Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] PC Board Design software-G-code & trace isolation

On Friday 25 May 2001 18:28, you wrote:

> Brian -
>
> I downloaded the demo but can't find how to export g-code or do trace
> isolation. How is it done??
>
> TIA,
>
> Carlos Guillermo
> VERVE Engineering & Design

I learned most of this on Eagle-3.55 and some of the details have changed in
version 4 but this should get you started

1:G-code

there are realy a few ways to output G-code from eagle
last time I did it I edited one of the machine definitions in the eagle.def
file to a close match of what I wanted and then had to change the number
format for the coordinates in a text editor (search&replace-all a few times)
after running the CAM job from eagle

you could also run the CAM job with the HPGL definition and then
run the plot file thru a conversion program

but probably the best way is to use the eagle2emc.pl Perl script from
Henry Palonen's Penguin CNC page
http://www.yty.net/cnc/
or use the online version at
http://www.yty.net/cnc/eagle2emc.html

(Perl for windows can be found at http://www.cpan.org/ports/#win32)

this will take the GERBER code (rs274X) from the CAM output and convert it
to fairly generic G-code for EMC (rs274NGC)

or if you get into the Eagle User Language Programing (sorta 'C/C++'ish)
you could probably output the right code straight from the board
(the outlines.ulp can produce HPGL files this way)

2:trace isolation

I was doing this in Eagle-3.55 by using mill2.ulp or mill3.ulp
from the 'download->user files' page at www.cadsoft.de
to outline the traces
mill3 leaves the ground traces un-milled and connected to
the flood fill copper ground plane of the board

Eagle-4.0x includes a utility called outlines.ulp that does prety much
the same thing but you may have to leave the ground signals un-routed
and delete or break the isolation path arround the gnd pins

when you go to run the CAM processor select only the layers you want
to output on each side of the board (mirroring the bottom) and the output
device to produce the file you will be converting (HPGL ,Gerber or your own)
and run it for as many layers as you need
top,bottom ,drills
maybe holes or milling out the board outline
use an ink pen in the spindle for the silk screen layer documentation and such

then convert the files ,backplot to confirm and run them on the mill

Brian