I'm familiar with "DXF" files...Autocad right? I've been using auto cad
for years. This is my first time using it for PCB layout. I've been trying
to get a menu set up within the program to add components a little quicker
than inserting blocks. Another problem I have is getting it from the DWG
file to something I can transfer to a board. I'm new to electronics, and
find PCB design very interesting. Any Ideas?
Bob Bozarth
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Marconett KM6VV" <KM6VV@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 6:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Mechanical PCB etching
> Hi Tony!
>
> Yes, surprise, surprise! To do the outlines from a Gerber file, I build
> a table of nodes (typically the pads), and add connection data to each
> entry. the connection data is the number of the pad to connect to, and
> the trace width to use. Other data in the node is the location of the
> node, size/type of pad, an the parent pad.
>
> I then "transverse" the "nets" of the list, and output (for now) PLC
> code (point, line, circle for Vector) for each arc or line segment
> needed to draw a net. Each net must go completely around all pads and
> traces that are connected together in a net.
>
> Well, it's working, at least for SIMPLE layouts. No funny "stacks" of
> multiple traces on top on one another. Just the simple stuff.
>
> PLC's for now, which quickly allows me to "see" the completed nets,
> later it's an easy step to generate gcode instead. It's just as if you
> "traced" all around a net. It's been a challenging program to write!
>
> I started off thinking I could generate the outlines of the pads and
> traces in Vector CAD/CAM, but anything more then a couple of pads and
> traces was either too much for it, or required too much manual selection
> to make it work. I have wanted to do this kind of program since I got
> my first IBM PC.
>
> Sounds like you're doing a "flood fill" approach. That would remove ALL
> the unwanted copper. It could work, however the work I've seen has been
> outlines. Eagle can do the outlines, but as I said, I've always wanted
> to do this program!
>
> Dolphin sounds interesting, but I'd hate to spend the time (and money)
> to learn it, since I'm already using Vector. The free 4-th axis does
> sound interesting!
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
> Tony Jeffree wrote:
> >
> > Hi Alan -
> >
> > We meet again ;-)
> >
> > I will be interested to hear how you get on - strikes me that generating
an
> > outline from Gerber is potentially non-trivial. Would love to make use
of
> > any results you generate though!
> >
> > Am also looking at the possibility of using DXF track layout output &
> > importing that into Dolphin, then treating the tracks as a series of
> > "islands" for an area clear. Might just work, depending on how smart
> > Dolphin proves to be, but doing it that way may prove rather (mill) time
> > consuming compared with the outline approach. Waiting for the CD to
> > arrive... <sound of drumming fingers...>
> >
> > Regards,
> > Tony
>
>
>
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