>
> Alan,
> As you combine traces they get puffy and they start to look
> like cartoons rather than traces. Years ago (I am 50)each trace was
> a seperate pad trace pad. Then companies that made TVs started
> increasing the width of the traces. After awhile the boards had
> larger and larger traces. Large ground traces. I think this was to
> save on acid during etching. Then when digital hit the traces got
> thinner again. Long thin traces riding over barren sections of
> boards. I have always tried to leave as much copper on the board as
> possible. I had acid poop out on me once because I tried to remove
> too much copper. I learned a valuable lesson that day.
>
> John
>
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...> wrote:
> > Hi John,
> >
> > Thanks for the reference to TCI! Generates Gerber 274X, but I can
> > extract the apertures by hand (my code doesn't do that... yet). Is
> this
> > the test file you were speaking of? Looks short enough. When I get
> > time, I'll run it through my program. I don't have the elliptical
> pads,
> > 'tho.
> >
> > Yes, These programs should form a common base for our efforts. And
> TCI
> > might be a little simpler then Eagle, which I still haven't found
> time
> > to learn (I managed to generate Gerber files of their DemoR1 board,
> > 'tho).
> >
> > OK, I see that now. Ground pads. Makes sense. Your boards look
> like
> > cartoons? How so?
> >
> > Yes, simple is best. But I often like to explore the "blue sky",
> for
> > self edification, mostly.
> >
> > Alan KM6VV
> >
> >
> > crankorgan wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Alan,
> > > Please note most people in the group will be using Kcam-
> > > TurboCad or Eagle. You seem to have a handle on the situation. The
> > > TCI program I got in the files section here I beleive. The
> program is
> > > in French? After you draw the circuit board. Save it! Then hit
> > > Gerber! A Gerber file of the same name will appear in the
> directory
> > > where you save the board file.
> > >
> > > You mentioned circles that don't meet in my DXF file.
> Sounds
> > > like a Ground Pad. On boards I sell to the public I outline a
> ground
> > > connection for parts or wire on three sides. My new boards look
> like
> > > cartoons. After I get the board working I go back and combine
> traces
> > > with only a common border. Since a board is stuffed from the
> component
> > > side I am taking out unnecessary cuts. My first boards were done
> this
> > > way. I can get two large boards per bit. Milling time is also cut
> in
> > > half.
> > >
> > > Just remember I try to keep things cheap and simple.
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...>
> wrote:
> > > > Hi again John,
> > > >
> > > > Not to beat a point to death (or belittle a fine product), but
> > > FREEWARE
> > > > KCam might not be the best example of generating Gcode from a
> Gerber
> > > > file! And as you say, it's generating EIGHT SIDES (like you
> do),
> > > not a
> > > > SINGLE ARC, as I've said can be done.
> > > >
> > > > My program (actually just a FUNCTION in my controller program)
> is
> > > still
> > > > quite LIMITED in what it can do with a Gerber file
> > > (not "automatic" by
> > > > any means), but I'd LOVE a new sample of Gerber of "real work".
> > > I've
> > > > been able to do most of "DEMO1R" file that they supply.
> > > >
> > > > I was not able to get KCam to read my Gerber files, so I know
> > > little of
> > > > KCam.
> > > >
> > > > Yes, the "Traveling Salesman Problem" affects all such
> machining,
> > > board
> > > > stuffing, etc. You are lucky in that you can "hand optimize"
> the
> > > order
> > > > of your cuts. I'll just import into Vector CAD/CAM, and let
> Vector
> > > do
> > > > it for me. Or I can select the closed "trace cuts" in the
> order I
> > > want
> > > > (the trace cuts themselves will already be ordered properly).
> > > >
> > > > That is until I decide that TSP's an interesting problem to
> solve,
> > > and
> > > > apply it to my own code! No rush!
> > > >
> > > > I'd love to examine the Eagle (TCI3?) and/or Gerber files for
> your
> > > test,
> > > > if you wouldn't mind. What is TCI3? TurboCad?? Is your file
> > > RS274X or
> > > > RS274D? 'X' has a "header" in the file with all the aperture
> data,
> > > > while 'D' usually has an additional file (wheel file) with the
> > > > apertures. Can you supply?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for your contributions to this list!
> > > >
> > > > Alan KM6VV
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > crankorgan wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Group,
> > > > > I made a test pcb in TCI3. I saved it as a Gerber
> file. I
> > > > > then put it in KCam. The round pads became eight sided shapes.
> > > > > Forty-two pads became over 1000 lines of code. The Gcode drew
> the
> > > pads
> > > > > in the same order I drew them in TCI3. So I suspect if you
> don't
> > > want
> > > > > your machine to spend more time traveling than cutting you
> better
> > > > > have a plan.
> > > > > I will admit I have very little experence with
> Gerber.
> > > But I
> > > > > get the feeling the "Traveling Salesman Sydrome" is hiding
> there
> > > > > also. Plotting out a PCBoard with a good PLT file is much
> faster
> > > than
> > > > > a GCode file run on a homemade PCBMill. A Sherline or Taig
> > > running at
> > > > > 10,000 rpm can only cut circuit boards at 5" per minute. So
> do a
> > > test
> > > > > board before it is too late!
> > > > >
> > > > > John
>
>
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