I want to replicate the relative placement of 10 components 12 times on the same board.
Intuition says I should be able to lay out the relative placement around the origin; then group; then copy; then be able to set the x&y of the group centre point.
Every time I try, I epically fail. Is it me? It seems impossible to believe this is not supported. If it isn't supported, I would happily contribute to a crowd source to get it done.
Precision placement of copied group?
Re: Precision placement of copied group?
There is no way to specify group origin in DipTrace.
You can try "Edit->Copy Matrix" to multiply existing components and place copies with controlled X/Y offset.
You can try "Edit->Copy Matrix" to multiply existing components and place copies with controlled X/Y offset.
Re: Precision placement of copied group?
Alternatively you can group the components together with a shape placed on a mechanical layer, you can use corner/point of that shape a fiducial/reference point when dragging stuff around.
My rhombicosidodecahedron is bigger than yours.
Re: Precision placement of copied group?
That was one of the real awakenings when I discovered how to use the point/comments dimensioning tool seeVEC7OR wrote:Alternatively you can group the components together with a shape placed on a mechanical layer, you can use corner/point of that shape a fiducial/reference point when dragging stuff around.
http://www.diptrace.com/forum/viewtopic ... 24&t=11808
I drew the board outline and placed the holes using TurboCAD, it has mature 2D drafting tools to make complex PCB outlines with radius corners and complicated hole placement in minutes. Once imported I used the point/comments dimensioning tool to mark the two locator holes for the connectors and when I placed the connectors I used the point/comments dimensioning tool on the pin in the connectors I needed to line up, set my grid and used the arrow keys to nudge the connectors into place, a few seconds later I was done.
As far as better 2D tools go, maybe after color schematics, better routing/placement, better line layout in schematics. FreeCAD works fine for complex PCB board drafting ...