LochMaster - Stripboard Project Design Software

Manufacturer: ABACOM

Price: $79.95

LochMaster 3.0 A developers tool for strip board projects

System requirements
Windows 95,98,ME,NT,2000,XP
CD-ROM drive

Innovations of LochMaster 3.0

LochMaster 3.0 is a developer’s tool for quickly designing strip-board projects. It has useful functions for designing, documenting and testing project boards. It features auto-generation of components lists, connection test, an editable library with lots of symbols and components, etc.

The extended library makes the parts look almost like real components. Another excellent feature is the integrated board-editor. You can now create your own boards, if your desired board type is not already defined.

LochMaster displays views of both sides of the board, with both sides editable. You can choose from several board types with different layouts and grids. All required functions, such as wiring, splitting tracks, soldering, placing components, etc. are included and extremely realistic. The well-arranged and extendable library contains lots of items that can be placed on the board, including electric and electronic components, mechanical elements, symbols and labels. LochMaster can create components lists and purchase order lists from the component data. Another very useful function Connection Test displays connected areas of the board, with unused areas being searchable. A project may even contain several perf-boards and many print options are selectable.

The X-ray-function lets components on the other side of the board show through (like back-lighting the board). This helps you to recognize signal paths and the mechanical construction of your board.

The Component Library

In addition to standard-components like resistors, diodes, capacitors, the integrated Component Library includes lots of mechanical elements like screws, nuts and spacers. Because of the very realistic representation of the components, the display looks almost like a real board – a really helpful feature.

Of course you can edit and create your own components and symbols, and you can extend the library as you like.

The Object Assistant helps you to create standard components or often used outlines very easily.

Boards
LochMaster provides many predefinedstandard boards. If your required board is not defined, you can create specific boards with the integrated Board Editor. You can now work with almost every board available.

Components List
A structured Components List can be generated from the component data. Component data like identifiers and values are processed automatically while the board is being edited. The Components List is editable, so you can add purchase order information etc. to the list. This feature is available for predefined components as well as for user-defined components. You can also create an Order List instead of a Components List. In the Order List identical components are grouped together automatically.

Testing
A special feature of LochMaster is the Test Mode. This mode is helpful to follow signal flow and find wanted or unwanted connections. Click on one point of the circuit, and the program will find all areas of the board that are connected directly to that point. Wires, connections, and pins are identified and connected areas marked.

Backside
Anytime you want, you can turn the board and edit the backside. Here you can also place components or wires. The X-ray Function helps you to see the components on the other side show through. The new function "Right Through" turns the board without mirroring, so that you don´t have to think "mirrored".

Printing
Several options are available to print various views of the board. You can print a component mounting plan as well as a mirrored construction aid that shows the position of track splits. A preview shows the result in advance, and allows you easily to change the position of the printout or choose the necessary print options.

Demo Version