TTL/CMOS logic reverse engineering tools?

[Philipp Hachtmann]

Hi folks,

I am looking for a tool that helps to reverse-engineer old PCBs full of
TTL/CMOS ICs. Something graphical.

The ideal program would let me place the parts [which should be in a
database already ] and enter the pin connections. The program then
should help me to create a schematic. An auto-router and auto-placer for
the schematic is not necessary, my needs would be satisfied by a program
which helps me doing this by hand....

I am pretty sure that tools with those capabilities exist, but I have no
clue where to start searching.
Is there something that fits my needs? Perhaps in the Free Software
world? That would be great.

Many thanks and best regards,

Philipp

 

[martin.shoebridge]

Hi folks,

I am looking for a tool that helps to reverse-engineer old PCBs full of
TTL/CMOS ICs. Something graphical.

The ideal program would let me place the parts [which should be in a
database already ] and enter the pin connections. The program then
should help me to create a schematic. An auto-router and auto-placer for
the schematic is not necessary, my needs would be satisfied by a program
which helps me doing this by hand....

I am pretty sure that tools with those capabilities exist, but I have no
clue where to start searching.
Is there something that fits my needs? Perhaps in the Free Software world?
That would be great.

Many thanks and best regards,

Philipp

I think you need some good old elbow grease to sort that.....

 

[john jardine]

Hi folks,

I am looking for a tool that helps to reverse-engineer old PCBs full of
TTL/CMOS ICs. Something graphical.

The ideal program would let me place the parts [which should be in a
database already ] and enter the pin connections. The program then
should help me to create a schematic. An auto-router and auto-placer for
the schematic is not necessary, my needs would be satisfied by a program
which helps me doing this by hand....

I am pretty sure that tools with those capabilities exist, but I have no
clue where to start searching.
Is there something that fits my needs? Perhaps in the Free Software
world? That would be great.

Many thanks and best regards,

Philipp

You're describing a perfectly normal PCB program that has TTL/CMOS already
in it's library (and most of 'em do).

 

[Sven Wilhelmsson]

Hi folks,

I am looking for a tool that helps to reverse-engineer old PCBs full of
TTL/CMOS ICs. Something graphical.

The ideal program would let me place the parts [which should be in a
database already ] and enter the pin connections. The program then
should help me to create a schematic. An auto-router and auto-placer for
the schematic is not necessary, my needs would be satisfied by a program
which helps me doing this by hand....

I am pretty sure that tools with those capabilities exist, but I have no
clue where to start searching.
Is there something that fits my needs? Perhaps in the Free Software
world? That would be great.

Many thanks and best regards,

Philipp

I'm working on an experimental program (Hec - Hobby Electric CAD).
I think it does what you describe. It is aiming at doing SCH and PCB
simultaneously. Normally we start with SCH and then do the PCB,
but Hec is symmetrical so you can start with PCB and do the SCH after
wards or simultaneously. In the Hec distribution at my page there are no
component libraries included, but you can use the gEDA libraries for SCH-
PCB-symbols. To do so you have to modify some Perl scripts. So some
knowledge in Perl scripting is necessary.
Note that Hec is experimental and far from complete, but it can do the job
for you if you have patience, programming skills, and the right attitude.
Hec is free software (GPL). It runs with Linux and XFree86.
It does not work with MS Windows, and it is not easily portable.

Look at the Hec page at
<http://home.swipnet.se/swi/index.html>
and
<http://www.geda.seul.org/index.html>

/Sven Wilhelmsson