how to make a layout from a schem?

[paisley_tele]

how to make a layout from a schem? i wish i knew any tips?

[johnny riff]

draw a picture of your layout and connect the dots.meaning to say if you work in a standard layout that works for you,make a drawing and draw in connections.or I'm sure there must be software.

[benoit]

I don't know about doing a layout from scratch, not quite that knowledgable myself. I will say, though, if you can find a gutshot of the amp you want to do the layout of it's not too difficult. What amp do you have in mind? Even if you can't find a layout of the exact amp, you can probably find one for an amp with a similar circuit and use that as a starting point. If you can use microsoft visio I recommend it. It's pretty decent even starting completely from scratch but there are also plenty of pre-fab libraries of common components as well as layouts from which to borrow parts so you don't have to draw everything yourself.

[johnny riff]

but by doing it from your own drawings you'll remember it.thats at least how I started.
too each his own.
my friend
JR

[10thTx]

There is a pretty extensive library of editable schematics and layouts that you can learn from here:

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?board=17.0

If you use paralleled terminals/turrets like Hiwatt or Vox, then it's pretty easy to draw one up once you've done a few. Or you can take one of the editable layouts and change it.

With respect, 10thtx

[Andy Le Blanc]

layouts can be very contentious ..... the trainwreck....the dumble.... the fender
the first thing you need to do is choose a construction method
theres true point-to-point.... terminal strips.... componant board....
or any mix that works......
then you need to look at the practical function of what your building....
the knobs .... jacks...... pilot light ...... etc
and then reconcile this the practical aspects of the circuit..... transformer orientation
socket placement.... proximitry issues....
theres a reason why the input is on the other side of the chassis from the pt..

there are many tried and true layouts..... but you dont need to hide bound
I like point-to-point..... but modern componants have such short leads...
so its p-t-p where it can be done and lately terminal strips....marvelously flexible
a componant board lowers the cost of assembly.... hence the modern pcb
but the wire lengths are a problem.... youve heard of chopsticking.....
I tried a notion a couple weeks back.... a ...p-t-p ...pcb... with the sockets
mounted to the board.... mounted shields and all thru the chassis.....
it works well with eyelets and/or terminal strip contruction..... and wasnt
hard to execute...... as a hand build..... it has the bonus of being true p-t-p
with leads mounted directly on the pins of the tube socket and as a componant board
that is pre assembled and mount as a whole in the chassis....

dont get hung up on it.... go with a tried and true layout but dont be afraid
to experiment ....

[jjman]

I bet there's a significant %age of people that would never be able to draw a layout from a schematic. Or at least one that makes sense. There are too many variables.

I've built 2 amps from scratch, but using PTP. I understand schematics fine but translating that to a good (board) layout doesn't work in my brain. It's a different universe for me. Kinda like trying to draw something resembling art. I don’t have that ability.

It would be a very cool computer program that would allow one to draw a schematic while simultaneously triggering some layout options. Probably would need some “templates” or typical approaches as a base.

[Stanz]

One thing that I have seen that makes sense is deciding which side of the board a component goes to. This for components that have leads going off board. The orientation is dependent upon whether it is going to the front panel (pots and switches) or toward the back where you will find tube sockets and output jacks.

It makes assembly really easy. The Trainwreck circuits do this really well.

[johnny riff]

theres a few amp books Ive seen with fender schematics and construction layouts.trace the curcuit from schem.through the layout.for instance the ltp PI layout is common in a lot of amps.it will help you visualize board layouts and part placement when building from scratch.

john

[Ron Worley]

There's a book called "Building Valve amplifiers" by Morgan Jones that details a lot of the fundamentals of proper layout... You'd swear that you were reading the words of Ken Fischer on the design of the Express....

This and a good review of the the layouts of most classic amps will show you the general philosophies behind proper layout....

Ken differs on a few points, particularly with the "lazy loop" heater wiring, but it's hard to argue with success...

Ron

[pila]

I've done a few from the schematic. Mostly Valco designs. The way I do it is to View the board ( I use turrets) from what would be the control side of the chassis, with the tube sockets on the opposite side. Many schematics have the input/pre-amp end on the left, as viewed. In which case I start with the power supply components on the right end of the layout, with the filter caps and dropping resistors, then working through the power amp stage,to the PR stage if used, working toward the left end, and then the pre-amp stage.
The board can be fairly clean and uncluttered by running jumpers under the board in some places, being careful of where pre stage wiring runs etc, to avoid hum problems. I run a separate ground for the filter caps for the pre-amp and phase inverter stages.
I becomes quite logical when getting into it.

[Andy Le Blanc]

orientation of the chassis in the finished application needs to be considered first
is the chassis going to be mount to the top or the bottom of whatever box your making

the board layout on a fender is very logical... althought the wire lenghts are
an issue........ get the most noise pron parts of the circuit away from AC
and follow thru to the power side

you can getaway very successfully with some very hair-brain'd layouts
following any kind logic you pull out of your butt...... but as gain levels go up
or as the complexity of the project goes up, with verb, trem, more than one power amp
you need to spend more time working on the layout
there are standard color codes for the wire used to dress the amp
you can do your own layout very well with a pad of graph paper and a box of colord pencils
its only a picture of the inside of the amp...... if you want to repeat the project
then a layout really helps to record solutions and reduce the learning curve
for the next build
and if you have a scanner at your disposal its very easy to post a layout

[drz400]

how to make a layout from a schem? i wish i knew any tips?

cadsoftusa.com

[Andy Le Blanc]

try make a layout for this pre...... and post it
I know its not much but its to the point...... its for a 12 ax7
dont worry about the componant values their not important....

[Andy Le Blanc]

got caught by the server......