Hi Bob,
Yes, the DXF files are a good export file for such work. You may also
be able to use .PLT (plot files).
I don't know about new menus in Autocad, I intend to do board design in
Eagle.
Alan KM6VV
Bob Bozarth wrote:
>
> 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