Thanks.

We have similar concerns here at Caterpillar, and
would never consider using any of these systems
for a real product, just for test boards with no part
numbers.

From what I can learn, ExpressPCB seems to be
everywhere and there's no real buzz around town
for anything else. There's even a Yahoo Group that
trades library parts and teaches people how to make
paste screens and stuff, kinda cool...

I'm disappointed that I can't find anyone wo has ever
tried freePCB because it doesn't have the same
limitations as the others, but there's something to be
said for a larger user base.

Am I gonna have to do some research work on my
own, instead of just asking "The Council"?

sheesh...!

Jack
.


On 2/8/07, McGlaughlin, Jeffrey A <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Jack -
>
> FWIW - I have 2 problems with the freeware layout tools that you
> mention.  First, they are captive to the manufacturer providing them so
> that once your design is done there is no choice in fabricator. We
> require competitive bid on all deliverable PCB so that means we cannot
> deliver any thing designed in one of these tools. Second, there is no
> easy way to capture the design for documentation.  This is a major issue
> for us since we are primarily a research and development facility; our
> product is the technical documentation required to put a unit in to
> production.
>
> We have on occasion when doing internal research and development work
> used ExpressPCB. According to the engineers that have used it, it is the
> simplest to learn and has the largest library.
>
>
> Good luck,
>
> Jeffrey McGlaughlin, CID
> Engineering Designer
> Battelle
> 505 King Avenue
> Columbus Ohio 43201-2693
> (614)424-7582 Phone
> (614)458-7582 Fax
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DesignerCouncil [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jack
> Olson
> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:53 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [DC] Freeware Layout Tools
>
> Greetings,
>
> I have an engineer who wants to use something like
> ExpressPCB or PCB123 or FreePCB to design
> easy-cheesy test boards.
>
> Does anyone have experience with any of these
> packages? best libraries? hidden "gotchas"?
>
> I hate to do a long evaluation process before he dives
> headfirst into something, so I thought I'd ask ya...
>
> Jack
>
>
>

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