PCB (software)
| PCB | |
|---|---|
| File:Pcb eda.png | |
| Developer | Thomas Nau |
| Initial release | 1990 [1] |
| Repository |
|
| Engine | |
| Operating system | Unix-like (BSDs, Linux, Solaris, OS X (experimental) and Microsoft Windows |
| Type | Electronic design automation (EDA) |
| License | GPLv2 |
| Website | pcb |
PCB is a free and open-source software suite for electronic design automation (EDA) - for printed circuit boards (PCB) layout. It uses GTK+ for its GUI widgets.
History
[edit | edit source]PCB was first written by Thomas Nau for an Atari ST in 1990 and ported to UNIX and X11 in 1994. Initially PCB was not intended to be a professional layout system but as a tool for individuals to do small-scale development of hardware.[1][2] The second release 1.2 introduced user menus. This made PCB easier to use and increased its popularity.[1] Harry Eaton took over PCB development beginning with Release 1.5, although he contributed some code from Release 1.4.3.
PCB includes a topological autorouter named Toporouter, developed by Anthony Blake in a Google-funded open source project mentored by DJ Delorie in 2008.[3] It is mostly based on an implementation of the algorithms described in Tal Dayan's 1997 PhD thesis, "Rubberband based topological router".[3][4] This router has meanwhile been adapted for use with the open-source KiCad project as well.
In 2013, pcb-rnd was forked from PCB.
Features
[edit | edit source]- Scalable fonts
- Layer groups to keep signals together
- Add on device drivers
- Gerber RS-274X and NC Drill output support
- Centroid (X-Y) data output
- PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript output
- Rats-nest generation from simple net lists
- Automatic clearance around pins that pierce a polygon
- Flags for pins and vias
- Groups of action commands can be undone by a single undo
- Simple design rule checker (DRC) - checks for minimum spacing and overlap rules
- Drawing directly on the silk layer
- Viewable solder-mask layers and editing
- Netlist window
- Netlist entry by drawing rats
- Auto router
- Snap to pins and pads
- Element files and libraries that can contain whole sub-layouts, metric grids
- Up to 16 copper layer designs by default
- Trace optimizer
- Rats nest
- Connectivity verification
- Can interoperate with free schematic capture tools such as gEDA and XCircuit
- GNU autoconf/automake based build system
- PCB is Free Software
File formats
[edit | edit source]Import
[edit | edit source]- PCB accepts textual file in the form of a network lists and associated pins. Such file may be produced from a GEDA or XCircuit program or some other
Export
[edit | edit source]- bom: Bill of materials.
- gcode: G-code.
- gerber: Gerber.
- .ps: PostScript.
- .eps: Eps.
- .png: Image.
- .nelma: Nelma.
- .gsvit
- .ipc-d-356
See also
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References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). 100826 pcb.gpleda.org
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). 100826 linuxfund.org
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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