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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: <alpine.DEB.2.00.1507131126460.6924@igor2priv>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:46:46 +0100
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> On 13 Jul 2015, at 10:33, gedau AT igor2 DOT repo DOT hu wrote:

> I think it's PCB is a bit more than 2d - or rather, should be. Ideally, it knows the thickness of layers and which of the layers are connected by a plated drill. This how blind or burried vias would be possible.

Why does it need to know the layer thickness?  It’s a useful property to associate with the layer, but I don’t see why PCB needs to know about it.

> Btw, I see the validity in your MCAD->ECAD idea; actually when I need to do draw something mechanical, if it's small, I sometimes just use PCB. I shoulnd't, but I'm so much faster with PCB than with librecad for those very small things... A typical example is small floorplans, especially if I don't need dimension lines (they are expensive in PCB and cheap in librecad). My scale is usually 1mm PCB = 1m real life.

I guess I’m kind of the opposite.  I’m not a power PCB user: the stuff I work on is rarely more than two layers and never larger than Eurocard sized.  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.

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