Moo 1.1 PCB / Schematic in EAGLE or KiCad

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Josiah Hester

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Feb 25, 2014, 8:10:35 PM2/25/14
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Hi guys,

I do not have access to Altium, and was wondering if anyone would mind exporting the board / schematic into ACCEL ASCII format and dropping it in the repo so I can work with it in EAGLE?

Thanks!
---
Josiah Hester | PhD Student
School of Computing, Clemson University 
http://josiahhester.com

Matthew Hicks

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Feb 25, 2014, 8:24:18 PM2/25/14
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Does it have to be Moo 1.1?  We are now shipping Moo 2.1.1 and we too are interested in moving board development to Eagle.


---Matthew Hicks


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Josiah Hester

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Feb 25, 2014, 8:31:22 PM2/25/14
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Actually Moo 2.1.1 would be even better! I did not realize it was at 2.1.1. 

---
Josiah Hester | PhD Student
School of Computing, Clemson University 
http://josiahhester.com

Josiah Hester

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Feb 27, 2014, 6:28:30 PM2/27/14
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What do you think the timeline is to move to EAGLE?

I would be happy to help sift through the export files that Altium creates (a bunch of ACCEL ASCII files) if you could make those available. I imagine the tough part would be making sure the libraries / footprints for all parts make it through the export process?

-Josiah


On Tuesday, February 25, 2014 8:24:18 PM UTC-5, Matthew Hicks wrote:

Matthew Hicks

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Feb 27, 2014, 6:32:32 PM2/27/14
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We tried to get the requested files yesterday, but our "PCB guy" graduated and no longer has access to the computers with Altium installed. I will try again tomorrow, but if that doesn't work, I will be at ASPLOS next week.


---Matthew Hicks

Matthew Hicks

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Feb 28, 2014, 7:31:59 PM2/28/14
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Here is what we could generate for the more simple JTAG programming board https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xzk33548h4lk2i4/lwaGuS3hbC.  Let me know if this works and we can repeat the process for the more complex Moo.


---Matthew Hicks

Josiah Hester

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Mar 2, 2014, 8:15:10 AM3/2/14
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Can you try and export the board to: "P-CAD V15, V16, or V17 ASCII PCB design files (*.pcb)" and the schematic to "P-CAD V16 or V17 ASCII Schematic design files (*.sch)."

The format you sent was the Altium ASCII format I think, so the EAGLE import script did not recognize the header (took a little digging through that script to diagnose).

You may need to install this plugin (http://designcontent.live.altium.com/PluginDetail/Exporter_PCAD_ASCII) to export the schematic to PCAD ASCII. I think exporting the board to PCAD ASCII is supported out of the box. Let me know if you have time.

-Josiah

Matthew Hicks

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Mar 8, 2014, 12:21:30 AM3/8/14
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UPDATE:  We are still working to try to get the requested files.  It turns-out that you need a plug-in to export those files and we do not have rights to install software on the computers with Altium.  We are working on another route.  Either we will be able to get the files by mid-next week, or we won't be able to get them at all.


---Matthew Hicks

Josiah Hester

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Mar 9, 2014, 4:33:12 PM3/9/14
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Alright, well hopefully it works!



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Matthew Hicks

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Mar 12, 2014, 12:07:58 AM3/12/14
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Here is the ASCII file for the JTAG programmer header https://www.dropbox.com/s/jwodgwayed6iyf8/Programmer.pcb. Hopefully this works.  I am in the process of getting the same file for the Moo 1.2.1.


---Matthew Hicks

Matthew Hicks

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Mar 12, 2014, 12:25:28 AM3/12/14
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Josiah Hester

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Mar 12, 2014, 12:56:06 PM3/12/14
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Good news, the board layout / pcb imported successfully, the only issue was that the silkscreen names were converted to polygons instead of text, which is no big deal. Also, the importer made a library of footprints from the files you sent, so this actually takes us a long way.

Unfortunately, EAGLE's schematic and pcb are intertwined so much, it will be difficult to associate a new schematic with the board. I'll investigate a way we can do this and share the board.

Josiah Hester

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Mar 13, 2014, 1:31:27 PM3/13/14
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Ok here are the EAGLE files.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u4aztmvruo8xijf/Moo1.2Programmer.zip

Was a bit tedious but nothing compared to the nightmare of re-laying out the board. Once I figured out the method it took about 5 minutes.

All that is required is to rename components, layout (copy) the schematic, and make sure the ERC passes. I didnt spend much time making sure the schematic was particularly aesthetically pleasing, or fixing the silk screen errors, but those are small changes.

If you can, do the same process with the new Moo (and send me a PDF of the schematic) and I can get it into EAGLE and share it.

Thanks!



Matthew Hicks

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Mar 13, 2014, 1:44:30 PM3/13/14
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What files did you end up using (extensions?)?


---Matthew Hicks

Josiah Hester

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Mar 13, 2014, 2:09:37 PM3/13/14
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I actually only used the ASCII *.pcb file you sent. 

From this, the EAGLE script generated the layout, and the parts library. I just had to add schematic symbols, and wire the schematic to the board.

Matthew Hicks

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Mar 15, 2014, 3:35:09 AM3/15/14
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Here is a link to the Moo PCB https://www.dropbox.com/s/rd6qyfkw6pdy25s/Moo1.2.pcb.


---Matthew Hicks

Josiah Hester

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Mar 15, 2014, 8:42:35 AM3/15/14
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Thanks, I'll start migrating it, is this schematic on github current?
https://github.com/spqr/umichmoo/blob/moo_12_master/schematics/moo1_2/Moo1.2_schematic.PDF



Matthew Hicks

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Mar 15, 2014, 10:37:34 AM3/15/14
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They are very similar, but here is a link to the schematic for Moo 1.2.1 https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ggnmx0co3uiukn/Moo1.2.1_Schematic.pdf.


---Matthew Hicks

Matthew Hicks

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Mar 28, 2014, 5:04:35 PM3/28/14
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Any updates?  I am guessing porting the Moo is a lot harder than porting the header board.


---Matthew Hicks

Josiah Hester

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Mar 28, 2014, 6:47:56 PM3/28/14
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No updates yet, battling a paper deadline but should be able to continue the import next week.

All the traces and footprints were imported correctly (big relief), so I'll do the same process as with the header board, just a bit more involved!



Josiah Hester

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Apr 8, 2014, 9:25:44 PM4/8/14
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Alright, some progress. I was able to import the board layout into EAGLE, and then from that I redid the schematic and created a parts library for the Moo.

The schematic is done, and it is connected to the board in EAGLE fashion, however, the board layout must not have imported completely correctly, as their are a couple hundred DRC errors, most of it coming from vias being too large, and overlap errors. I'll work on getting it fully ported this week, but it could take a little longer. Either way, it will need to be thoroughly checked by a couple sets of eyes!

In the meantime, here are the EAGLE files on a bitbucket repo:
https://bitbucket.org/siahman/moo1.2.1-eagle/src

Current render of the schematic and board available here:

Josiah Hester

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Apr 9, 2014, 11:55:15 AM4/9/14
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Ok, the board is fully layed out and a lot of placement / overlap issues fixed.

I'm not sure what design rules you guys have for the fab you use, so further refinement may be required. Check out the EAGLE files here:

Matthew Hicks

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Apr 11, 2014, 4:48:50 PM4/11/14
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Thanks, I cloned the repo.  Our "PCB guy" graduated and moved-on, so I won't be able to provide feedback on the conversion process or spot errors any time soon...but it all looks good.


---Matthew Hicks



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Josiah Hester

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Apr 13, 2014, 10:19:30 AM4/13/14
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Cool, I'll get some eyes on it here at Clemson, but I think it is ready for the fab at this point.



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