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===== pcb FAQ =====

==== What is pcb ? ====

"pcb" is software to help you draw ("lay out") the wires for a custom "printed wire board" ("PCB").

==== How do I install pcb? ====
See [[geda:installation]].

==== How many layers does PCB support?  ====
"Out-of-the-box", pcb supports 16 copper layers.  It has been patched by some users to support more, however.


==== Is it true that pcb has no way to make a "mechanical layer" to show the physical outline of the board and its dimensions ? ====
No. Lines on a layer with layer name ''outline'' will be interpreted as physical edges of the board. Also see [[geda:pcb_tips#how_do_i_make_a_board_outline_to_go_with_my_gerbers_to_the_board_maker|this note]] in the more comprehensive [[geda:PCB tips]]

==== How do I design a PCB? ====
This is well beyond the scope of this FAQ.
There are a few tips at
  * [[wp>Printed circuit board]]
  * http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Practical_Electronics/PCB_Layout

==== Yes, but how do I design a PCB with pcb? ====
Generally, you start with a schematic, run gsch2pcb to generate the netlist.
See [[FAQ-gsch2pcb]]. Then you might go through the [[gsch2pcb tutorial]]

Then you ... Hey, did you know about the [[http://pcb.geda-project.org/pcb-cvs/pcb.html|PCB manual]], the [[PCB tips]], and the [[PCB-quick reference]]?

==== What about footprints? ====
See [[PCB footprints]].

There are also some unofficial gEDA footprints at Open Circuits http://opencircuits.com/PCB_Footprints.

==== I had a hard time to find info on pcb due its ambigous name. Why don't you rename the app? ====
The application is a fairly old project, with roots way back in the era of [[wp>Atari|Atari home computers]]. Its name has always been "pcb". The current developers have no intention to break that tradition.


==== Is there any relation between the gEDA PCB and the opencircuitdesign PCB? ====

[[faq-pcb | gEDA PCB]] and [[http://opencircuitdesign.com/pcb/ | opencircuitdesign PCB]] ?
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