Panelization software

[Pack34]

Besides CAM350 and FAB3000, is there a decently priced software package out there that I can use to panelize some designs? I can wing it when the design is in Eagle but it's a bit painstaking but if I'm using another software package, I'm not quite sure how to go about it.

I noticed that Pentalogix has a package called Single Design Panelizer that costs about $300. This is definitely what I'm looking for but you have to buy one of their other software packages to use it. So I would be paying around $1000. Is this the going rate for a software package like this? Or is there a standalone option in the $300 range?

[DerekG]

Besides CAM350 and FAB3000, is there a decently priced software package out there that I can use to panelize some designs?

Any decent pcb design software will have this included. Perhaps this is a limitation of the EAGLE software.

Panelisation in DipTrace (this package will cost you less than the full version of EAGLE & it is significantly more powerful than EAGLE):



Panelisation in Proteus:



Panelisation in Altium:

http://wiki.altium.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=4426668

[Pack34]

I mainly use Eagle and PADS. I do not believe that either has this built in. You can duplicate the board easily in Eagle but it can be painstaking to add all of the tabs and sacrificial material. I think Mentor is relying on outside tools.

[DerekG]

I mainly use Eagle and PADS. I do not believe that either has this built in. You can duplicate the board easily in Eagle but it can be painstaking to add all of the tabs and sacrificial material. I think Mentor is relying on outside tools.

I located this on the Mentor Graphics forum:

https://communities.mentor.com/docs/DOC-5232

"Yes, you can make a step and repeat panel with PADS. I have done it many times.
Admittedly, it is quite a tedious process and not so great for complex layouts, but you can do it by making a reuse block from the completed design."

Pretty sad given the cost of PADS.

Remember you can send your single circuit to a board manufacturer & they will panelise it for you (generally at no cost). You just specify the size of the board you want (which is generally the largest size your SMD robot & infrared reflow oven can handle)

[IconicPCB]

Go to www.graphicode.com and look for the Gerber editor software.

They also have a time limited fully functional  demonstrator software.

I use their power station software and if You wish I can panelise the odd job for You...

Note a lot depends on the PCB shop whether in fact you do actually need to do the panelising Yourself.

[mazurov]

There is an ULP in Eagle called ( surprise ) panelize.ulp.

[Pack34]

There is an ULP in Eagle called ( surprise ) panelize.ulp.

The replicate board one works better. But there's still a good amount of cleanup if you want to have nice edges by tab routing.

[Pack34]

Okay, I think I've made a decision for this. I'm going to write my own.

I've been able to find an open source, Python project called GerbMerge that seems to do what I want but it's strictly command line and I do not think that it has the nice "knobs" I'm interested in with the Single Design Panelizer that Pentalogix has.