Pulsonix problems...

[Paul Burridge]

Hi all,

I'm trying to get to grips with Pulsonix, with mixed success so far.
The main difficulty I'm having is translating a finished schematic
into a fully-tracked board layout.
Firstly, I go for "translate to PCB" and I get a blank board with the
components distributed around the outside of it, all interconnected by
yellow virtual wires. So far, all well and good. Then the problems
start.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to go for Tools/autoplace/full autoplace
and see everything neatly set out, but all that happens is the
components are thrown onto the board willy-nilly in any old position.
Increasing the number of passes and re-executing the command seems to
result in no improvement whatsoever. I have to reposition each
component individually to make the layout sensible and reduce the
number of crossed wires that Autoplace originally gave rise to.
Having optimised the layout by hand, I then hit Tools/auto route/route
whole design whereupon a minority of the virtual connecting wires are
translated into PCB tracks, leaving most of them completely unaltered!
Again, repeated passes fail to create any more of the connections into
proper tracks and I have to "edit segment" them all individually
again. That's hard work too, since instead of being 'elastic' in their
properies as they were in the previous stage, the tracks fold up and
cross over when one shortens them by moving components closer
together! These are the biggest problems I've discovered so far. Any
ideas, anyone?

 

[Simon Peacock]

If autoplaces and autorunters worked.. I wouldn't get paid a small fortune
to design PCB's.

So answering your question is simple.. autoplaces show you that the
components fit on a board... nothing more.
The algorithms are (mostly) completely wrong. They don't take into account
interface/isolation analog, digital, fast slow etc.

Autorouters can't work as well as experience. The usually use too many vias
that they clog arteries and are worse than eating lard.

I hope this opens your eyes and lifts your expectations

Simon

 

[Boris Mohar]

If autoplaces and autorunters worked.. I wouldn't get paid a small fortune
to design PCB's.

So answering your question is simple.. autoplaces show you that the
components fit on a board... nothing more.
The algorithms are (mostly) completely wrong. They don't take into account
interface/isolation analog, digital, fast slow etc.

Autorouters can't work as well as experience. The usually use too many vias
that they clog arteries and are worse than eating lard.

I hope this opens your eyes and lifts your expectations

Simon

I concur 100 percent. Autoplace are a joke. Setting up rules for the auto
router and cleaning up after it is a major pain.

Paul, you are investigating RF circuits. Do it by hand.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/

 

[Paul Burridge]

I concur 100 percent. Autoplace are a joke. Setting up rules for the auto
router and cleaning up after it is a major pain.

Paul, you are investigating RF circuits. Do it by hand.

Bugger. I was hoping it was just a case of not optimally-set defaults
or something simple like that!

 

[Simon Peacock]

What I would suggest you do is read and learn... then you too can earn the
big bucks... failing that you might get paid in cash instead of deer

 

[Paul Burridge]

What I would suggest you do is read and learn... then you too can earn the
big bucks... failing that you might get paid in cash instead of deer

'fraid not. I'm only into electronix as a passtime...