Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] SuperCam & PCB Trace Milling Software

Dennis,

My goal is two sided boards, 4" x 6" or so, with PIC or 8051 processor
projects. I also have a 4-axis Cy545 design in mind (in OrCAD), that
I'd like to be able to do. Otherwise, it's wirewrap time! I have a
Sherline Mill, so I'm actually out of space already. Small boards like
Far Circuits routinely does would be reasonable (Yes if Far has them, I
BUY them).

DXF into Gerber, That SHOULD be available soon from ViewCompanions.
What are you doing with the Gerbers? Sending them out?

I'm still running 4-phase MAXNC Driver/motors, do you support them? I
plan to upgrade to bigger motors and step/direction; but I just spent my
budget on a CNC rotary table, tilting angle table, and other goodies!
I'm REALLY anxious to get the rotary table under CNC. Are you doing
4-axis? I haven't seen your website for a while.

Alan


Dennis Bohlke wrote:

>
> My problem has been getting DXF files to Gerber format mostly.
>
> I wonder how complex a PCB you are trying to fabricate? My intent was to
> make it feasible to engrave simple single sided circuits. I wanted to make
> it so a user could us a TAIG micro mill to do PCB engraving, I think I have
> accomplished the mission.
>
> In the past few months I have added TRIM, EXTEND, OFFSET and EDITI commands
> to SuperCam. There is has been a new pinout configuration added to drive
> the NIST EMC style controllers.
>
> SuperCam also works well with HPGL files.
>
> One of the quirks to using wide poly lines and SuperCam is to first execute
> the SETCORDS command to set the number of cords for arcs and circles to
> minimum value of 32. Other wise all the corners will have far too many
> segments to effectively edit any thing other than an extremely simple
> design.
>
> Dennis
> SuperCam Demo at http://www.super-tech.com/root/scdemo.htm
> Taig Mill at http://www.super-tech.com/root/minimill.htm
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 12:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Help: PCB Trace Milling Software
>
> > Dennis,
> >
> > Sounds interesting. Getting the traces into .DXF is still a problem. I
> > was planning to use ViewCompanion, but .DXF output won't be in until
> > 2.0. And that also depends on what they do with the HPGL files. If
> > they realize that four or five pen lines side by side are a "trace" and
> > generate a .DXF line with width, we may have it. Eagle (PCB layout) and
> > ViewCompanion can also generate Gerber files, which might be easier to
> > convert into "objects" that a CAD/CAM program can generate tool paths
> > for.
> >
> > Well, at least that's my observations for now. I would think there
> > would be a market for low cost CAD/CAM software that can create
> > "objects" from either Gerber or HPGL plots of small boards. Ztrace
> > looks like it might do it, I'm checking it now (well, it didn't like
> > THAT file), and Deskam2000 is a definate possibility! And yes, I'd like
> > to checkout SuperCam!
> >
> > Alan
> >
> >
> >
> > Dennis Bohlke wrote:
> > >
> > > If you can create a DXF file with polylines that have width. SuperCam
> can
> > > read them an then the OFFSET command can be used to create the tool
> offsets.
> > >
> > > The Demo version will G-code files.
> > > http://www.super-tech.com/root/scdemo.htm
> > >
> > > I just got this part working.
> > >
> > > Dennis Bohlke
> > >
> > > --