PCBCAD40 Software

[KatieandDad]

I'm trying to use PCBCAD40 to draw basic PCB designs, ie not using Schematic to PCB transfer, just placing pads on the grid and laying traces between them.

How do I just place a pad ?

I can place a component and tracks but can't place a single pad ?

I can't seem to be able to PRINT any results either.

 

[rsavas]

I have never used that software but a pad could be placed as a one pin component or a via, but in some cases the via needs to be associated with a net

 

[KatieandDad]

There just doesn't seem to be an option to place a single pad.

Hopefully Nigel Wright will comment as he produces this software.

 

[KatieandDad]

No useful comments so far.

 

[davidsrsb]

No idea about PCBCAD40, but in KiCad you would have to make a special single pad footprint and place that. There is no way to place a pad primitive directly.
There already some of these, TestPoint_pads

 

[nigelwright7557]

PCBCAD40 doesnt allow placing a pad.
You can place components, tracks and text.
If you need to place one pad make a component with that pad size and use that.

PCBCAD40 (like most other pcbcad programs) is based around schematic then pcb so that means using components.

 

[JMFahey]

Yes, you can easily create a component which is just a pad and even call it "Pad**" where ** is the pad diameter in Mils.

You can also add a label to name to indicate shape.

It will "look" and work like a random Pad but it´s actually a Component.

 

[nigelwright7557]

I'm trying to use PCBCAD40
I can't seem to be able to PRINT any results either.

To print you have to go into block mode using F9.
Press F9.
Left click on top left hand side of block to print.
Left click on bottom right hand side of block to print.
You will now get a rectangle around the block.
Right click mouse then left click on print.

 

[Mark Tillotson]

In many PCB CAD programs pads are properties of a device footprint, not things you can handle separately (like drill holes or fill areas). This is because pads connect to nets, they cannot exist purely on the layout, they are part of the schematic and schematics have structure.


You get round this by defining your own components/devices that are just one pad. I've done this in Eagle, creating several different ones at different sizes.


You may be able to find pre-existing connectors with only one connection - I don't know what comes with PCBCAD40.

 

[nigelwright7557]

I find many customers are looking to go straight to pcb as they have come from a tape and film background. Or make their own pcb's.
The first company I worked for in 1981 did that.
These days with the onset of very cheap manufacturers of pcb's its better to go the PC PCBCAD route and use a schematic first.
Some are a steep learning curve but its worth sticking at.