Hello,
Most pcb layout software of decent quality will output drill files,
which as just described, can be easily modified to become dispensing
files. And there are other ways as well.
And the same can be said for the picn and place aspects. Expensive
ecad will have these sorts of things inherent, and less expensive
types(like Eagle can use ULP's) usually have a mthod to create these
types of files.
Face it, what we're discussing is not brand new to the pcb fab world!
Ballendo
PS. I bet you've already started a reply which says, "But with SMD's
you DON't drill holes..." Gotta think outside the box sometimes, but
the capability is there, and easily obtained.
Quite a lot of answering for something you "won't be doing" anyway<G>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan
> <stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> > What about the software, how do i get the file i need to feed the
> cnc?
> > No point in building a expensive cnc machine and then it is
> impossible to
> > get the right file.
> >
> > I reckon the "generating the file" thing would be even harder if
> one
> > thinks of pick and place?
> >
> >
> > ST
>