I build a program called “VisualPlace” to quickly locate components on a PCB during hand-assembly. I also use it to print out reports for the engineers that program the pick-&-place machines at a PCB assembly facility.
VisualPlace is free, and it works with several EDA-suites (Eagle, KiCad, DesignSpark, Althium, Target 3001, and a few more). You can find more information about it on http://www.compuphase.com/visualplace/.
The reasons I am “advertising” it here are:
I hope to get feedback to make the program better.
I hope to persuade the pick-&-place machine operators to import files (with position data), instead of manually programming the component positions in the machine, using an enlarged copy of the silk-screen as reference.
That second reason depends on VisualPlace to become good and professional enough that a PCB assembly facility gains enough trust in using its files. And to improve VisualPlace to that point, your input is very welcome.
Once the product is improved to the point where board houses start relying on it, will it remain free for both hobby and commercial use?
Yes.
Maybe, there will be plug-ins or optional extensions that we will sell. For example, to cover development costs beyond that what I can do in my free time. Or to cover costs for libraries that we need to license ourselves.
Looks good. For complex boards I’ve used several printouts of the silkscreen, and marked the part locations with different colored markers. Then set up part trays with sheet and color coded dots and circles. Not ultra efficient but reliable.
Any chance you could allow the component markers (currently red only) to have assignable colors per part? And could there be a plugin to simply output an assignable number or string through the serial port, to allow people to build a simple pick indicator system?
macegr:
Any chance you could allow the component markers (currently red only) to have assignable colors per part?
If I understand it correctly, you mean that if R1, R7, R8, R12 and R14 are 5 resistors 100k/0.1Watt 0805 on a board, you want to colour R7 and R8 green and R14 blue.
That should certainly be possible.
macegr:
And could there be a plugin to simply output an assignable number or string through the serial port, to allow people to build a simple pick indicator system?
compuphase:
If I understand it correctly, you mean that if R1, R7, R8, R12 and R14 are 5 resistors 100k/0.1Watt 0805 on a board, you want to colour R7 and R8 green and R14 blue.
Actually I meant that all of those would show up the same color, since they are the same part. Then when you switch to, say, some 0.1uF caps, they would be highlighted in a different color. It would be so you could put a colored sticker or mark on the part tray, in addition to the values (which are easy to misread sometimes).