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John Baraclough
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Jul 2016 : 23:44:33
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A couple of years ago (using V17 & Windoze Vista) I created a pdf file of a PCB placement diagram from the silk-screen layer and was able to include the pads. I think I probably used CutePdf printer driver.
I need to do this again with a revision of this board under V19 & Windoze 8.1, but can't remember how I did it.
Any ideas?
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Birthdays are good for you: the more you have, the longer you live ... and I've had lots of them so I should know! |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2016 : 08:58:15
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John,
I assume what you want is the top layer with silk screen and pads only (i.e. no tracking)
You can do this (I think) by simply changing the track colour to the background so it disappears and do a colour printout.
Iain
P.S. Might need to do the same with the vias. |
Edited by - Iain Wilkie on 17 Jul 2016 09:00:16 |
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John Baraclough
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2016 : 09:27:46
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Thanks Iain. I'll give that a try.
I've tried this combination:
Plot the silk screen, add the top copper into the layer list and tick the pads only checkbox.
That makes the preview look right but the output still doesn't have the pads in it. So the preview isn't what you actually get on the output. Cancelling the pads only checkbox does show the top copper layer as well as the silk screen.
Edit to add:
Nope that doesn't work.
Here's what I want to see: http://mydesk.myzen.co.uk/_Useful/EasyPc/EasyPc1.jpg
and here's what I get no matter what settings I put in: http://mydesk.myzen.co.uk/_Useful/EasyPc/EasyPc2.jpg
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Birthdays are good for you: the more you have, the longer you live ... and I've had lots of them so I should know! |
Edited by - John Baraclough on 17 Jul 2016 09:49:39 |
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John Baraclough
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2016 : 10:04:42
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I just found this FAQ:
http://www.numberone.com/faq.aspx?KB020103
which is what I must have done with V17. Unfortunately it doesn't work in V19. I would have thought that a pdf placement diagram is a fairly basic requirement for the documentation on any PCB and should be a "one-click" solution. Apparently not.
Edit to add: Yes it was! I also found this old thread from two years ago:
http://www.numberone.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=879
I've sent an email to support requesting a working solution for V19. We'll see what comes of it.
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Birthdays are good for you: the more you have, the longer you live ... and I've had lots of them so I should know! |
Edited by - John Baraclough on 17 Jul 2016 10:19:22 |
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DavidM
United Kingdom
458 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2016 : 08:48:15
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I have just tried a slight variation method described in those earlier posts in my latest V19 and as far as I can see it is working. New layer type called "Assembly" with all the pad types checked, and a new "Top Assembly" layer using that layer type. Then in Plotting, on the layers tab for my silk screen plot I enabled Top Assembly as well as Top Silk, and my plot now includes the pads.
As for making it easier to use for another design, you should be able to Save Technology to save all those layer and related settings to a technology file on which you can base future designs. As well as that, use Save Job on the plotting dialog to save the plot setup for next time, so you then have a technology file and plot job that go together.
David |
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edrees
United Kingdom
779 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2016 : 09:09:44
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John, Try printing the top resist (add new layer to do this) and top silk without top copper.
Alternatively, add a new copper layer to the design with no tracks, then print that layer along with the silk screen (assuming thru plated holes!).
BR.
Ed.
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Edited by - edrees on 18 Jul 2016 09:12:15 |
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John Baraclough
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2016 : 13:50:59
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I finally found a solution which is to edit the design technology file, save the board and close down EasyPC. Then reopen EasyPc and plot the placement diagram using the built-in PDF driver. Finally, re-edit the technology file, save the board and close down EasyPc again then re-open it and all seems to be good.
A bit of a faff but it does work.
David's solution looks much better so I'll try that.
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Birthdays are good for you: the more you have, the longer you live ... and I've had lots of them so I should know! |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2016 : 13:01:37
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I can confirm David's solution works well !
Iain |
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John Baraclough
United Kingdom
129 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2016 : 14:59:55
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I can confirm David's solution works well !
Iain
Yes, I created an "Assembly" layer type and a new "Assembly" layer in my current design and it's so much easier (and safer!) than editing the layer type for the silk screen. One extra step is needed in the process which is to disable the display of the "Assembly" layer, otherwise the on-screen colours look a bit strange.
It's now a permanent part of my design technology file.
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Birthdays are good for you: the more you have, the longer you live ... and I've had lots of them so I should know! |
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Topic |
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PDF of silk screen with pads