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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0001265FreeCADFeaturepublic2017-03-09 02:25
Reportermntc Assigned To 
PrioritynormalSeverityfeatureReproducibilityhave not tried
Status closedResolutionno change required 
Summary0001265: PCB (Printed Circuit Board) workbench
DescriptionThere is lack of robust open PCB design software. And it's always a problem to process files from them to CNC g-code. And it's often a problem to maintain dimension compatibility of PCB in separate software and rest of machine in separate CAD.

If FreeCAD someday will have CAM workbench, it is clear to add PCB workbench to make PCB preparation simple anf free from conversion bugs. If one do not want to mill, but wants to print mask for his PCB with printer - FreeCAD could also do it.

PCB can be represented as flat part with some layers of different materials. Sketcher with a few special buttons can be used to draw wires.

Sometimes one need very simple PCBs, which could me made even in existing Part Design module. But there are many more convenient styles of PCB design. Many hobbyists use limited versions of Eagle, personally for me it looks complex. IMHO SprintLayout interface is more intuitive. Anyway, it could be good step to study existing open PCB design software projects and invite them to implement their ideas here. Some work to process PCB from image to G-code with python was done in Fab Modules by Neil Gershenfeld.

This workbench should be able to export/import popular PCB formats. And, in future, it can have libraries of popular electronic parts, arduino-like boards, etc.
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FreeCAD Information

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bejant

2013-12-09 02:50

reporter   ~0003928

FWIW I just stumbled across this forum thread:
http://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5107
and wanted to cross-reference it to this ticket.

Kunda1

2017-02-10 04:19

administrator   ~0008258

Resolving since there are maintained repositories of PCB WB...although it is not officially part of FreeCAD it can be added via addon.

See @marmni PCB Workbench:
https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Sandbox:Printed_Circuit_Board 
https://github.com/marmni/FreeCAD-PCB

Also @sgrogan community maintained fork of @marmni's PCB Workbench
https://github.com/sgrogan/freecad-extras-eaglepcb2

And @realthunder's PCB scripts
https://github.com/realthunder/fcad_pcb

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2013-10-02 05:14 mntc New Issue
2013-12-09 02:50 bejant Note Added: 0003928
2017-02-10 03:38 Kunda1 Tag Attached: #pending
2017-02-10 04:19 Kunda1 Note Added: 0008258
2017-02-10 04:19 Kunda1 Status new => resolved
2017-02-10 04:19 Kunda1 Resolution open => fixed
2017-02-10 04:19 Kunda1 Assigned To => Kunda1
2017-02-10 04:20 Kunda1 Tag Detached: #pending
2017-03-09 02:25 Kunda1 Assigned To Kunda1 =>
2017-03-09 02:25 Kunda1 Status resolved => closed
2017-03-09 02:25 Kunda1 Resolution fixed => no change required