I have been using LibrePCB 1.2.0 and 1.3.0 with great results. I will be posting some of the projects soon. Some very busy boards! I am using it on Slackware 15.0, which is locked in at glibc 2.33…. so I will wait until the next Slackware stable release to take on librePCB 2.x, no problem!
I know there is a “correct” way to do this. But is there a workaround to this message “Pad is not connected to any signal” that I often get in the LibrePCB Board Editor when I try to “Draw Trace (W)”. Perhaps something that will globally turn off the error message?
I do my own “manual wiring” as the RF/Microwave boards often require serious bending of the design rules. But they work so nice!
Hi @WN2A, glad to hear you made some nice boards with LibrePCB
Hmm I suspect you actually want to not just turn off the message, but also to allow connecting traces to non-connected pads? Or do I misunderstand?
Currently there’s no way to suppress that message or to connect traces to non-connected pads. Maybe that will be possible some day when we implement a reverse-engineering mode where you draw the board first, and then create a schematic from it. But I’m not sure if that is what you’re looking for - honestly I’d be interested in more details what you actually try to achieve, maybe some screenshots would be helpful for me to understand your use-case
Yes, you are correct, I was trying to connect traces to non-connected pads. Not a problem, my workaround is to start the trace (let’s say it is top copper)
between the component pads in LibrePCB Board Editor, and the program lets you wire the two unconnected pads. I understand that this isn’t the proper method;
still, it works well.
My application is a series of RF boards to be used in a radio amateur 2 meter FM transceiver. I will upload these PCB’s to librePCB as examples. At this point,
the most complicated PCB (the “Main” Board) was generated, assembled and works well. It was done with LibreOffice 1.3.0 on Linux S15pup64 using your AppImage.
All I do is generate the Gerbers/Drill files and upload to OshPark in Oregon. You may want to include this PCB house as one of your vendors. I have used them for two PCB’s thus far, both made with LibrePCB. No problems, whatsoever!
Thank You for an absolutely wonderful program. When Slackware (and S15pup64) up the revision on glibc, I will be running librePCB 2.0!
Alright, thanks for clarifying. I think the planned reverse-engineering feature could be useful for this, but it has low priority so it will take some time… In the mean time, I recommend to create proper schematics but I guess you are aware of this
Possibly you could compile LibrePCB 2.0 from sources, but waiting for a newer glibc is probably easier
