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VeroRoute – an open source Veroboard, Perfboard and PCB layout design software

59 points by app4soft 3y ago

app4soft 3y ago
Here are VeroRoute's discussion[0] on FreeStompboxes forum, custom components library[1] and few projects examples.[2,3] [0] https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?t=28434 https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?t=28434 [1] https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/VeroRoute-Custom-Components https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/VeroRoute-Custom-Components [2] https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/DIY-TP4560-Charging-Station-Veroroute https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/DIY-TP4560-Charging-Station... [3] https://github.com/arcadien/simpleRgbLamp https://github.com/arcadien/simpleRgbLamp
- claxo 3y ago
  Thanks for the submit and for the links above. Looks interesting for small prototyping, tempted to try. Wow, Windows / Linux / Mac / Android !
  - app4soft 3y ago
    Here is also an example of VeroRoute for Stripboard design.[0] There is VeeCAD[1] mentioned, another similar app that is opensource now (but it is Win/WINE).[2] VeroRoute looks more advanced than VeeCAD. Two other similar apps in Java: BlackBoard[3] and DIYLC[4] N.B. Many other apps listed on EEVblog's forum.[5] [0] https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/show-us-your-veroroute-project.396875/ https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/show-us-your-vero... [1] https://veecad.com https://veecad.com [2] https://veecad.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1569498190 https://veecad.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1569498190 [3] https://github.com/mpue/blackboard https://github.com/mpue/blackboard [4] https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator [5] https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/pcbeda-software-list/msg1498474/?topicseen#msg1498474 https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/pcbeda-software-list/msg14...
jimnotgym 3y ago
I love veroboard. It is so accessible. It was a bit of a shock to get into amateur radio and to learn its limitations at higher frequencies, but for everything else it is a great way to build projects.
tpmx 3y ago
Sort of related question: Is there a neat way of turning a scan/1-bit bitmap of a PCB design (from e.g. an old magazine or book) into a set of Gerber files that you can have manufactured cheaply?
- stn8188 3y ago
  There are some interesting discussions on the topic: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/image-to-gerber-converter/ https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/image-to-gerber-converter/ You can also bring an image into Kicad and redraw a circuit. All this of course assumes no inner layers on the board.
  - tpmx 3y ago
    Thanks! Looks like this very specific area needs some open source love though. I'll look into if I think I can contribute here.
    - TaylorAlexander 3y ago
      Actually kicad has a bitmap importer. You could pull a bitmap in to the copper layer. It’s often used for silkscreen logos but it’s not limited to that.
      - tpmx 3y ago
        It's fittingly called the "Bitmap to Component Converter": https://forum.kicad.info/t/reproducing-a-pcb-from-scanned-image-bmp-jpg-etc/12106/7 https://forum.kicad.info/t/reproducing-a-pcb-from-scanned-im...
- _Microft 3y ago
  If the images of the PCBs are accompanied by schematics, you could rebuild the circuit using these and use the image of the existing circuit as reference for how to lay out the components on the PCB while routing all traces yourself (e.g. if the scans are not good enough to work with them directly). You might be able to end up with nicer or more compact PCBs just because you can use smaller vias and traces or even inner layers today.
SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
It looks friendly. But honestly, I can't imagine anything other than recommending KiCAD right now. Not least of all because for a hobbiest and a professional, it's a massive time saver to go to someplace like SnapEDA or UltraLibrarian and get working schematic component, footprint and 3D model right away. I disliked KiCAD up until v6 which went with a more logical less-classic-linux UI (see InkScape) and v7 has been nice except for occasional crashes. I'm glad to see more options, but almost would prefer these people worked on KiCAD instead.
- Always42 3y ago
  KICAD is incredible, can't believe its free. this is coming from an altium daily driver. Kicad definitely won't hold up during high speed memory routing or something but its still great.
  - ostenning 3y ago
    Totally, but for how long? KiCad keeps getting significantly better, and there are no insane licensing requirements. KiCads open format is much better for small business, freelancers and startups and while Altium is industry standard, I can’t imagine it will be for much longer
    - guenthert 3y ago
      > Totally, but for how long? Since it's published with the GPL-3 license, I don't expect that to change. Even if there were interest to change the license and all copyright holder agree (which is generally not feasible in a long running FOSS project), there surely would be a fork, if the software is then still popular.
      - mid-kid 3y ago
        Why would the license need to change? It doesn't apply to the things you make with the program, only to your modifications of the program itself. And even then, the license doesn't matter if you don't publish a modified copy of kicad.

59 points by app4soft 3y ago

Here are VeroRoute's discussion[0] on FreeStompboxes forum, custom components library[1] and few projects examples.[2,3] [0] https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?t=28434 https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?t=28434 [1] https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/VeroRoute-Custom-Components https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/VeroRoute-Custom-Components [2] https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/DIY-TP4560-Charging-Station-Veroroute https://github.com/rohit-kumar-j/DIY-TP4560-Charging-Station... [3] https://github.com/arcadien/simpleRgbLamp https://github.com/arcadien/simpleRgbLamp

claxo 3y ago
Thanks for the submit and for the links above. Looks interesting for small prototyping, tempted to try. Wow, Windows / Linux / Mac / Android !
- app4soft 3y ago
  Here is also an example of VeroRoute for Stripboard design.[0] There is VeeCAD[1] mentioned, another similar app that is opensource now (but it is Win/WINE).[2] VeroRoute looks more advanced than VeeCAD. Two other similar apps in Java: BlackBoard[3] and DIYLC[4] N.B. Many other apps listed on EEVblog's forum.[5] [0] https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/show-us-your-veroroute-project.396875/ https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/show-us-your-vero... [1] https://veecad.com https://veecad.com [2] https://veecad.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1569498190 https://veecad.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1569498190 [3] https://github.com/mpue/blackboard https://github.com/mpue/blackboard [4] https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator [5] https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/pcbeda-software-list/msg1498474/?topicseen#msg1498474 https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/pcbeda-software-list/msg14...

jimnotgym 3y ago

I love veroboard. It is so accessible. It was a bit of a shock to get into amateur radio and to learn its limitations at higher frequencies, but for everything else it is a great way to build projects.

tpmx 3y ago

Sort of related question: Is there a neat way of turning a scan/1-bit bitmap of a PCB design (from e.g. an old magazine or book) into a set of Gerber files that you can have manufactured cheaply?

stn8188 3y ago
There are some interesting discussions on the topic: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/image-to-gerber-converter/ https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/image-to-gerber-converter/ You can also bring an image into Kicad and redraw a circuit. All this of course assumes no inner layers on the board.
- tpmx 3y ago
  Thanks! Looks like this very specific area needs some open source love though. I'll look into if I think I can contribute here.
  - TaylorAlexander 3y ago
    Actually kicad has a bitmap importer. You could pull a bitmap in to the copper layer. It’s often used for silkscreen logos but it’s not limited to that.
    - tpmx 3y ago
      It's fittingly called the "Bitmap to Component Converter": https://forum.kicad.info/t/reproducing-a-pcb-from-scanned-image-bmp-jpg-etc/12106/7 https://forum.kicad.info/t/reproducing-a-pcb-from-scanned-im...
_Microft 3y ago
If the images of the PCBs are accompanied by schematics, you could rebuild the circuit using these and use the image of the existing circuit as reference for how to lay out the components on the PCB while routing all traces yourself (e.g. if the scans are not good enough to work with them directly). You might be able to end up with nicer or more compact PCBs just because you can use smaller vias and traces or even inner layers today.

SV_BubbleTime 3y ago

It looks friendly. But honestly, I can't imagine anything other than recommending KiCAD right now. Not least of all because for a hobbiest and a professional, it's a massive time saver to go to someplace like SnapEDA or UltraLibrarian and get working schematic component, footprint and 3D model right away. I disliked KiCAD up until v6 which went with a more logical less-classic-linux UI (see InkScape) and v7 has been nice except for occasional crashes. I'm glad to see more options, but almost would prefer these people worked on KiCAD instead.

Always42 3y ago
KICAD is incredible, can't believe its free. this is coming from an altium daily driver. Kicad definitely won't hold up during high speed memory routing or something but its still great.
- ostenning 3y ago
  Totally, but for how long? KiCad keeps getting significantly better, and there are no insane licensing requirements. KiCads open format is much better for small business, freelancers and startups and while Altium is industry standard, I can’t imagine it will be for much longer
  - guenthert 3y ago
    > Totally, but for how long? Since it's published with the GPL-3 license, I don't expect that to change. Even if there were interest to change the license and all copyright holder agree (which is generally not feasible in a long running FOSS project), there surely would be a fork, if the software is then still popular.
    - mid-kid 3y ago
      Why would the license need to change? It doesn't apply to the things you make with the program, only to your modifications of the program itself. And even then, the license doesn't matter if you don't publish a modified copy of kicad.