Comments for Big Mess o' Wires http://www.bigmessowires.com A home-built CPU, and other messy electronics adventures Thu, 17 May 2012 20:13:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Fun With Fonts by Tom Happ http://www.bigmessowires.com/2009/01/08/fun-with-fonts/#comment-38118 Tom Happ Thu, 17 May 2012 20:13:21 +0000 http://www.bigmessowires.com/2009/01/08/fun-with-fonts/#comment-38118 Thanks for this post. I was trying to see if an 8x16 font my work better for my game than an 8x8. Now at least I have some imagery to pack up that hypothesis. Thanks for this post. I was trying to see if an 8×16 font my work better for my game than an 8×8. Now at least I have some imagery to pack up that hypothesis.

]]> Comment on Eagle vs. KiCad by Habanero http://www.bigmessowires.com/2010/05/03/eagle-vs-kicad/#comment-38111 Habanero Wed, 16 May 2012 18:38:19 +0000 http://www.bigmessowires.com/2010/05/03/eagle-vs-kicad/#comment-38111 For the auto footprint assignmenet, when you create a library, add the footprint name in the "module" field. I've been using that for a couple years now, works awesome. You can also restrict libraries for a certain component to footprint using a specific format of name using wildcards (I use RF_* for reflow components). The menu to do that is "properties"-> "footprint filter" in the library editor. Kicad also has a huuuuuuge plus: the file formats. having everything in ascii is AWESOME, you can create parts with a single copy/paste. Once you learn how the component fields in the ascii file works, you can create components in seconds, litteraly. Plus, it works that much better with VCS softwares for collaborative work. As for vias, you have to add a ground trace, then it works. If you're using ground planes, it shouldn't matter. as for changing the layer of a trace. The KiCAD team is movng fast lately, I'd suggest you use the snapshots listed on the wiki as they are very stable (even if some newly added functions may be buggy) and you get a lot of new features everytime. For the auto footprint assignmenet, when you create a library, add the footprint name in the “module” field.
I’ve been using that for a couple years now, works awesome. You can also restrict libraries for a certain component to footprint using a specific format of name using wildcards (I use RF_* for reflow components). The menu to do that is “properties”-> “footprint filter” in the library editor.

Kicad also has a huuuuuuge plus: the file formats. having everything in ascii is AWESOME, you can create parts with a single copy/paste. Once you learn how the component fields in the ascii file works, you can create components in seconds, litteraly.
Plus, it works that much better with VCS softwares for collaborative work.

As for vias, you have to add a ground trace, then it works. If you’re using ground planes, it shouldn’t matter. as for changing the layer of a trace.

The KiCAD team is movng fast lately, I’d suggest you use the snapshots listed on the wiki as they are very stable (even if some newly added functions may be buggy) and you get a lot of new features everytime.

]]> Comment on Finally! by Steve Chamberlin http://www.bigmessowires.com/2012/04/10/finally/#comment-37989 Steve Chamberlin Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:49:20 +0000 http://www.bigmessowires.com/?p=750#comment-37989 Actually the real thing is slightly faster. The data transfer rate is the same (and is fixed by the Mac hardware), but the order in which sectors are presented by the emulator seems to result in less efficient seek performance than a real floppy. I need to look into that further. Actually the real thing is slightly faster. The data transfer rate is the same (and is fixed by the Mac hardware), but the order in which sectors are presented by the emulator seems to result in less efficient seek performance than a real floppy. I need to look into that further.

]]> Comment on Finally! by Adam Renie http://www.bigmessowires.com/2012/04/10/finally/#comment-37988 Adam Renie Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:20:35 +0000 http://www.bigmessowires.com/?p=750#comment-37988 Congratulations! Is there a noticeable speed up in disk access with the emulator versus the real thing? Congratulations! Is there a noticeable speed up in disk access with the emulator versus the real thing?

]]> Comment on Plus Too by Ian http://www.bigmessowires.com/plus-too/#comment-37984 Ian Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:58:14 +0000 http://www.bigmessowires.com/?page_id=505#comment-37984 This is an amazing project! I can't wait to see where it goes from here! This is an amazing project! I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!

]]> Comment on Soldering Self-Confidence by gas plumbing http://www.bigmessowires.com/2011/11/13/soldering-self-confidence/#comment-37949 gas plumbing Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:10:42 +0000 http://www.bigmessowires.com/?p=604#comment-37949 Due in part to concerns over lead poisoning, a variety of other metals are also used in soldering wire. Certain governments have enacted laws that require these lead free solders, while others provide tax benefits for using them.Some materials that have replaced lead in soldering wire include silver, antimony, copper, and zinc. Due in part to concerns over lead poisoning, a variety of other metals are also used in soldering wire. Certain governments have enacted laws that require these lead free solders, while others provide tax benefits for using them.Some materials that have replaced lead in soldering wire include silver, antimony, copper, and zinc.

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