[cobaltmute]

Anybody have anything that puts more than one PCB design on a panel?

I've seen a freeware program that appears to work with Eagle, but I'm not using Eagle and it barfs on my Gerbers. I've got 4 or 5 things I want to send out to production and would like them on 2oz copper. I can fit them all on one panel, if I could get them on one.

 

[dsavitsk]

This is what I use, though it will help if you know Python.

GerbMerge -- A Gerber-file merging program

 

[cobaltmute]

I tried that and it works for Eagle only. Blows up on some of the objects in my Gerber files

 

[Nemo de Monet]

What fab house are you using? You could always try asking them to panelize the gerbers for you. Even if they don't "officially" offer it, they might, if you ask nicely...

 

[cobaltmute]

I had been thinking about using Gold Phoenix, but there are a few others I could go with and ask.

 

[luvdunhill]

I've done this natively in Diptrace for simple two or three designs and I've used a commercial product from Pentalogix for larger layouts. I know ViewMate is free, but I'm not sure it offers what you need, but it very well could. I always load up my designs in ViewMate before sending them to the fab, it's a good habit to get into.

Gold Phoenix will not do multiproject layouts for you. You need to do them yourself. If you're looking at getting a single design step and repeated, they will indeed do this for you.

 

[Pars]

Olimex does multiple board designs, or multiple of the same, and panelizes them for you. You will have to do a layout drawing in a graphics program to show them how you want them laid out on their board size. This works quite well when you need a few (1-2) qtys of different designs.

 

[cobaltmute]

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvdunhill /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've used a commercial product from Pentalogix for larger layouts.

Which product did you use? I'm willing to spend a little money now so I can do this again.

I used to use Viewmate, but switched to GC-Prevue. I always load and verify my boards before I go to production on them. I did check Viewmate and it didn't have Gerber out so it didn't help me.

Olimex will be expensive for what I want to do as I need their larger panel size.

 

[cobaltmute]

Viewmate deluxe will do it:


Should have read the fact that it does step and repeat as part of its features.