TechSoft PCB V3

TechSoft PCB V3 provides a convenient and professional method of designing printed circuit boards and drawing schematics. Although a very comprehensive system, the most important design consideration for our software writers, has been to make it easy to use and accessible to students. It is ideal for both simple single-sided PCBs, and complex double-sided boards. A library facility allows standard component libraries (supplied) to be used. Alternatively, user defined components, or even whole circuits, may be saved as library items. Thus it is possible to create small system boards which may easily be loaded and “joined” together to form complete circuits. A large selection of pre-drawn “Alpha” circuit modules is included.

Links with TechSoft Design V3 mean that design drawings may be used as templates, allowing accurate positioning of components on the board. Alternatively, TechSoft PCB V3 drawings may be transferred to TechSoft Design V3 to use in designing the enclosure, fascia, packaging and publicity material.

The track and pad data in a PCB drawing is recognised and preserved when transferred into TechSoft Design V3 – and vice versa. This compatibility means maximum flexibility for complete electronic product design.

Conventional school PCB manufacture has been fraught with problems. Now TechSoft have devised clean, quick and simple solutions using manufacturing machines already widely available and proven in schools.

Look at the advantages:
NO “Bridging” of tracks due to faulty etching.
NO Dangerous chemicals and messy etch tanks.
NO Chemical disposal problems.
NO Multi-stage manufacturing processes.
NO Expensive photo etch board.
NO Guessing exposure times (and getting it wrong!).

The software allows two basic manufacturing strategies, engraving onto conventional PCB board using a SRM-20E, DE-3E, etc., or cutting a circuit from sticky backed copper foil using a STIKA, CAMM 1, etc.

A piece of PCB board is placed on the machine bed, and the Make PCB option is selected. The machine will then automatically engrave the tracks, drill the holes, and cut out the board. This is a quick, clean and reliable process (eg., a typical simple 555 based circuit should take no more than a couple of minutes to complete on a RotoCAMM). Virtually any circuit design can be manufactured with this process. It is even possible to put tracks between DIL pads!

This process, developed by TechSoft, uses a self-adhesive copper foil (Cutronics). This fits into any Roland vinyl cutter and cuts just like vinyl. When weeded, the circuit can be applied to any suitable substrate such as plastic sheet, wood or card. (If card is used it is possible to make bendy, even “roll up” circuits).

This process is ideally suited to simple circuits with larger pads and tracks, a marvellous introduction to PCB manufacture.

• Shares a common user interface with education standard drawing package, TechSoft Design V3
  
• Colour coded double layer boards, silk screen and schematic layers
  
• Preset or user definable pads and tracks. Tracks may be drawn at any angle
  
• No practical limit to size of board or component count
  
• Comprehensive transformation commands, move, rotate, mirror image, copy and array
  
• Editing mode allows single items, or groups, to be moved while maintaining connectivity
  
• Comprehensive zoom facilities
  
• User definable library items, allows whole circuits to be used as library items, thus enabling “system” circuit design
  
• Opens TechSoft Design V3 files allowing board profiles to be matched to enclosure design, component profiles to be incorporated into library items, etc.
  
• Graphical output via Windows printer drivers
  
• Manufacturing output to Roland CNC Machines
  
• Multiple Undos / Redos.

If you would like to talk to us, please:

Call us: +44(0) 1745 535007
Email us: sales@techsoft.co.uk