X-Authentication-Warning: delorie.com: mail set sender to geda-user-bounces using -f X-Recipient: geda-user AT delorie DOT com Message-ID: <1436782404.960.19.camel@ssalewski.de> Subject: Re: [geda-user] PCB interface (ECAD vs. MCAD) From: Stefan Salewski To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2015 12:13:24 +0200 In-Reply-To: <76520AC3-3E8D-4F80-A912-AB076DD8D0C6@icloud.com> References: <76520AC3-3E8D-4F80-A912-AB076DD8D0C6 AT icloud DOT com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" X-Mailer: Evolution 3.12.11 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com Errors-To: nobody AT delorie DOT com X-Mailing-List: geda-user AT delorie DOT com X-Unsubscribes-To: listserv AT delorie DOT com Precedence: bulk On Mon, 2015-07-13 at 09:07 +0100, Chris Smith (space DOT dandy AT icloud DOT com) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com] wrote: > Out of interest, does anyone know why there is so much dissimilarity > between ECAD and 2D MCAD tools? I was thinking about that idea years ago, and have mentioned it on this list. One "idea" was to having a EDA mode for programs like Inkscape. But at that time there was no FOSS mechanical cad program which really all people liked. And of course there are some important differences: Schematic layout is at a symbolic level, without exact dimensions, but with connectivity and attributes. (Tools like KDia are similar). PCB layout has a simple mechanical component, but much more: DRC, polygons,gerber export, autorouter. And of course there is also simulation. Your basic idea is good. It would make sense to have a common core for mechanical and electrical cad. Or maybe you can find a fine mechanical cad tool which you can convert into an ecad tool.