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Subject: Re: TCi PCB program

From: Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@...>
Date: 2002-05-02

Hi John,

No, I hadn't seen target. Similar to Eagle? 100 pins limit, might be a
little tight. I'm thinking that I will probably upgrade on Eagle, IF I
can ever get time to learn it!

Inches WOULD be easier! I can get the MM/IN translation done by Vector
CAD/CAM, and I'm thinking I can put a parm in my program to do it for
me.

What sort of board did you do in TCI? Which output did you use? I've
posted a simple TCI file of a trace with it's corresponding (generated)
CNC file.

Alan KM6VV


crankorgan wrote:
>
> Hi Alan,
> I am hoping my next PCs are less complicated. I spent
> days getting my DXF file just right. I tried every program there
> is. The TCI program is very easy to use. Hopefully it will be
> made in inches.
>
> Have you looked at Target?
>
> http://www.ibfriedrich.com/
>
> I got several programs to work on simple boards. I found
> drawing in DXF lets me tweek pads and traces at will. If I could
> find a simple way to get isolation and efficiency I would
> switch. Right now I have burned out doing my last board. The
> boards keep getting larger and larger. I have to do all kinds of
> tricks in order to mill a board with only one bit.
>
> John
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...> wrote:
> > Hi John, Dave,
> >
> > I finally found the URL for TCi. There are some additional EMP's
> there,
> > if you are interested.
> >
> > I emailed Bruno about the Gerber header, and asked if a later
> version
> > will support INCHES. We'll see if he cares to reply (I used
> babelfish
> > to translate to French), as well as sending English.
> >
> > I've found TCI quite easy to use, after I got past the French (not
> > hard).
> >
> > With the addition of an additional parser for the header, I've been
> able
> > to read the RS-274X files generated, and convert them to Gcode. I'm
> > still working on the algorithms, but it IS a nice way to generate
> simple
> > board layouts!
> >
> > Are others interested in this? Will work with Eagle too, Although
> Eagle
> > is a bear to learn, IMO. I don't expect to do complicated designs,
> but
> > as long as one can "finish them up" in CAD (by importing the Gcode),
> > then it should suit my needs.
> >
> > What have you done with TCI? I thought I'd post a simple trace from
> > TCI, and it's Gcode result.
> >
> > http://b.urbani.free.fr/index.htm
> >
> > Alan KM6VV