X-Authentication-Warning:	delorie.com: mail set sender to geda-user-bounces using -f
X-Recipient:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
MIME-version:	1.0 (Mac OS X Mail 8.2 \(2098\))
Subject:	Re: [geda-user] PCB interface (ECAD vs. MCAD)
From:	"Chris Smith (space DOT dandy AT icloud DOT com) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com]" <geda-user AT delorie DOT com>
In-reply-to:
	<CAM2RGhR-axM4nccaPyOsp_097=FPkTUvLoHjdySCHSFmYiqy+A AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
Date:	Wed, 15 Jul 2015 08:11:43 +0100
Message-id:	<C94D0159-AF9B-4256-B032-64F3F478D9CF@icloud.com>
References:	<alpine DOT DEB DOT 2 DOT 00 DOT 1507131126460 DOT 6924 AT igor2priv>
	<76520AC3-3E8D-4F80-A912-AB076DD8D0C6 AT icloud DOT com>
	<1670171546 DOT 913210 DOT 1436776811789 DOT JavaMail DOT yahoo AT mail DOT yahoo DOT com>
	<79456AAA-24A9-4300-900D-005ABBCFCBDA AT icloud DOT com>
	<60F3B5BC-EC05-41FE-BAF7-B2A14B4392EC AT icloud DOT com>
	<FDu.JTnO.1aO}YfpLUi}.1LfGYf AT seznam DOT cz>
	<CAM2RGhR-axM4nccaPyOsp_097=FPkTUvLoHjdySCHSFmYiqy+A AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
To:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
X-Mailer:	Apple Mail (2.2098)
X-Proofpoint-Virus-Version:	vendor=fsecure
	engine=2.50.10432:5.14.151,1.0.33,0.0.0000
	definitions=2015-07-15_03:2015-07-14,2015-07-15,1970-01-01 signatures=0
X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details:	rule=notspam policy=default score=0 spamscore=0
	suspectscore=5 phishscore=0 adultscore=0 bulkscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0
	reason=mlx scancount=1 engine=7.0.1-1412110000 definitions=main-1507150116
X-MIME-Autoconverted:	from quoted-printable to 8bit by delorie.com id t6F7CEjs011660
Reply-To:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com

On 15 Jul 2015, at 04:29, Evan Foss (evanfoss AT gmail DOT com) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com] <geda-user AT delorie DOT com> wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Jul 14, 2015 at 1:03 PM, Vaclav Peroutka (vaclavpe AT seznam DOT cz)
> [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com] <geda-user AT delorie DOT com> wrote:
>> 
>> However it nearly always has some kind of panel mounting. When I start a
>> layout, I nearly always want to start with the mechanical components, to
>> say: distribute these switches/LEDS between here and here, on 20mm centres.
>> This is trivial with 2D MCAD, but cumbersome with PCB.
>> 
>> 
>> Good idea. All profesional flows start with "mechanical" design of PCB -
>> mounting holes, connectors, LEDs, switches etc. These footprints must not be
>> touched later. Then placement and layout of all non-mechanical components
> 
> I like this a lot. Could we use a library that already exists to
> import dxf or something? Most of my projects for work do start this
> way. I do have some where the prototyping and etc are more important
> than a case.

I’m not sure that really solves the problem.  Or at least it introduces new ones: you have to associate footprints with their DXF representations, or just use the DXF as a graphical underlay — like you can do with raster images at the moment.  Useful but not optimal.

I think DXF import (and export) could be useful, in the same way that I find Gerber import in QCad useful.  However in general I think it would be better to make PCB’s drawing tools work in a much more CADish manner.

Regards,
Chris
—
Chris Smith <space DOT dandy AT icloud DOT com>

- Raw text -