[CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Eagle drill-files (was: faster steppers)

Alan,
Well, I didn't draw the schematic in Eagle so I can't help you there. I used
CircuitMaker5.04 but unfortunatly I lost my own-parts-library so the
schematicfile won't open now so all I got is the JPG :-((
I can't say if Eagle can import .dxf or orcad files but I can tell you how
to make exellon drill files so that you can drill the board on your CNC:

1: Layout the board and save it.
2: Click File/Run and select DrillCfg.ulp - click OK
Now you have DrillRack file in the same directory that the board is.
3: Click File/CAM Processor.
4: In the CAM Processor, click File/Open/Job and select Exellon.cam
5: Click File/Open/Board and select the board. You must have generated the
DrillRack-file.
6: Click Process Job.

Now you have file in your board-directory that ends with .drd which looks
something like this:
%
T01
X1121Y874
X1121Y974
etc.
etc.

The X&Y cordinates are in mil's so you may have to make a separate .ini file
for your controler. I use Stepster to drill my boards. The only thing I need
to do is edit the generated board.drd file like this:

'Canned drill cycle. first hole at 1121,874. deep: 130, clearence: 30
downfeed 50
%
T01
G81 X1121 Y874 Z-130 R30 F50
X1121Y974
X1121Y1074
X1121Y1174
etc
etc

The above steps is for Eagle3.55 but I don't think it's any different in
v4.0.
I haven't come up with a good way to align the board on the machine table so
that the drill 'hits' the center of the pads. So what I do is that I mirror
the board in Eagle before I run the CAM processor and the drill the board
before I etch it - much easier.

I didn't know it could output G-code direct. If you find out how, let me
know.

Good luck!
/Henrik Olsson.

----- Original Message -----
> Hi Henrik,
>
> The latest Eagle 4.1 (?) will read the board file just fine; do you
> happen to have the schematic (.SCH) file also? I saw the .JPG file.
>
> What I really wish Eagle would do is allow imports from Orcad or
> .DXF's. I'm gonna check their download area again. I seem to recall a
> "user" file area. Something there?
>
> I also want to generate a Gcode file from the board layout. ONCE I
> figure it out.
>
> Thanks again for the files.
>
> Alan KM6VV