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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Feb 2013 : 13:07:16
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I worked with Integra Station long time ago and there is a broad similarity between Integra Station, Pulsonix and Easy-PC. Integra Station, former product name "Seto TopCAD", was produced by the German company SETO. TopCAD was also sold with source code before Mentor Graphics took over SETO and stopped its production. I assume that Pulsonix and Easy-PC derived from Seto TopCAD. TopCAD files can be opened by Integra Station and Pulsonix .
quote:
Originally posted by Iain Wilkie
Hodali ... I have always been unhappy with the library structure and have spoken at length with numberone and previously on this forum on this. Numberone did make a change by incorporating "Bound Libraries" but this only goes a small way to addressing the main problems as I see it.
The bottom line is, as far as EasyPC is concerned it is a mature product and the library structure as is will always be part of that mature structure. Given that information I have to accept that I either live with it or switch. However in my opinion EasyPC has many otherwise great features (and support) so will simply learn to live with the library structure as it is.
As for version control, you have asked if it could be included and I am sure if enough users agree and Numberone are up to do it, it may appear. I am sure if Pulsonix has it, there is a chance it could migrate to EasyPC but certainly not guarenteed. I base this on the fact that I one asked if any high speed tools that are available in Pulsonix may appear in EasyPC and was given a catagoric NO .... This for me is the ultimate killer as boards get faster and faster. If the time came when EasyPC could not support the features I need, at least I can upgrade to Pulsonix which would reduce any learning curve to an absolute minimum.
So for me version control is way low on the list, the guts of a PCB tool is more important with high speed features etc.
Iain
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Edited by - hodali on 27 Feb 2013 14:00:49 |
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shadders
United Kingdom
224 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2013 : 17:54:32
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Hi,
What is the cost of Pulsonix
SOme of the features do look quite attractive - so would all the costs of libraries and Easy-PC added together be approximately the same as Pulsonix ?
Regards,
Shadders. |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2013 : 20:26:40
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Pulsonix is more expensive than Easy-PC along with the libraries. So far as I know Pulsonix costs $3000 to $15000 depends on options and limitation. PESCHGES Variometer, a German ditributor for Easy-PC and pulsonix offers Pulsonix for 2700 Euros, 4700 Euros and 6600 Euros (http://www.peschges-eda.de/Produkte/PULSONIX/Preise/preise.html). All packages are without RF and high speed option. If I were you I would contact Pulsonix's sales department.
quote:
Originally posted by shadders
Hi,
What is the cost of Pulsonix
SOme of the features do look quite attractive - so would all the costs of libraries and Easy-PC added together be approximately the same as Pulsonix ?
Regards,
Shadders.
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Edited by - hodali on 27 Feb 2013 21:03:38 |
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shadders
United Kingdom
224 Posts |
Posted - 28 Feb 2013 : 21:31:31
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Hi Hodali,
Thanks - was helpful - i think that Easy-PC provides excellent value for the features it provides.
Regards,
Shadders. |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2013 : 21:23:32
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Pulsonix and Altium have limited RF capabilities. They don't provide parameterized components and therefore are not suitable for microwave circuits, like WLAN, bluetooth, ...
Modern bus systems like SATA, PCIe, USB 3, ... are microwave circuits. High speed options and RF options which are implemented in Altium and Pulsonix are insufficient. They are a clever commercial gimmick.
By the way Easy-PC has the same high speed capabilities as Pulsonix, but without Interactive Length Indicators. Some basic functions are missing such as differential pair routing, square-ended tracks and chamfered track corners. |
Edited by - hodali on 02 Mar 2013 08:25:40 |
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DavidM
United Kingdom
458 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 11:45:42
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Interesting to read comments and comparisons about various products, but this has taken the thread somewhat off-topic as it is no longer suggesting reasonable features for inclusion in the next Easy-PC update.
Can I also point out that Easy-PC and Pulsonix are in no way related to TopCAD, but have been developed from scratch entirely by WestDev following many man-years of experience writing EDA software.
David. |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 15:23:41
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The market for commercial products and solutions is characterised by high levels of technical development and short innovation cycles of increasing technical complexity. What kind of target groups are addressed by Easy-PC, David?
PS: Please notice my suggestions below.
quote:
Originally posted by DavidM
Interesting to read comments and comparisons about various products, but this has taken the thread somewhat off-topic as it is no longer suggesting reasonable features for inclusion in the next Easy-PC update.
Can I also point out that Easy-PC and Pulsonix are in no way related to TopCAD, but have been developed from scratch entirely by WestDev following many man-years of experience writing EDA software.
David.
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Edited by - hodali on 06 Mar 2013 21:34:53 |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 15:34:08
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This thread is turning into a meaningless debate ... Unless we get this back on track with the main points on new features we will never get any new features !
Hodali .... if your not happy with EasyPC ... lets be done with it, otherwise can we get back to the main issue.
Iain
quote:
Originally posted by hodali
What kind of target group is addressed by Easy-PC, David?
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 15:49:03
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I am a good reader who are able to refrain from interfering. Like Remi and Benno I can predict a brand new connector LIBRARY, a brand new ruler, ... I can't wait to upgrade to Easy-PC V17. 
quote:
Originally posted by Iain Wilkie
This thread is turning into a meaningless debate ... Unless we get this back on track with the main points on new features we will never get any new features !
Hodali .... if your not happy with EasyPC ... lets be done with it, otherwise can we get back to the main issue.
Iain
quote:
Originally posted by hodali
What kind of target group is addressed by Easy-PC, David?
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Edited by - hodali on 06 Mar 2013 16:13:10 |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 16:02:21
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My new suggestions for Easy-PC:
- enable differential pair routing in Easy-PC
- implement square-ended tracks
- add chamfered track corners support
All as cost options. Each user can decide to buy them or not. I think it is fair for users and Number one. |
Edited by - hodali on 06 Mar 2013 17:22:51 |
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edrees
United Kingdom
779 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 16:26:46
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| It would be nice to be able to add free text to a schematic and have the ability to optionally print off the schematic without the free text being visible (something like the pin names/numbers printed switch) This would allow the designer, but not the Client to see "notes". Might be achieved by having additional "Information" layers available in the schematic editor? |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 17:34:51
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quote:
Originally posted by hodali
My new suggestions for Easy-PC:
- enable differential pair routing in Easy-PC
- implement square-ended tracks
- add chamfered track corners support
All as cost options. Each user can decide to buy them or not. I think it is fair for users and Number one.
Good call .... Cost options is a good way to get better additions.
In addition to the high speed/rf suggestions above, I would like auto-length indication serpentine editing for track length balancing. I know this is in Pulsonix, as is Hodali's suggestions.
Iain
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Edited by - Iain Wilkie on 06 Mar 2013 19:41:37 |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2013 : 13:43:18
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There are more suggestions from me:
- implement an interpreter like the User Language Program (ULP) in Eagle
- extend the 3D library manager by adding STEP-file import
Daniel |
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toni9999
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2013 : 14:15:12
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STEP import may actually made the 3D mode useful.
Without it its too much effort to use. |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2013 : 13:56:30
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Yes, there are tons of STEP files available on the internet. Most manufacturers provide STEP files for their components for free. I don't understand why Number One tries to reinvent the wheel.
quote:
Originally posted by toni9999
STEP import may actually made the 3D mode useful.
Without it its too much effort to use.
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2013 : 11:22:19
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Bugs:-
1. Turning off copper visibility in the layers bar, also makes screenprint go invisible! This bug should be fixed right away! exists in 16.0.7
2. When zoomed out so the board is small in reverse view, the board can "jump" to the left hand side and it is impossible to pan it back to the centre.
New features:-
1. Zoom levels should be halved - the current jumps are too big.
2. Nudge trace should have an option to not to do anything should the attempted nudge cause a DRC failure (i.e. track becomes too close to another track)
3 Have an option to turn off the "near miss" feature. I just find this "feature" mightily annoying.
Keep up the good work. But please fix the two bugs listed above they have been reported several times now! |
Edited by - TheBFG on 21 Mar 2013 11:44:16 |
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DavidM
United Kingdom
458 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2013 : 11:29:23
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We will certainly take a look at all your points, especially those bugs, but on your 'new' point 1 you should already be able to do that. Go to Settings, Preferences, Display, and you should find a Zoom Sensitivity setting. Use the slider to adjust the size of the step between zoom levels.
David. |
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2013 : 11:45:37
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| Thanks again for the fast reply. I had no idea I could change the zoom like that. Brilliant! |
Edited by - TheBFG on 21 Mar 2013 11:46:06 |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2013 : 21:12:47
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new ideas:
add flat spiral coil calculator which calculates the spiral inductance
add a planar power transformer calculator |
Edited by - hodali on 21 Mar 2013 21:18:48 |
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2013 : 22:00:00
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| I wonder if calculating the inductance of a flat spiral coil is beyond what this program was ever intended to do? Is this a task best accomplished using a 3D field solver? I would have thought so and you're looking at £10k+ then. Do other vendors offer this, and at the same price? |
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2013 : 22:24:48
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Here is what I hope is a reasonable sugggestion / fix:-
In 3D mode when you hold down the middle button / scroll wheel and pan around, the direction of panning is reversed compared to 2D mode! IMHO it should be the same as 2D mode. |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2013 : 11:56:16
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Hello TheBFG
I don't agree. You can find a calculator on http://www.deepfriedneon.com/tesla_f_calcspiral.html. The formulas are also presented.
Daniel
quote:
Originally posted by TheBFG
I wonder if calculating the inductance of a flat spiral coil is beyond what this program was ever intended to do? Is this a task best accomplished using a 3D field solver? I would have thought so and you're looking at £10k+ then. Do other vendors offer this, and at the same price?
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 20:32:59
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The site you link to asks you to enter the diameter of the wire.
What then is the "diameter" of a piece of rectangular copper measuring say 1.4 x 20 thou? A piece of copper like a PCB trace.
It would be interesting to see the different answers produced by the different methods listed here. I don't have a feel for how different the answers would be.
Whilst design calculators can be useful, personally I would rather have the program itself enhanced. |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 16:48:04
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look at the calculator on the website http://www.circuits.dk/calculator_planar_coil_inductor.htm and the document on http://smirc.stanford.edu/papers/JSSC99OCT-mohan.pdf
quote:
Originally posted by TheBFG
The site you link to asks you to enter the diameter of the wire.
What then is the "diameter" of a piece of rectangular copper measuring say 1.4 x 20 thou? A piece of copper like a PCB trace.
It would be interesting to see the different answers produced by the different methods listed here. I don't have a feel for how different the answers would be.
Whilst design calculators can be useful, personally I would rather have the program itself enhanced.
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Edited by - hodali on 24 Apr 2013 16:51:51 |
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DavidM
United Kingdom
458 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 17:01:33
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quote:
Originally posted by TheBFG
New features:-
3 Have an option to turn off the "near miss" feature. I just find this "feature" mightily annoying.
Not sure what the 'near miss' feature is describing, perhaps you could elaborate? |
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hodali
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 23:48:42
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Wheeler presented several formulas for planar spiral inductors, which were intended for discrete inductors. Modified and better formulas can be used to calculate inductance of planar coil which are presented on http://smirc.stanford.edu/papers/JSSC99OCT-mohan.pdf (see formula (1), (2) and (3) ). The Expression Based on Current Sheet Approximation methode is also presented on http://www.edn.com/file/25510-A_new_calculation_for_designing_multilayer_planar_spiral_inductors_PDF.pdf
Easy-PC can create a square and a circular coil, but not a hexagonal and octagonal one and Easy-PC doesn't calculate the inductance of a spiral. Is it possible to extend the "add->spiral" function?
quote:
Originally posted by DavidM
quote:
Originally posted by TheBFG
New features:-
3 Have an option to turn off the "near miss" feature. I just find this "feature" mightily annoying.
Not sure what the 'near miss' feature is describing, perhaps you could elaborate?
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Edited by - hodali on 28 Apr 2013 18:42:04 |
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 23:31:49
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Some excellent links posted there hodali.
If I were developing Easy PC though I'd still feel very uneasy including what I would consider "specialist" in a product not aimed at that market segment.
I think there would be more pitfalls than benefits. |
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 23:35:53
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quote:
Originally posted by DavidM
Not sure what the 'near miss' feature is describing, perhaps you could elaborate?
When you route a track unrelated nets your cursor happens to be close to light up - why? You are nowhere near causing a DRC failure! |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2013 : 09:56:04
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Simply un-tick "Show Clearancies" in the Display Dialogue
Iain |
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TheBFG
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2013 : 00:06:39
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Iain,
That also disables the error colour. I only want to disable warning. |
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Topic |
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Ideas for V17 features and improvements