Circad will do this for you, but it would be unusual to buy a CAD package for this type of one-off requirement.
http://holophase.com/features.htm
Half way down the above webpage "A Tool for Reverse Engineering"
With pixel images integrated into PCB data files, reverse engineering a circuit becomes as simple as placing actual parts and tracks on top of the pictures of the parts and the tracks. An assortment of pixel image processing functions are available to rotate, scale, and transform the images so they are properly grid-aligned with the real world. Once the new layout is complete, the superfluous image data can be discarded.
For the reproductions I am using Sprint Layout
(http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/sprint-layout.html),
you can load a JPEG image as a background for the PCB design.
Using this way you can re-draw the board. For my own designs
I am using Eagle.
I have Cadsoft Eagle. Can it do that? If not, which ones can?
Edit: Once I scanned an old PCB and separated the traces from pads into separate layers using my photo editor, then I ran the layers through an online raster to vector converter, took the resulting SVGs and converted them to a single multilayer DXF and imported it into DipTrace. During import, DipTrace let's you assign each DXF layer to something different (pads, top and bottom copper, silk, paste, etc.), which allowed me to have a fully editable version of the board that I could produce Gerbers from.
Edit: Once I scanned an old PCB and separated the traces from pads into separate layers using my photo editor, then I ran the layers through an online raster to vector converter, took the resulting SVGs and converted them to a single multilayer DXF and imported it into DipTrace. During import, DipTrace let's you assign each DXF layer to something different (pads, top and bottom copper, silk, paste, etc.), which allowed me to have a fully editable version of the board that I could produce Gerbers from.
That sounds like a nice way of doing it. Personally, I would vectorize the raster image manually, because that sort of thing is my specialty (I'm a screen printer; everything I print is from vector files). That's a good option for me to consider. Thanks.
I've used the Graphic -> PDF -> pstoedit -> DXF workflow a lot lately to create custom, intricate pad shapes for DipTrace and it works surprisingly well. Dimensions are maintained perfectly throughout the conversion process.
I've used the Graphic -> PDF -> pstoedit -> DXF workflow a lot lately to create custom, intricate pad shapes for DipTrace and it works surprisingly well. Dimensions are maintained perfectly throughout the conversion process.
I really like this idea, because I can very accurately reproduce almost anything in Illustrator; the drawing tools are far superior to anything you'd find integrated into a PCB design program; drawing is Illustrator's specialty, and it's the de facto industry standard. This would be especially good for the silkscreen layer, because in Illustrator I can match text exactly, even if I don't have the correct font. Plus, I've been using Illustrator for about 12 years, so that alone makes things a lot easier.
Illustrator can export to .DXF, though there are sometimes issues with its .DXF files when used in AutoCAD. As long as they stay 2D they are fine, but I've seen some weird anomalies when extruding them to 3D. I had a trial program whose sole function was to convert .AI and .PDF files to .DWG and .DXF, and that did a beautiful job ("pdf2cad"), no issues even when extruding to 3D. It sounds like pstoedit may be just as good, and it's free. I see it uses ghostscript, which I've used in the past (along with GSView) for effectively turning my printer into a Postscript printer (which allows me to print halftone film positives for screen printing; you'd normally need a Postscript printer or [expensive] RIP software (such as Accurip) to do that.
Let me know if you need any help with pstoedit, it has a lot of options so it may seem daunting at first, but I've found it's actually pretty easy to use once you narrow down the options.
Let me know if you need any help with pstoedit, it has a lot of options so it may seem daunting at first, but I've found it's actually pretty easy to use once you narrow down the options.
As a test, I drew some random traces in Illustrator, saved as a PDF, then converted to DXF in pstoedit. I opened DipTrace > PCB Layout, then File > Import > DXF. It brought up this screen - .
In the drop-down menu for "Convert to:", which do I select in order for that to become the top traces? Also, can I draw the pads as part of the traces in Illustrator, like this - ? Or would I have to import the pads as a separate DXF file?
For through hole pads, the second image you posted will work, however I'd move the "inner circle" (the actual hole itself) of each pad to a separate layer, then import them separately as holes.
*Or* you could have three layers: Traces, pads, holes. That way, when you import the "pads" layer it can be applied to both sides of the board.
So, the first import would be the copper traces. The second would be copper pads (which would essentially show up as completely filled circles). The last layer would be the drill hits. That's also how a Gerber file is interpreted. (A drill hit centered on a copper pad is considered a plated through hole.)
Alternatively, you could only draw and import the traces (like your first image) and then use DipTrace to drop your SMD/PTH pads and holes. It's pretty simple to do, just click the "pads" button, drop them where you want, double click and select if they should be through-hole or SMD.
Also, when you do the pstoedit conversion, you might want to specify "dxf: -mm" and then set the Units option in the import window in DipTrace to Millimeters. That way you can make sure the scale is kept.
Oh, one more thing, be sure to define your board outline as well: Object -> Board Points.
For through hole pads, the second image you posted will work, however I'd move the "inner circle" (the actual hole itself) of each pad to a separate layer, then import them separately as holes.
I was wondering about doing it that way, and you answered it before I asked. I have designed, and had manufactured, one very simple PCB, about 4 years ago. I did it in Eagle, but all I did was follow a multipart tutorial on YouTube and substitute my design for the one in the tutorial. I didn't retain much of it. I remember the multiple output files deal is rather convoluted (.cmp, .drd, .plc, .pls, .sol, and so on) compared to files I'm used to dealing with (such as vector files), where you can put all your layers in one file and call it good. It strikes me as some sort of legacy system that is so well ensconced in the industry that no one wants to change it.
Awesome information; thanks. I'll most likely have more questions once I get started. Before I can get started I have to depopulate the PCB that I intend to reproduce and scan it in, and before I do that, I'm waiting for some sockets and other parts in the mail. I figure I might as well put in some new parts if I'm removing everything anyway. Fortunately, it is a small PCB (74 x 74mm) and doesn't have many parts (7 DIP chips and some resistors and capacitors, all through-hole).
... That's exactly how I would do it in e.g., Adobe Illustrator, but unfortunately, vector files aren't used for manufacturing PCBs (not that I know of anyway).
... Also, can I draw the pads as part of the traces in Illustrator, like this -
... drawing is Illustrator's specialty, and it's the de facto industry standard. This would be especially good for the silkscreen layer, because in Illustrator I can match text exactly, even if I don't have the correct font. Plus, I've been using Illustrator for about 12 years, so that alone makes things a lot easier.
For through hole pads, the second image you posted will work, however I'd move the "inner circle" (the actual hole itself) of each pad to a separate layer, then import them separately as holes.
I was thinking about these files you're exporting from Illustrator... Right now, you're exporting each layer as a separate PDF and running them through pstoedit, right? Well, if Illustrator supports native DXF exporting, you might be able to save some time and see if you can export a *single* multilayer DXF file. DipTrace *does* support those.
I tried pdf2gerb when I was trying to replicate the board I was discussing earlier and had very poor results with it. That's why I ended up going the PDF -> DXF -> DipTrace route.
It might work for a one off, so the OP should give it a try, but I wouldn't expect too much out of it.
When creating the bottom silkscreen file, are you supposed to mirror it?
I tried pdf2gerb when I was trying to replicate the board I was discussing earlier and had very poor results with it. That's why I ended up going the PDF -> DXF -> DipTrace route.
It might work for a one off, so the OP should give it a try, but I wouldn't expect too much out of it.
I've not tried it myself, but scripts like that will always be quite tool-specific - ie not work with any PDF, but should work ok with Illustrator-generated PDF, and only with the settings they give.
Which versions of Illustrator, and pdf2gerb, did you try ?