good things from the arduino guys about dirtypcb as well-
http://dirtypcbs.com/store/pcbs
Or oshpark for small stuff, could be good for CCS boards-
https://oshpark.com/
https://www.elecrow.com/services/pcb-prototyping.html
I think I would need to learn eagle first, as it seems to be the most versatile...
I hear good things from the arduino guys about dirtypcb as well-
http://dirtypcbs.com/store/pcbs
Or oshpark for small stuff, could be good for CCS boards-
https://oshpark.com/
Any recommendations on parts libraries or anything I would need to add? does it already have some tube related stuff on hand? I can't install it until later tonight to figure it all out...
Dang, just looking at seeedstudio, and they are pretty cheap, $9.90 for ten 100cm square boards. not bad at all.
I messed around with freepcb a while back, i might play with that one a bit again in the next couple days. I'm not liking the way autodesk limits the board size in eagle, and the way they changed everything kind of sucks business wise.
I messed around with freepcb a while back, i might play with that one a bit again in the next couple days. I'm not liking the way autodesk limits the board size in eagle, and the way they changed everything kind of sucks business wise.
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China PCB Prototype & Fabrication Manufacturer - PCB Prototype the Easy Way do 10 off 10cm by 10cm for $10 + $25 shipping.
Used them a few times now and always had good pcb's done very quickly.
Used them a few times now and always had good pcb's done very quickly.
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KiCAD is a free schematic capture and pcb layout program. It's not professional grade, but is getting very usable. CERN is contributing to the development no and its helping. I'm using it now for new designs.
Dip Trace
ExpressPCB
If you do schematic in LTSpice it can be exported to ExpressPCB in Multiwire.net or ExpressPcb.net for checking in ExpressPCB or directly draw with ExpressSch, but not as good as Dip Trace or LTSpice. Dip Trace allows 300 pins free for use, it can import dxf files from ExpressPCB, of course generate Gerber files flawlessly.
ExpressPCB
If you do schematic in LTSpice it can be exported to ExpressPCB in Multiwire.net or ExpressPcb.net for checking in ExpressPCB or directly draw with ExpressSch, but not as good as Dip Trace or LTSpice. Dip Trace allows 300 pins free for use, it can import dxf files from ExpressPCB, of course generate Gerber files flawlessly.
futurelec.com.au does PCBs as well, but there is initial set up cost. The more boards, the more the setup cost is distributed. Minimum setup AUD 15, holes are drilled and the whole thing is coated with tin.
If you buy a couple, its cheaper than photoresist blanks in Oz.
If you buy a couple, its cheaper than photoresist blanks in Oz.
Me, too. It was a slow start, but became easy to use after an hour or so. There are decent guides to help the process.
It is interesting to hear that one can import ExpressPCB work into Dip Trace, though. ExpressPCB is still the most user-friendly to me, but I don't like being bound to use their service.
It allows you to export dxf of the silk, holes boarder, you can not export the trace or pcb track, therefore after import you have to redraw the trace again. So everything on silk layer can be exported. So if you also paint the 2 trace layers on the silk layer, and export each separately and import as top or bottom silk and group (easy to delete it later) to guide you to draw the trace. Your original silk layer can be retained after import. Dip Trace is very powerful in converting dxf file to any layer you wish. For the start, you can at least export all the tube sockets at ease, ExpressPcb imports no file dxf however, Dip Trace is only free for limited used. If you really go for commercial, I think you won't want to resort to this way, but rather just to teach each other to make better use of "freeware".
Attachments
For simple schematics where one get by without and automated schematic<->PCB link the Sprint Layout is still my favourite layout tool.
Sprint-Layout
The learning curve is by far the easiest if I compare to EAGLE, KiCad, Diptrace etc. Worth the small money they as in my opinion.... will do the Gerber export and so one can easily get the beards made as well.
Sprint-Layout
The learning curve is by far the easiest if I compare to EAGLE, KiCad, Diptrace etc. Worth the small money they as in my opinion.... will do the Gerber export and so one can easily get the beards made as well.
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