FreePCB User Guide Version 1.4 Allan Wright April 14, 2007 FreePCB User Guide - Ver 1.4 1 21 Apr 07 Table of Contents 1. Introduction...........................................................................3 5.15.1 Copper Area Cutouts.......................................... ........57 2. User Guide History................................................................4 5.16 Text...................................................................... ...............58 2.1 What's new in version 1.4................................... ....................4 5.17 Solder Mask Cutouts................................................. ..........59 2.2 What's new in version 1.2................................... ....................4 5.18 Groups.......................................................... ......................60 3. Installing FreePCB................................................................6 5.19 Design Rule Checking........................................................ .62 4. Overview of the PCB Design Process...................................7 5.20 Exporting Drill and Gerber Files................................ .........69 5.20.1 Creating Files...................................................... .......69 4.1 Schematic Diagram....................................................... ..........7 5.20.2 Viewing and Printing Files................................ .........72 4.2 Specifying Parts, Packages and Pin Names.............................7 5.20.3 Drill Sizes................................................. .................73 4.3 The Partlist....................................................................... .......7 5.20.4 Drill Clearances..................................... ....................74 4.4 The Netlist........................................................ ......................8 4.5 Making Netlist Files........................................................... .....8 6. Footprints and Libraries......................................................75 4.6 Importing Netlist Files into FreePCB.............................. ........9 6.1 Footprint Libraries............................................... .................75 4.7 Adding Parts and Nets "On-the-Fly"....................... ................9 6.1.1 Core libraries.......................................... .....................76 4.8 Placing Parts........................................................ ...................9 6.1.2 Extra libraries.............................................................. .76 4.9 Routing Traces........................................................... .............9 6.1.3 Contributed libraries................................. ...................77 4.10 Adding Text......................................................................... ..9 6.2 Footprint Wizard..................................................... ..............77 4.11 Plot and Drill Files................................................ ................9 6.2.1 Ex 1: Mounting Hole or Test Point with a single pin....80 5. PCB Layout.........................................................................10 6.2.2 Example 2: Resistor with Axial leads...................... .....81 6.2.3 Example 3: DIP package with rectangular pads...........82 5.1 Screenshot....................................................................... ......10 6.2.4 Example 4: QFP package with 100 pins.......................83 5.2 Menus.............................................................. .....................11 6.3 Footprint Editor................................................................... ..84 5.3 Taskbar.............................................................................. ....13 6.3.1 The Footprint Editor Window......................................84 5.4 Status Bar......................................................................... .....14 6.3.2 Footprint Elements.................................................. .....86 5.5 Layer List and Selection Mask..................................... .........15 6.3.3 Starting the new footprint............................................. 87 5.5.1 Layer List.................................................................. ...15 6.3.4 Adding and Editing Pins........................ ......................88 5.5.2 Selection Mask........................................................... ..15 6.3.5 Adding Polylines.................................................... ......91 5.6 Function Key and Context Menus................................ .........16 6.3.6 Modifying the Reference Designator ..........................92 5.7 Panning and Zooming............................................ ...............17 6.3.7 Saving the Footprint ................................................ ....93 5.8 Projects.............................................................. ...................18 6.3.8 Importing Footprints .................................... ...............94 5.9 PCB Elements............................................................ ...........21 6.3.9 Using the Footprint Wizard ............................... ..........95 5.9.1 Individual Elements..................................... ................21 6.3.10 Making PDF Files from Libraries .............................97 5.9.2 Groups of Elements.................................................... .25 5.9.3 Moving items or groups with the arrow keys...............25 7. Tutorial................................................................................99 5.10 Board Outline.................................................................. ....26 7.1 Schematic Diagram.................................................... ...........99 5.11 Parts.................................................................. ..................28 7.2 Creating the Project......................................................... ....100 5.11.1 The Anatomy of a Part......................... ......................28 7.3 Importing the Netlist File....................................... .............102 5.11.2 The Partlist....................................................... ..........30 7.4 Drawing the Board Outline............................... ..................106 5.11.3 Editing Parts.......................................................... .....32 7.5 Adding Mounting Holes............................................ ..........108 5.11.4 Moving or Resizing the Reference Designator...........34 7.6 Placing Parts...................................................................... ..118 5.11.5 Making the Reference Designator Invisible...............34 7.7 Adding Parts and Editing Nets........................ ....................124 5.12 Mounting Holes............................................. .....................35 7.8 Adding Copper Areas............................................. .............133 5.13 Nets, Ratlines and Routing........................................... .......36 7.9 Routing........................................................... ....................140 5.13.1 Nets....................................................................... .....36 7.10 Adding Text................................................................... ....146 5.13.2 The Netlist........................................... ......................36 7.11 Checking Design Rules..................................... ................148 5.13.3 Ratlines......................................................... .............38 7.12 Making Gerber and Drill Files..........................................154 5.13.4 Modifying Ratlines................................. ...................39 8. File Formats.......................................................................158 5.13.5 Routing with Ratlines ............................................... .40 8.1 Project File................................................................... .......158 5.13.6 Deleted.................................................................. .....42 8.2 Library Files..................................................................... ...161 5.13.7 Routing with Stub Traces................................ ...........42 8.3 Configuration File..................................................... ..........161 5.13.8 Routing with Branching Traces.......................... ........43 9. License...............................................................................162 5.13.9 Vias................................................................ ............44 GNU General Public License................................................163 5.13.10 Modifying Traces.......................................... ...........45 Table of Contents......................................................... .............163 5.13.11 Swapping Pins...................................................... ....46 GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE......................................163 5.14 Importing Netlist Files..................................... ...................47 Preamble...................................................................... .............163 5.14.1 Netlist Files........................................................ ........47 TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION 5.14.2 Importing Netlist Files into a Project.........................49 AND MODIFICATION.............................................. ..............164 5.14.3 Exporting Netlist Files.............................. .................54 How to Apply These Terms to Your New Program...................167 5.15