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Subject: Re: TCi PCB program

From: "crankorgan" <john@...>
Date: 2002-05-02

Hi Alan,
After I made a test board. I then saved it to a directory.
Then I found when I clicked on Gerber a set of Gerber files
appeared in that directory. I was then able to import one of them
into KCam. In KCam I might be able to rescale the drawing
to inches. If I get time I will give it a shot.

John



--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...> wrote:
> 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