[PEDA] Protel99SE SP6 - board doesn't match schematic, no DRC errors

[Robert Gillatt]

Been there, got the T-shirt. Protel is notorious for such idiosyncracies. If
you get a pad mapping wrong and miss it in the library check, the autorouter
will start to lay a track and leave it unconnected in the middle of the
board, no warnings either. 
The moral is check and recheck the Gerbers, which is a good idea whatever
tools you are using.

Cheers
Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: Leonard Gabrielson [mailto:leonard_gabrielson at yahoo.com] 
Sent: 27 May 2009 17:55
To: Protel EDA Discussion List
Subject: Re: [PEDA] Protel99SE SP6 - board doesn't match schematic,no DRC
errors

Yeah,
Great.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven J. Ackerman" <sjackerman at comcast.net>
To: <peda at techservinc.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 9:20 AM
Subject: [PEDA] Protel99SE SP6 - board doesn't match schematic, no DRC
errors


> Just a heads-up - although this is probably old news to list members.
>
> We've used Protel Schematic v3.4 and Protel PCB v2.8 to design several 
> hundred boards - mainly double-sided, mixed SMT and through-hole, some 
> with hundreds of parts, all sizes - no problems.
>
> I did our second 4-layer PCB with Protel99SE SP6. Just received the 
> prototypes back. When building the first board by hand, two components 
> were on the schematic, but not on the PCB. Bringing up the board in 
> Protel and jumping to the component by name, the missing components 
> were off the board, and off the screen - perhaps with a negative Y 
> coordinate. No ratsnest wires, the router indicated that the board was 
> 100% routed, no DRC errors - sweet.
>
> Did a select outside the board area, move selection, and surprise - 
> the missing two components moved into the visible area - ratsnest 
> wires appeared and now the board is no longer 100% routed - it's magic 
> !
>
> I don't know how the two components got 'placed' off of the viewable 
> screen, or why a zoom all didn't show them, or why the autorouter all 
> didn't complain, or why the DRC passed...
>
> I no longer trust Protel99SE to produce a board that matches the 
> schematic.
>
> I'm glad that these are prototypes, and I can tack these two missing 
> components on by hand.
>
> Great feature !
>
> Steven J. Ackerman, Consultant
> ACS, Sarasota, FL
> Web:  http://www.acscontrol.com
> Blog: http://sjackerman.spaces.live.com/
> Work: steve at acscontrol.com
> Home: sjackerman at comcast.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> You are subscribed to the PEDA discussion forum
>
> To Post messages:
> mailto:PEDA at techservinc.com
>
> Unsubscribe and Other Options:
> http://techservinc.com/mailman/listinfo/peda_techservinc.com
>
> Browse or Search Old Archives (2001-2004):
> http://www.mail-archive.com/proteledaforum@techservinc.com
>
> Browse or Search Current Archives (2004-Current):
> http://www.mail-archive.com/peda@techservinc.com
>