--- In [email protected], "Dr.WhoDr.Who" <paulgusci...@...> wrote: > > > I am just starting to think about using KiCAD for capturing some small > circuit designs so that I can create nice printed documentation. > > For initial prototypes, and when I expect that I will only create one > unit as a simulator, I plan to use commercially manufactured prototyping > boards such as the BusBoard Prototype Systems Solderable PC Breadboard > http://www.busboard.us/bps-br1.htm <http://www.busboard.us/bps-br1.htm> > . > > How could one use KiCAD cvpcb and/or pcbnew to show the traces and hole > patterns that exist on the commercially manufactured board, then place > the components where they will go on the board?
I don't believe there's an existing library for this, but there's nothing preventing you from creating a template board file with just the tracks, and then open a copy of that template onto which you would place your components. AFAIK, the design-rule-check (DRC) may not see the pads as connected to the traces unless they land <i>exactly</i> co-incident, so you're assuming more of the responsibility of checking that all and only the right things are connected. With that in mind, however, it should work. Alternately, there is a layout program that's designed to work with stripboard-style protoboards. Kicad can create netlists that it can read, so you will get routing and DRC capability. The program is VeeCAD; it's over at http://veecad.com and there is a free version available. Stripboards are available from various vendors. One I've found on the 'net with decent prices is Futurlec at http://www.futurlec.com/ProtoBoards.shtml
