I made my first pcb yesterday. When I tried to drill the holes, the drill bit was pulling the pads right off the board. Does it make sense to drill the holes before etching to avoid the pads coming off?
I'm not sure about the process that I am using. TI sent me Gerber files for a double sided circuit. I downloaded a free copy of Viewmate from here:I've used Paint for PCBs. It worked, but it wasn't pretty. A better software package is Gimp. It will go to the resolution of the printer, 600DPI, while Paint goes to 96DPI. The 96DPI bugs me deeply, as it is a total pain in the assets. Why 96, instead of 100? bleh.
Nowdays I'm using Express PCB, which is not great but it works. Then I use Gimp to clean up the resultant output to my personal standards.
Gimp is not easy to use, like Paint. The people who wrote Paint had their act together, except for that one major print scale detail. Gimp, in theory, will do everything Paint will, but I'm not even close to the proficiency with Gimp I am with Paint.
BTW, print out a paper copy, and see how the parts fit by laying them on it. I've solved this problem, but I'm curious if you have (or are aware of it)?
I actually decided to try to design the PCB myself using ExpressPCB. It will be my first time trying to design one and it is a fairly ambitious schematic for a first one. I am planning to post it on here along with the schematic when I am done to see if anyone spots anything glaringly wrong. The TI PCB is double sided and I am hoping to fit everything on to one side. This way I can design it with the pads and clearances that I need to use the iron on toner transfer method along with appropriately sized drill wholes in the center of each pad.I suspect you will find Paint simply will not work. Scaling is very important, 1" must be 1", exactly. Paint can be accurate, but it is simply not scaled for this job.
How were you planning on making the PCB?
I think Eagle will handle gerber files, but I'm not sure. If you have never done this you have a steep learning curve ahead.
As a guy who's spent as much time in the wood and machine shop as I have on a test bench, I concur. It certainly won't hurt to do so, especially if it's a hand drill or hand held dremel.but not having a Dremel drill press the divot helps big time when using a lower speed bench drill press
by Jake Hertz
by Jake Hertz
by Jake Hertz