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28 <h2><a name=
"pcb_faq" id=
"pcb_faq">pcb FAQ
</a></h2>
33 <h4><a name=
"what_is_pcb" id=
"what_is_pcb">What is pcb ?
</a></h4>
37 “pcb” is software to help you draw (“lay out”) the wires for a custom “printed wire board” (“PCB”).
42 <h4><a name=
"how_do_i_install_pcb" id=
"how_do_i_install_pcb">How do I install pcb ?
</a></h4>
46 The recommended way to install pcb is to install the complete gaf package. See
<a href=
"http://geda.seul.org/wiki/geda:installation" class=
"wikilink1" title=
"geda:installation">installation
</a>.
51 <h4><a name=
"is_it_true_that_pcb_is_limited_to_exactly_8_copper_layers_and_2_silkscreen_layers" id=
"is_it_true_that_pcb_is_limited_to_exactly_8_copper_layers_and_2_silkscreen_layers">Is it true that pcb is limited to exactly
8 copper layers and
2 silkscreen layers ?
</a></h4>
55 No. “Out-of-the-box”, pcb supports
16 copper layers and
…
60 <h4><a name=
"is_it_true_that_pcb_has_no_concept_of_a_solder_mask_or_paste_mask_layer" id=
"is_it_true_that_pcb_has_no_concept_of_a_solder_mask_or_paste_mask_layer">Is it true that pcb has no concept of a
"solder mask
" or
"paste mask
" layer?
</a></h4>
69 <h4><a name=
"is_it_true_that_pcb_has_no_way_to_make_a_mechanical_layer_to_show_the_physical_outline_of_the_board_and_its_dimensions" id=
"is_it_true_that_pcb_has_no_way_to_make_a_mechanical_layer_to_show_the_physical_outline_of_the_board_and_its_dimensions">Is it true that pcb has no way to make a
"mechanical layer
" to show the physical outline of the board and its dimensions ?
</a></h4>
78 <h4><a name=
"how_do_i_design_a_pcb" id=
"how_do_i_design_a_pcb">How do I design a PCB ?
</a></h4>
82 This is well beyond the scope of this
<acronym title=
"Frequently Asked Questions">FAQ
</acronym>. There are a few tips at
85 <li class=
"level1"><div class=
"li"> <a href=
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printed_circuit_board" class=
"urlextern" title=
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printed_circuit_board" rel=
"nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printed_circuit_board
</a></div>
87 <li class=
"level1"><div class=
"li"> <a href=
"http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Practical_Electronics/PCB_Layout" class=
"urlextern" title=
"http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Practical_Electronics/PCB_Layout" rel=
"nofollow">http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Practical_Electronics/PCB_Layout
</a></div>
93 <h4><a name=
"yes_but_how_do_i_design_a_pcb_with_pcb" id=
"yes_but_how_do_i_design_a_pcb_with_pcb">Yes, but how do I design a PCB with pcb ?
</a></h4>
97 Generally, you start with a schematic, run gsch2pcb to generate the netlist. See
<a href=
"http://geda.seul.org/wiki/geda:faq-gsch2pcb" class=
"wikilink1" title=
"geda:faq-gsch2pcb">faq-gsch2pcb
</a>. Then you might go through the tutorial
<a href=
"geda_gsch2pcb_tutorial.html" class=
"wikilink1" title=
"geda:gsch2pcb_tutorial">gsch2pcb_tutorial
</a>
101 Then you
… Hey, did you know about the pcb manual, the
<a href=
"geda_pcb_tips.html" class=
"wikilink1" title=
"geda:pcb_tips">pcb_tips
</a>, and the
<a href=
"geda_pcb-quick_reference.html" class=
"wikilink1" title=
"geda:pcb-quick_reference">pcb-quick_reference
</a> ?
106 <h4><a name=
"what_about_footprints" id=
"what_about_footprints">What about footprints ?
</a></h4>
110 Yes.
<a href=
"geda_pcb_footprints.html" class=
"wikilink1" title=
"geda:pcb_footprints">pcb_footprints
</a>.
114 There are also some unofficial gEDA footprints at Open Circuits
<a href=
"http://opencircuits.com/PCB_Footprints" class=
"urlextern" title=
"http://opencircuits.com/PCB_Footprints" rel=
"nofollow">http://opencircuits.com/PCB_Footprints
</a> .
118 <!-- SECTION "pcb FAQ" [2-] --></div>