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damian_s
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 28
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 07 Aug 2008 15:59 reverse engineering board |
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Hi all,
does anyone know how to reverse engineering any populated board, so that I can make schematics and new pcb design from it?
thanks.
best regard,
damian_s
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Awarapunshee
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 356
Helped: 48
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| 07 Aug 2008 16:35 Re: reverse engineering board |
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First in a PCB software (PCAD, OrCad etc) place the components (parts) as in the board, then make connection by carefully looking at the tracks. Then extract the netlist. In this way you have both PCB and netlist, then you can draw a schematic.
ENJOY!
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majnoon
Joined: 11 Dec 2002
Posts: 200
Helped: 20
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| 07 Aug 2008 17:58 Re: reverse engineering board |
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| then make connection by carefully looking at the tracks |
Really???!!! What if is multi layer board? then one has to use Xray vision to see tracks inside inner layers???!!
Just answering for sake of answering results in nonsensical statements.
M
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kender
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 965
Helped: 70
Location: Stanford, SF Bay Peninsula, California, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way
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| 08 Aug 2008 3:26 Re: reverse engineering board |
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| majnoon wrote: |
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| then make connection by carefully looking at the tracks |
Really???!!! What if is multi layer board? then one has to use Xray vision to see tracks inside inner layers???!! |
Another option would be to buzz them out with a multimeter, although, of course the exact geometry of the traces will remain unknown. A 4-layer board can be done by eye, because the inner layers are probably power and ground planes.
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Awarapunshee
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 356
Helped: 48
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| 08 Aug 2008 5:08 Re: reverse engineering board |
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| majnoon wrote: |
| Quote: |
| then make connection by carefully looking at the tracks |
Really???!!! What if is multi layer board? then one has to use Xray vision to see tracks inside inner layers???!!
Just answering for sake of answering results in nonsensical statements.
M |
In case if it is Multilayer board, then you have to check connectivity from point to point. I have reversed engineered many multilayer board. Xray is not useful option.
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RF-OM
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 607
Helped: 113
Location: The Earth
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| 08 Aug 2008 7:39 Re: reverse engineering board |
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| You can use powerfull light source and see through the layers. Often it can help.
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Awarapunshee
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 356
Helped: 48
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| 08 Aug 2008 9:05 Re: reverse engineering board |
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| RF-OM wrote: |
| You can use powerfull light source and see through the layers. Often it can help. |
Yes some time, But when a (or two) layer (usually ground one) in the inner side have complete copper one can't see through, or some tracks hides behind a big copper track etc etc, the only way left for error free netlist is point to point checking. (its hectic but useful)
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majnoon
Joined: 11 Dec 2002
Posts: 200
Helped: 20
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| 08 Aug 2008 12:44 Re: reverse engineering board |
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| In case if it is Multilayer board, then you have to check connectivity from point to point. |
Usually I work with 12 layers and up which has above 1200 nets and similar amount of components. I dread the thought of buzzing connections on these boards not mentioning I use B&B vias and VIP through out.
M
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madicalphy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Posts: 35
Helped: 3
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| 08 Aug 2008 14:14 Re: reverse engineering board |
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try to undersatnd the logic of board, then find components installed, andthen try to make connection on paper and compelete the project.
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cyberrat
Joined: 19 Jun 2001
Posts: 900
Helped: 31
Location: In the sewers of the U.K.
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| 08 Aug 2008 22:52 reverse engineering board |
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| Send it to china, they will do it all for you
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gasper
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 11
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| 24 Aug 2008 8:14 Re: reverse engineering board |
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It seems that you are joking, but actually you are right.
If you are willing to paying for this, you can find solution.
| cyberrat wrote: |
| Send it to china, they will do it all for you |
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jcheng03
Joined: 11 Jul 2006
Posts: 10
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| 29 Aug 2008 19:00 reverse engineering board |
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| Pay me and I will do that for you. Good price!
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