This page contains some common questions regarding PCB design/export and their answers.
Q. Can I design with PCBs on Mac?
A. Unfortunately, no. Real-PCB, our third-party PCB design tool, is designed for Windows and will not run on a Mac. Your licence allows you to use both the Mac and Windows versions of Yenka. If you have access to a Windows computer, you can copy your saved models from a Mac and route PCBs using the Windows version. Yenka will display and simulate your PCB when it is opened on a Mac.
Q. Why do I get the error - "Real-PCB cannot be found."?
A. Yenka uses a third party program, Real-PCB, to handle PCB design and export. Real-PCB is installed along with the Windows version of the Yenka Plug-in.
If you are running Yenka from a shared network folder, you may find that Real-PCB will still not run. This is because RealPCB needs some important registry information installed onto your local PC.
We provide a Windows registry patch installer to install the necessary Real-PCB registry settings to overcome this problem. Please download and install this on the client machines that will be running the software over the network.
Q. Can Yenka be used to manufacture PCBs?
A. Yes. Yenka can export your PCB design files in a number of formats for manufacture. This is done through Real-PCB, a third party program that handles PCB routing. Real-PCB is installed along with the Windows version of the Yenka Plug-in.
Q. Can I export my PCB design to a desktop milling machine?
A. You can export PCB designs in a vector format that can be used by desktop milling machine software, such as Techsoft's PCB design and Make. You will need to open your PCB design in Real-PCB, export your design in a Vector (.emf) format and import this into the desktop milling software of your choice.
From Yenka, click on the green "create tracks" button in the top right corner of your 2D PCB schematic. Select "Open Real PCB" from the list of options. Once inside Real-PCB, click on File > Export > Vector (EMF) continue through the export dialog.
Please note that you may need to adjust import and export settings to ensure that the PCB is scaled correctly (i.e. 1 is to 1).
Q. Can I export my PCB design as a "Gerber" for manufacture?
A. You can export PCB designs in a gerber format that can be used by PCB manufacturers. You will need to open your PCB design in Real-PCB, and export your design as a gerber.
From Yenka, click on the green "create tracks" button in the top right corner of your 2D PCB schematic. Select "Open Real PCB" from the list of options. Once inside Real-PCB, click on Tools > CAD/CAM outputs > Output Gerber and continue through the export dialog.
Please note that you may need to contact your PCB manufacturer and ask for a set of export options and required files.
If you need more information or you cannot find an answer to your question here, please email your query to support@yenka.com.
