Net list (or?) -> ExpressPCB

Windoze wrote on Wed, 01 July 2009 16:53

Greetings,

 

I'm evaluating Eagle using the freeware v5.6.0, and have used ExpressPCB

in the past, but would like to get away from their schematic editor, but

still use the board service... so...

 

I'm guessing that the freeware version does not offer different file

formats (or I haven't found the menu item). Does the net list export

routine (on some version) save in any of these formats:

Hello Howard,

There is nothing built in to EAGLE for this.  There are some ULP's in the

download area of CadSoft's website that may or may not be of help.

We offer a PADS netlist export tool on our website.  That will export a

PADS netlist from the schematic or allow you to import one into EAGLE board

editor.

But that said, PCB Express is just a division of Sunstone and I know they

take EAGLE files directly.  So if you just move to EAGLE for both schematic

and board then you get a smoother flow and your manufacturer will support

it too.  And they supply DRC files for their process to use in EAGLE PCB

which is a nice bonus.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,

James.

--

James Morrison  ~~~  Stratford Digital

email:  james@eaglecentral.ca

web: http://www.eaglecentral.ca

Specialising in CadSoft EAGLE

• Online Sales to North America

• Electronic Design Services

• EAGLE Enterprise Toolkit

--

Browser access to CadSoft Support Forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca

Thanks for the propmt reply, James!

PCB Express take EAGLE files directly.

Great! Well there's the solution.

And they supply DRC files for their process to use in

EAGLE PCB which is a nice bonus.

Interesting... since you mention them in this context, do the DRCs work in

the freeware version? (And I don't mind bumping up to a paid version, if

this works out.)

Funny you mentioned these, one of my browser tabs happens to be pointing

here as I read your reply:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=115

thanks again!

- H

--

Browser access to CadSoft Support Forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca

Windoze wrote on Wed, 01 July 2009 18:36

Thanks for the propmt reply, James!

 

PCB Express take EAGLE files directly.

Great! Well there's the solution.

Of course, they take gerbers too if you want to send those (which EAGLE

does fine as well).  So now you have options.

Quote:

And they supply DRC files for their process to use in

EAGLE PCB which is a nice bonus.

Interesting... since you mention them in this context, do the DRCs work

in the freeware version? (And I don't mind bumping up to a paid version, if

this works out.)

The DRC works in all versions of EAGLE.  Now the number of layers is

restricted based on what license you have.  So it's not going to make much

sense to use a 6-layer DRC file with a 2-layer license like the freeware.

But as long as your license allows for the number of layers you want, the

DRC will work just fine.

The DRC file is really just a collection of settings that indicate the

manufacturing process parameters.

Quote:

Funny you mentioned these, one of my browser tabs happens to be pointing

here as I read your reply:

 

  http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials _id=115

Yes, SparkFun has lots of good resources for newbies and they have lots

available for EAGLE as well which is a nice bonus

Cheers,

James.

--

James Morrison  ~~~  Stratford Digital

email:  james@eaglecentral.ca

web: http://www.eaglecentral.ca

Specialising in CadSoft EAGLE

• Online Sales to North America

• Electronic Design Services

• EAGLE Enterprise Toolkit

--

Browser access to CadSoft Support Forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca

I think the original question was about ExpressPCB, not PCB Express.

I'd dearly love to be able use the ExpressPCB board service, but also

haven't figured out how to use Eagle with their service.

I know they work really hard to prevent people from exporting from their

schematic/layout package to other board services (the business model, doncha

know), but I don't understand why they don't provide an easy way to import

into their service...

/frank

"James Morrison" <james@eaglecentral.ca> wrote in message

news:h2glc9$3om$1@cheetah.cadsoft.de...

Windoze wrote on Wed, 01 July 2009 16:53

Greetings,

 

I'm evaluating Eagle using the freeware v5.6.0, and have used ExpressPCB

in the past, but would like to get away from their schematic editor, but

still use the board service... so...

 

I'm guessing that the freeware version does not offer different file

formats (or I haven't found the menu item). Does the net list export

routine (on some version) save in any of these formats:

 

 

Hello Howard,

 

There is nothing built in to EAGLE for this.  There are some ULP's in the

download area of CadSoft's website that may or may not be of help.

 

We offer a PADS netlist export tool on our website.  That will export a

PADS netlist from the schematic or allow you to import one into EAGLE

board

editor.

 

But that said, PCB Express is just a division of Sunstone and I know they

take EAGLE files directly.  So if you just move to EAGLE for both

schematic

and board then you get a smoother flow and your manufacturer will support

it too.  And they supply DRC files for their process to use in EAGLE PCB

which is a nice bonus.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Cheers,

 

James.

 

 

--

James Morrison  ~~~  Stratford Digital

 

email:  james@eaglecentral.ca

web: http://www.eaglecentral.ca

 

Specialising in CadSoft EAGLE

• Online Sales to North America

• Electronic Design Services

• EAGLE Enterprise Toolkit --

Browser access to CadSoft Support Forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca

Frank Schwab wrote on Thu, 02 July 2009 15:42

I think the original question was about ExpressPCB, not PCB Express.

 

I'd dearly love to be able use the ExpressPCB board service, but also

haven't figured out how to use Eagle with their service.

 

I know they work really hard to prevent people from exporting from their

schematic/layout package to other board services (the business model,

doncha

know), but I don't understand why they don't provide an easy way to

import

into their service...

Ah, sorry about that Frank.  I must be dyslectic

I don't know much about their toolset so I can't comment.  We have a tool

that imports/exports PADS netlist if that is of use.

Or just use EAGLE to create the design and create gerbers with the CAM

processor.  Any board manufacturer in the world will take gerbers.  So

EAGLE can be used with their manufacturing process.  I'm just not sure if

there is an established way to exchange data with their software.

Cheers,

James.

--

James Morrison  ~~~  Stratford Digital

email:  james@eaglecentral.ca

web: http://www.eaglecentral.ca

Specialising in CadSoft EAGLE

• Online Sales to North America

• Electronic Design Services

• EAGLE Enterprise Toolkit

--

Browser access to CadSoft Support Forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca

think the original question was about ExpressPCB, not PCB Express.

Yep Frank, that's correct --- didn't see the difference. So it looks like

we're stuck, eh?

--

Browser access to CadSoft Support Forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca

I contacted ExpressPCB with a similar question. They were quite emphatic

that they ONLY accept designs from their software. They have "streamlined"

(I read automated) their process to provide the low prices.

--

Jeff Rockel

WI, USA

--

Browser access to CadSoft Support Forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca