Some programs can do this, but they are error-prone. It would be easier with a small board
to just redesign it instead.
to just redesign it instead.
START by showing the actual PDF
They may be simple or a nightmare.
It might have proper size ready to print artwork, just a schematic or a PCB picture.
"A PDF" by itself means NOTHING.
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When printing You have to play with the page size buttons.
One of them prints correct.
Or snip, load in Irfanview and adjust size.
One of them prints correct.
Or snip, load in Irfanview and adjust size.
It *can* be done, but is somewhat complex.
You must perfectly align the dual layers, and solder on both sides, since plating through holes at home is not practical.
Preferrably skip thedual solder masks
Problem is, "it´s too much work for just one" (or two); justified for own use, not so much to be made for others.
I see 3 paths here:
1) ask at the original thread, probably somebody else who made it ordered boards and have a few spares.
2) practice ironing transfer or even better, photopositive boarde and make them yourself.
You won´t charge yourself for wasted time, errors, etc, it´s fun and a valuable skill to acquire
3) copy layout (which is the hardest thing to learn and solve) using any PCB drawing software you like, you have 80% of the job already done, any modern package will generate Gerber files, send them to one of those manufacturers which offer BIG discounts on first order.
You must perfectly align the dual layers, and solder on both sides, since plating through holes at home is not practical.
Preferrably skip thedual solder masks
Problem is, "it´s too much work for just one" (or two); justified for own use, not so much to be made for others.
I see 3 paths here:
1) ask at the original thread, probably somebody else who made it ordered boards and have a few spares.
2) practice ironing transfer or even better, photopositive boarde and make them yourself.
You won´t charge yourself for wasted time, errors, etc, it´s fun and a valuable skill to acquire
3) copy layout (which is the hardest thing to learn and solve) using any PCB drawing software you like, you have 80% of the job already done, any modern package will generate Gerber files, send them to one of those manufacturers which offer BIG discounts on first order.
Looked at the Files, if you know how to make a PCB and of course you have the tools, then you can make them in two ways.
Buy thin PCB 0.8mm and then make for Top and Bottom size each one.. when done glue them together so you will get one Single PCB, drill them and its done.
OR
Use Double Layer PCB and make it on shot..
Most easy way send the files as Fahey wrote, to one of these PCB Manufacturers, they may can help you..
Hope this helps at least a bit.
Buy thin PCB 0.8mm and then make for Top and Bottom size each one.. when done glue them together so you will get one Single PCB, drill them and its done.
OR
Use Double Layer PCB and make it on shot..
Most easy way send the files as Fahey wrote, to one of these PCB Manufacturers, they may can help you..
Hope this helps at least a bit.
may be off topic, but...
I used to use EAGLE a long time ago and since it was size limited, I made my own parts 10x smaller than they actually were so that i could just scale the drawing while printing on a transparency for exposing..! Probably a known 'hack' tho anyway..
Cheers
S
I used to use EAGLE a long time ago and since it was size limited, I made my own parts 10x smaller than they actually were so that i could just scale the drawing while printing on a transparency for exposing..! Probably a known 'hack' tho anyway..
Cheers
S
Check if any of chinese pcb manufacturers taking pdf's directly to production or try yourself find some pdf to gerber convertors. Try gerbview by example. Then something like pcbgogo or jlcpcb
Just curious: some PCB packages allow displaying a graphic PCB image on screen so it can be "cloned" easier, not automatically of course, but allowing user to put library components and tracks/pads following image layout, which in due course can be used to generate Gerbers and other data.
Does yours?
Not a real PRO feature, more hobbyist oriented,but it doesn´t hurt having it available.
No automatic PDF to Gerber conversion possible, because no parts or connectivity data is included, although I *guess* some fabricator might use some software which recognizes hole position to drive a CNC driller and generate a black on white transparency to expose photosensitive PCBs.
And even so it would lack data for pad and via through hole plating.
Really the best option here is to home make them, using PDF to create transparencies for exposure, hand aligning and drilling .... which certainly was the current hobby/DIY technology when the original article was published.
FWIW in 80's Argentina, one technique used for "cloning" 🙄 foreign made stuff was to empty the PCB and ... you won´t believe it: >>X Ray<< it 😱
Medical X Rays are collimated, meaning they travel in a parallel path (although they originally come from a point source, the X Ray tube anode) so X Ray image is perfect 1:1 size.
PCB copper is X Ray opaque (compared to base material) and gives you a perfect image, only somewhat weak, but it can be contact copied on Graphic Litho film, which gives you very dense and sharp image ... perfect for silkscreen or direct PCB etching 😎
There were a couple small PCB shops specializing on "reverse engineering" 😛
i would have pdf open in one window and pcb layout in another.
ok if your ,monitor is big enough for both.
ok if your ,monitor is big enough for both.
Thanks for the info it is interesting to read.
I got help ftom a member making a pcb for this one,its now ordered from JLC PCb.
But keep posting I learn from it...
I got help ftom a member making a pcb for this one,its now ordered from JLC PCb.
But keep posting I learn from it...
I´m playing around i Eagle now and I´m in the board side and I´m trying to move the components to the board and pressing the MOVE button but I cant move components.
Is there a lock somewhere?
Is there a lock somewhere?
Autodesk
Autodesk, As always Complicated..
Usually it would just be Drag and Drop as for the layers under BOARD in the lower half of the Tools you can see Top and Bottom Layer, numbered 1 & 16, I think if you highlight them Both then it should work..
But don't hang me up on this, I do not USE AUTODESK Products.. Just installed it to help you. But unfortunately for the Program it's gonna be uninstalled very soon.
Try Sprint LAYOUT from Germany use Google.. it's the most easiest Layout Program after Protel..
Straight forward.. the only Weakness of it is, it generates Gerber-files not actually Accurate as far as I tested it. But there again, if you go straight by the book, then also Gerber works well.
Using Sprint, you can use PDF and also JPG to import into the Program. so less to draw..
One thing I have learned in creating PCB's. do not use AUTOROUTE when you haven't created the schematic with the same Product. and even then it's not sure that is what you thought of..To draw the layout of your Board, it should not take more than say two hours after you get yourself worked into the Program
Most parts you will find in the DATABASE. this includes Sizes and also polarization of Components.
it takes 2 minutes to download and 1 minute to install there is also a test-version. and the most important thing is, it does not use a lot of space on your PC's Harddrive.. Latest version is 6.0
Hope this helps..
Regards Chris
Autodesk, As always Complicated..
Usually it would just be Drag and Drop as for the layers under BOARD in the lower half of the Tools you can see Top and Bottom Layer, numbered 1 & 16, I think if you highlight them Both then it should work..
But don't hang me up on this, I do not USE AUTODESK Products.. Just installed it to help you. But unfortunately for the Program it's gonna be uninstalled very soon.
Try Sprint LAYOUT from Germany use Google.. it's the most easiest Layout Program after Protel..
Straight forward.. the only Weakness of it is, it generates Gerber-files not actually Accurate as far as I tested it. But there again, if you go straight by the book, then also Gerber works well.
Using Sprint, you can use PDF and also JPG to import into the Program. so less to draw..
One thing I have learned in creating PCB's. do not use AUTOROUTE when you haven't created the schematic with the same Product. and even then it's not sure that is what you thought of..To draw the layout of your Board, it should not take more than say two hours after you get yourself worked into the Program
Most parts you will find in the DATABASE. this includes Sizes and also polarization of Components.
it takes 2 minutes to download and 1 minute to install there is also a test-version. and the most important thing is, it does not use a lot of space on your PC's Harddrive.. Latest version is 6.0
Hope this helps..
Regards Chris
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