ExpressPCB layouts to Eagle

[Robert Baer]

Is there any way to convert an ExpressPCB layout (*.PCB) to something
that Eagle can use?
Say, "trace" the drawing and use the X,Y of each traced line,etc to
create either instructions for "autodraw" to Eagle, or (better yet)
Gerbers for PCB fab?
They want something like $50 for each set of Gerbers.

Would print to PostScript printer/file be useful for starters?

 

[Robert Baer]

Is there any way to convert an ExpressPCB layout (*.PCB) to something
that Eagle can use?
Say, "trace" the drawing and use the X,Y of each traced line,etc to
create either instructions for "autodraw" to Eagle, or (better yet)
Gerbers for PCB fab?
They want something like $50 for each set of Gerbers.

Would print to PostScript printer/file be useful for starters?

Thought about it a bit; nasty way to get those lines,etc would be to
print to a HPGL plotter [file], as WinDoz supports the plotter as a printer.
So..the problem is reduced to converting HPGL to Gerber.

The BabyBird, GooGull gives:

www.artwork.com/gerber/hp2gbr.htm
[HP2GBR reads Hewlett packard's plot file format (HPGL) and converts the
plotter commands into Gerber photoplot code. The program is ideal for
converting plot ...]

www.isoplotec.co.jp/eploviewauto.htm‎
[Quantity: Please refer to Readme.txt file to carry out bank transfer.
Please send the next "order sheet" to e-mail address described at the
last of this HP.] <---WTF?

convert.software.informer.com/download-convert-gerber-to-hpgl/‎
[10+ items - Download Convert Gerber To Hpgl at Convert Informer: Blaze ...
5.3.
ViewCompanion 6.5. Developer Software Companions. Application for ...
1.2.
Asm502 6.6. Developer Artwork Conversion Software, Inc.]

Comments as which is best?

 

[George Herold]

Is there any way to convert an ExpressPCB layout (*.PCB) to something
that Eagle can use?
Say, "trace" the drawing and use the X,Y of each traced line,etc to
create either instructions for "autodraw" to Eagle, or (better yet)
Gerbers for PCB fab?
They want something like $50 for each set of Gerbers.

Would print to PostScript printer/file be useful for starters?

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do, but in the past I used GC-prevue to look at gerbers.

George H.

 

[hamilton]

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do, but in the past I used GC-prevue to look at gerbers.

George H.

IIRC, ExpressPCB does not create gerbers as its output.

You send them your design files and they charge you for gerbers.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

IIRC, ExpressPCB does not create gerbers as its output.

You send them your design files and they charge you for gerbers.

Or, apparently, send them $50 (more-or-less for the use of their free
software) and they'll unlock and send you the Gerbers so you have the
option of going elsewhere to purchase your boards.

 

[Robert Baer]

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do, but in the past I used GC-prevue to look at gerbers.

George H.

Not relevant, READ what i asked.
I need to CONVERT *TO* gerber!

 

[Robert Baer]

IIRC, ExpressPCB does not create gerbers as its output.

You send them your design files and they charge you for gerbers.

ONE: I have no Gerbers, i now have HPGL from my ExpressPCB layouts.
Conversion simple,quick and zero monetary cost.

TWO: We all know this and also know they want a lot of money for EACH
AND EVERY one; it can get very expensive after a while.

So..
THREE: i want to convert from HPGL to Gerber.
A simple,inexpensive way of doing that would benefit some others on
this NG.

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

Den torsdag den 26. september 2013 19.45.49 UTC+2 skrev Robert Baer:

ONE: I have no Gerbers, i now have HPGL from my ExpressPCB layouts.

Conversion simple,quick and zero monetary cost.



TWO: We all know this and also know they want a lot of money for EACH

AND EVERY one; it can get very expensive after a while.



So..

THREE: i want to convert from HPGL to Gerber.

A simple,inexpensive way of doing that would benefit some others on

this NG.

this: http://badcafe.co.uk/2011/03/20/dxf-hpgl-to-eagle-script-conversion/

and import into eagle?

-Lasse

 

[Robert Baer]

Is there any way to convert an ExpressPCB layout (*.PCB) to something
that Eagle can use?
Say, "trace" the drawing and use the X,Y of each traced line,etc to
create either instructions for "autodraw" to Eagle, or (better yet)
Gerbers for PCB fab?
They want something like $50 for each set of Gerbers.

Would print to PostScript printer/file be useful for starters?

Thought about it a bit; nasty way to get those lines,etc would be to
print to a HPGL plotter [file], as WinDoz supports the plotter as a
printer.
So..the problem is reduced to converting HPGL to Gerber.

The BabyBird, GooGull gives:

www.artwork.com/gerber/hp2gbr.htm
[HP2GBR reads Hewlett packard's plot file format (HPGL) and converts the
plotter commands into Gerber photoplot code. The program is ideal for
converting plot ...]

* Impossible to download DOS version as username and password are
required, and no way is given to register for that.
They seem to not want to answer queries.

www.isoplotec.co.jp/eploviewauto.htm‎
[Quantity: Please refer to Readme.txt file to carry out bank transfer.
Please send the next "order sheet" to e-mail address described at the
last of this HP.] <---WTF?

* They want a kilobuck via "PayPal" which charges an outrageous 7.2% for
the transaction.
But,they do have a 30 day trial period.
Complicated program set.

convert.software.informer.com/download-convert-gerber-to-hpgl/‎
[10+ items - Download Convert Gerber To Hpgl at Convert Informer: Blaze ...
5.3.
ViewCompanion 6.5. Developer Software Companions. Application for ...
1.2.
Asm502 6.6. Developer Artwork Conversion Software, Inc.]

* Mostly Gerber viewers, some can convert to HPGL (wrong direction).
One or two *might* be able to convert HPGL to Gerber, but it is not
clear and those require $$$$.

 

[Carl Ijames]

Might be something here if you can find a converter for hpgl to dxf (search
for hp2xx, I think it does that), I didn't read it all:
http://www.edaboard.com/thread144123.html and
http://www.edaboard.com/thread175536.html. I also found a 2005 thread
asking the same question that you responded to .

-----
Regards,
Carl Ijames
"Robert Baer" wrote in message

Is there any way to convert an ExpressPCB layout (*.PCB) to something
that Eagle can use?
Say, "trace" the drawing and use the X,Y of each traced line,etc to
create either instructions for "autodraw" to Eagle, or (better yet)
Gerbers for PCB fab?
They want something like $50 for each set of Gerbers.

Would print to PostScript printer/file be useful for starters?

Thought about it a bit; nasty way to get those lines,etc would be to
print to a HPGL plotter [file], as WinDoz supports the plotter as a
printer.
So..the problem is reduced to converting HPGL to Gerber.

The BabyBird, GooGull gives:

www.artwork.com/gerber/hp2gbr.htm
[HP2GBR reads Hewlett packard's plot file format (HPGL) and converts the
plotter commands into Gerber photoplot code. The program is ideal for
converting plot ...]

* Impossible to download DOS version as username and password are
required, and no way is given to register for that.
They seem to not want to answer queries.

www.isoplotec.co.jp/eploviewauto.htm?
[Quantity: Please refer to Readme.txt file to carry out bank transfer.
Please send the next "order sheet" to e-mail address described at the
last of this HP.] <---WTF?

* They want a kilobuck via "PayPal" which charges an outrageous 7.2% for
the transaction.
But,they do have a 30 day trial period.
Complicated program set.

convert.software.informer.com/download-convert-gerber-to-hpgl/?
[10+ items - Download Convert Gerber To Hpgl at Convert Informer: Blaze
...
5.3.
ViewCompanion 6.5. Developer Software Companions. Application for ...
1.2.
Asm502 6.6. Developer Artwork Conversion Software, Inc.]

* Mostly Gerber viewers, some can convert to HPGL (wrong direction).
One or two *might* be able to convert HPGL to Gerber, but it is not
clear and those require $$$$.

 

[hamilton]

Not relevant, READ what i asked.
I need to CONVERT *TO* gerber!

Google "express pcb file converter" found this first hit (and 24,000,000
other hits):

<http://www.robotroom.com/CopperConnection/Converting-Express-PCB-Files.html>

Maybe it will work for you.

 

[Robert Baer]

Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
** snipped to make aioe happy **

this: http://badcafe.co.uk/2011/03/20/dxf-hpgl-to-eagle-script-conversion/

and import into eagle?

-Lasse

THAT sounds *perfect*!
Will check it out.
Much Grass.

 

[Robert Baer]

Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
** snipped to keep aioe happy **

this: http://badcafe.co.uk/2011/03/20/dxf-hpgl-to-eagle-script-conversion/

and import into eagle?

-Lasse

Impossble:
1) Cannot login to comment, and NO way to register for that.
2) No code available that i cold find.
3) "C" and i do not get together; cannot use "C" so must be
pre-compiled; maybe for DOS or Win98SE or Win2K (i no longer support
Win95, WinME, OS/2 or Win3.11)?

Help please?

 

[Robert Baer]

Google "express pcb file converter" found this first hit (and 24,000,000
other hits):

<http://www.robotroom.com/CopperConnection/Converting-Express-PCB-Files.html>


Maybe it will work for you.

Thanks!
Maybe..Have XP SP2 on a HD; i think i can dig out XP SP3 - if not,
will install on Win7 if still have that on a HD.