Voltera Community

CAD for Voltera Beginners

star 2021-03-03 13:25:48 UTC #1

For someone that is getting started with v-one and is new to PCB CAD. Which CAD tool is easiest for a beginner to learn to use with the v-one? I currently use DesignSpark Mechanical for designing mechanical parts and 3D printing them so I am considering investing the time to learn DesignSpark PCB. Has anyone experienced any complexity/hang-ups when exporting files to the v-one with DesignSpark PCB? Is another CAD package, such as Eagle, easiest for a beginner to use and export to the v-one? I plan to make 2-sided boards and use the drill attachment and rivets to connect the top and bottom layers on the board and the pitch of my favorite microcontroller module (Cypress PSoC) pins is 0.76.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

cborn 2021-03-03 22:13:53 UTC #2

I’ve exported from DesignSpark and Eagle, both should be fine once you get the file naming and format sorted out. If defaults don’t work, play around with the settings and if stuck ask questions here.

If you already use DesignSpark Mechanical then that may be the easiest path for you.

I started out with Altium years ago when it was Protel, inherited a bunch of stuff in Eagle so had to become familiar with that, played around with DesignSpark for some larger boards outside my Eagle licence limits, but if I was starting again now would probably go with KiCad.

star 2021-03-04 00:39:40 UTC #3

Thank you very much for this advice cborn. I’ll now also consider KiCad. I read a posting from you in 2017 that you were having problems mirroring for printing bottom paste. Was this problem something that I need to be aware of if I move forward with DesignSpark?

cborn 2021-03-04 02:32:03 UTC #4

As I recall there is a check-box in DesignSpark to allow you to do this, but also if you get the Gerber suffix right the Voltera software will do it for you.

Pescatore 2021-03-04 15:08:34 UTC #5

This should help: Mirroring for printing Bottom Paste

scottcun 2021-03-06 06:33:11 UTC #6

I’ve been using KiCad for my V-One projects. It is open-source, and very friendly for creating custom footprints especially for through-hole components and headers to accommodate rivets. The only limitation I’ve dealt with is not being able to create hatch planes with the current version, but I believe it is coming as a feature in the next major release.

Pescatore 2021-03-06 20:27:38 UTC #7

Yes, the new version is so much more capable.
I downloaded the overnight build V5.99 just to convert the solid planes to hatched and generate Gerbers.