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From: Philippe Pouliquen (philippe AT alpha DOT ece.jhu.edu)
Date: Mon Mar 17 2003 - 17:19:28 EST

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    On Mon, 17 Mar 2003, Phyllis R. Nelson wrote:
> (Has anyone made a PC board technology file for magic?)
>
> Just wondering.

Yes and no.  The problem is not the technology file -- that's trivial.
The problem is the output file format.  If all you want to do is print
stuff on transparencies (for photosensitive PCB), any techfile will do, so
long as you can print your Magic layout at a controlled scale.

If you want to send your board out for fabrication, then forget it.  You
need to supply something like Gerber format files, and Magic can't produce
them.  Look for a program called 'pcb':
http://pcb.ece.jhu.edu/index.html

If you want to make your own PCBs using Magic and UV sensitive PCBs, I
have written a Magic tech file and a stand-alone program which converts a
flat Magic file to PCL (the native language of HP laser printers).

Alternatively, you can use Tim Edwards' Xcircuit program which will
produce Postscript:
http://xcircuit.ece.jhu.edu/index.html

Be aware that most laser printers will not produce an exactly 1:1 aspect
ratio.  Typically, the printout is slightly stretched in the direction of
the paper feed, and you will need to compensate for this if you are using
large parts with fine pin pitch (e.g. a 40 pin DIP).

Philippe Pouliquen
The Johns Hopkins University

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