[PCB_FORUM] Re: Schematic drafting practices

Hi Bill,

I currently provide field support for some of the products I design, and
yes, the field service guys do sometimes need to find power/ground pins
(more so ground).  They LIKE to use the printed schematics, instead of a
dinky notebook screen.  They have their own notes on their copy of the
schematics.  And yes, the designs we do are world-wide, some out of this
world, and some inside this world.  Whether it's an important issue for you
or not, doesn't really mean it isn't an important one for others.

But...I am still curious how does someone verify the power/ground pins that
go into the netlist are correct if you don't have these pins visible on the
schematics?

Also, what is the downside to showing all the pins on the schematic?  You
have to specify them somewhere...so it's not more work.  It's only
real-estate on the page.  I've personally never had to make another page
just to show them.  I typically have a decoupling cap page, that these
symbols can go on in the case of large parts.

Regards,

Austin


> -----Original Message-----
> From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Bill Dempsey
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:01 PM
> To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Schematic drafting practices
>
>
> I would like to hear from those who have done this more recently than the
> last 5 years. Technology is changing! Everyone is online now.
> I have *not* seen service guys hunting p/g pins since before
> 2000!  It's NOT
> been an issue for us and our designs are in use world-wide.
> Time to change philosophy?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Austin Franklin
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:30 PM
> To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Schematic drafting practices
>
> Hi Alan,
>
> Exactly!  I've also been in field service, and yes, that information is
> critical, whether in a printed manual, or in PDF.  It also points out uses
> for the schematics other than simply generating a netlist.  And that this
> use may not entail the native tool used to draw the schematics.
> Making the
> schematics more useful for all the intended (and sometimes unintended)
> purposes is very important, IMO.
>
> Regards,
>
> Austin
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Ritter, Alan
> > Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 11:17 AM
> > To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Schematic drafting practices
> >
> >
> > Just out of curiosity, what about field service guys who may not
> > have ready access to online (on-disc) .pdf files?  Having all
> > information available in the schematic as either a table or
> > explicit pinouts seems critical for field service activities.
> >
> > (Grated, my viewpoint is from that of a medical capital equipment
> > manufacturer with a field service force, not a manufacturer of
> > consumer goods that are throwaways and never "fixed" in the
> normal sense.)
> >
> > /s/jar (Alan Ritter, alan.ritter@xxxxxxxxxx)
> >         http://www.mtritter.org
> >
> >
> > Just a few comments from my side of the world. I have to use my own
> > schematics in the lab as I am the EE who is forced to use his own work
> > (schematics, layouts, silkscreen!!, documentation).  I *never* use the
> > power/ground table nor do I use the individual pinned out symbols
> > -- in the
> > case where the symbol is huge (FPGA, processor).  I use PDF!  I hotlink
> > everything in the lab to PDF now and have monitors around where
> > online data
> > (local, www) is at your fingertips.  When using OrCAD, the P/G for large
> > symbols is placed as its own part with individual pins.  In Concept, the
> > hidden P/G through size is used with and without the table.
> Tables are no
> > longer generated as we find they are a waste of time. For small analog
> > parts, the VCC/GND pins are individually instantiated.
> >
> > Over the last 25 yrs I have seen schematics change from draftsman-drawn
> > blueprints to modern CAD schematics.  I know what *hands-on* guys
> > are using
> > in the lab.  I've managed labs. I've debugged.  I've layed out.
> > I've built
> > symbols.  Power and Ground needs to be your company philosophy --
> > but don't
> > force something on someone until YOU'VE used your own
> documentation RULES
> > and learned the pros and cons of the rules.
> >
> > BD

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