Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from ExpressPCB
file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on the file format
itself?


--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"The most reliable components are
the ones you leave out."

By Gordon Bell, father of the
minicomputer at DEC.

"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on the
file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last time I
bought one.

W4ZCB

"Harold E. Johnson" wrote in message
news:INSYl.740928$yE1.253509@attbi_s21...

"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on the
file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last time
I bought one.

That's not going to happen. I know I can get some reverse engineering
software that will import the layout as a graphic then trace over it using
the PCB layout software to generate standard Gerber files. I'm looking for
something easy and I'm not paying them $75 a pop for each small board to
convert.

I also found out there maybe some utilities out, still looking, there that
can convert from an exported PDF, or EPS file, to a Gerber format too.
Getting a PDF printer driver is easy. Use the driver when printing out a
copy of the board layout.

--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"Brilliance is typically the act of an
individual, but incredible stupidity
can usually be traced to an
organization."

Jon Bentley

On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:36:40 -0400, Leland C. Scott wrote:

"Harold E. Johnson" wrote in message
news:INSYl.740928$yE1.253509@attbi_s21...

"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on
the file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last
time I bought one.

That's not going to happen. I know I can get some reverse engineering
software that will import the layout as a graphic then trace over it
using the PCB layout software to generate standard Gerber files. I'm
looking for something easy and I'm not paying them $75 a pop for each
small board to convert.

I also found out there maybe some utilities out, still looking, there
that can convert from an exported PDF, or EPS file, to a Gerber format
too. Getting a PDF printer driver is easy. Use the driver when printing
out a copy of the board layout.

Reverse the "Express" and the "PCB" and you'll find a really nice little
company that will take Gerber files and make boards for you. Eagle PCB
is free for small two-layer boards, includes schematic capture, and works
well once you get your brain wrapped around their way of doing things.

http://www.pcbexpress.com/

--
http://www.wescottdesign.com

On 13 June, 20:36, "Leland C. Scott" wrote:
"Harold E. Johnson" wrote in messagenews:INSYl.740928$yE1.253509@attbi_s21...



"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
m...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on the
file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last time
I bought one.

That's not going to happen. I know I can get some reverse engineering
software that will import the layout as a graphic then trace over it using
the PCB layout software to generate standard Gerber files. I'm looking for
something easy and I'm not paying them $75 a pop for each small board to
convert.

I also found out there maybe some utilities out, still looking, there that
can convert from an exported PDF, or EPS file, to a Gerber format too.
Getting a PDF printer driver is easy. Use the driver when printing out a
copy of the board layout.

--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"Brilliance is typically the act of an
individual, but incredible stupidity
can usually be traced to an
organization."

Jon Bentley

Use Advanced Circuits. Their PCB Artist software is much better than
Express PCB's (it's actually a special version of Easy-PC) and you get
the Gerbers free with a second order for the same board, IIRC.

Leon

"Leon" wrote in message
...
On 13 June, 20:36, "Leland C. Scott" wrote:
"Harold E. Johnson" wrote in
messagenews:INSYl.740928$yE1.253509@attbi_s21...



"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
m...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on
the
file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last
time
I bought one.

That's not going to happen. I know I can get some reverse engineering
software that will import the layout as a graphic then trace over it
using
the PCB layout software to generate standard Gerber files. I'm looking
for
something easy and I'm not paying them $75 a pop for each small board to
convert.

I also found out there maybe some utilities out, still looking, there
that
can convert from an exported PDF, or EPS file, to a Gerber format too.
Getting a PDF printer driver is easy. Use the driver when printing out a
copy of the board layout.

--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"Brilliance is typically the act of an
individual, but incredible stupidity
can usually be traced to an
organization."

Jon Bentley

Use Advanced Circuits. Their PCB Artist software is much better than
Express PCB's (it's actually a special version of Easy-PC) and you get
the Gerbers free with a second order for the same board, IIRC.

Leon

Thanks for the advise.


--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"The most reliable components are
the ones you leave out."

By Gordon Bell, father of the
minicomputer at DEC.

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:36:40 -0400, Leland C. Scott wrote:

"Harold E. Johnson" wrote in message
news:INSYl.740928$yE1.253509@attbi_s21...

"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on
the file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last
time I bought one.

That's not going to happen. I know I can get some reverse engineering
software that will import the layout as a graphic then trace over it
using the PCB layout software to generate standard Gerber files. I'm
looking for something easy and I'm not paying them $75 a pop for each
small board to convert.

I also found out there maybe some utilities out, still looking, there
that can convert from an exported PDF, or EPS file, to a Gerber format
too. Getting a PDF printer driver is easy. Use the driver when printing
out a copy of the board layout.

Reverse the "Express" and the "PCB" and you'll find a really nice little
company that will take Gerber files and make boards for you. Eagle PCB
is free for small two-layer boards, includes schematic capture, and works
well once you get your brain wrapped around their way of doing things.

http://www.pcbexpress.com/

--
http://www.wescottdesign.com

I'm going to check them out. I do some small one-off PCB's to test some
ideas out. I would like to have the Gerber files when I'm done in case I
want to incorporate it in a larger design.


--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"The most reliable components are
the ones you leave out."

By Gordon Bell, father of the
minicomputer at DEC.

On Jun 13, 12:36*pm, "Leland C. Scott" wrote:
"Harold E. Johnson" wrote in messagenews:INSYl.740928$yE1.253509@attbi_s21...



"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
m...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on the
file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last time
I bought one.

That's not going to happen. I know I can get some reverse engineering
software that will import the layout as a graphic then trace over it using
the PCB layout software to generate standard Gerber files. I'm looking for
something easy and I'm not paying them $75 a pop for each small board to
convert.

I also found out there maybe some utilities out, still looking, there that
can convert from an exported PDF, or EPS file, to a Gerber format too.
Getting a PDF printer driver is easy. Use the driver when printing out a
copy of the board layout.

--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"Brilliance is typically the act of an
individual, but incredible stupidity
can usually be traced to an
organization."

Jon Bentley

FWIW, I've been using FreePCB for layouts the past year or so, and
find it's pretty well documented and easy to use. It produces
Gerbers, and of course you already know that once you have those, you
can find lots of different places to order boards, some faster than
others, some cheaper than others. I do end up having to build
footprints for FreePCB fairly often, but even that's not too bad, and
once built, I have them for the future.

Cheers,
Tom

Great. Thanks for the input. One other thing. I have a buddy who was looking
for a free Gerber editor for making minor artwork changes. He had some
boards done outside and needs to make some changes to fix a few boo-boos
when he did the design. You know of any? He only has Windows. I run Windows
and Linux so either would work. I could make the changes for him.

--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"The most reliable components are
the ones you leave out."

By Gordon Bell, father of the
minicomputer at DEC.



"K7ITM" wrote in message
...
On Jun 13, 12:36 pm, "Leland C. Scott" wrote:
"Harold E. Johnson" wrote in
messagenews:INSYl.740928$yE1.253509@attbi_s21...



"Leland C. Scott" wrote in message
m...
Does anybody have or know where to get a utility to convert from
ExpressPCB file format to a standard Gerber file? If not any info on
the
file format itself?

Yup. You can pay Express PCB for the file. (No utility) $75 the last
time
I bought one.

That's not going to happen. I know I can get some reverse engineering
software that will import the layout as a graphic then trace over it using
the PCB layout software to generate standard Gerber files. I'm looking for
something easy and I'm not paying them $75 a pop for each small board to
convert.

I also found out there maybe some utilities out, still looking, there that
can convert from an exported PDF, or EPS file, to a Gerber format too.
Getting a PDF printer driver is easy. Use the driver when printing out a
copy of the board layout.

--
Regards;

Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

"Brilliance is typically the act of an
individual, but incredible stupidity
can usually be traced to an
organization."

Jon Bentley

FWIW, I've been using FreePCB for layouts the past year or so, and
find it's pretty well documented and easy to use. It produces
Gerbers, and of course you already know that once you have those, you
can find lots of different places to order boards, some faster than
others, some cheaper than others. I do end up having to build
footprints for FreePCB fairly often, but even that's not too bad, and
once built, I have them for the future.

Cheers,
Tom

Tim Wescott
Reverse the "Express" and the "PCB" and you'll find a really nice
little company that will take Gerber files and make boards for you.
Eagle PCB is free for small two-layer boards, includes
schematic capture, and works well
once you get your brain wrapped around their way of doing things.

Leland C. Scott wrote:
I'm going to check them out. I do some small one-off PCB's
to test some ideas out. I would like to have the Gerber files
when I'm done in case I want to incorporate it in a larger design.

When someone gets hot to trot for the Cadsoft product,
I like to remind him that he may find the same situation:
*His* work product tied up in **their** proprietary format:

The Downside of EAGLE aka ''The EAGLE virus'' by Markus Zingg
http://groups.google.com/group/comp....nger-be-opened