Re: CAM Expert software, Vector CAM, offsets, PCB's
Posted by
Alan Marconett KM6VV
on 2001-08-02 11:03:20 UTC
Hi Jerry,
The full Vector CAD/CAM generates Gcodes! You don't need ACE if you
have it! :>)
Draw a part on one layer, select it, "draw, other curves, offset". Now
you have a tool path. Save the DXF file. I believe ACE will allow you
to select the layers, otherwise, you may want to just copy the tool path
to another drawing, and then you can save JUST the tool path. I've done
that to test some of my own DXF code. In fact, I've been playing with
an idea of parsing Gerber files, and using either PLC (Vector input
format) or DXF formats to generate (draw) the specified "objects" (pads
and traces), and then import them into Vector. Once in vector, I can do
the offsets, and I have a milling file for a PCB!
Kellyware can do Gerber's (RS274X), but it didn't like mine from work
(Pads, I think). DesKAM can also take a DXF drawing (from your favorite
CAD program) of pads and traces, and do the offsets for you. I've
played with that too.
I'd like to use Eagle (RS-274D files) :>( to generate a PCB layout, and
then process it for either milling or commercial etching.
Alan KM6VV
Carol & Jerry Jankura wrote:
The full Vector CAD/CAM generates Gcodes! You don't need ACE if you
have it! :>)
Draw a part on one layer, select it, "draw, other curves, offset". Now
you have a tool path. Save the DXF file. I believe ACE will allow you
to select the layers, otherwise, you may want to just copy the tool path
to another drawing, and then you can save JUST the tool path. I've done
that to test some of my own DXF code. In fact, I've been playing with
an idea of parsing Gerber files, and using either PLC (Vector input
format) or DXF formats to generate (draw) the specified "objects" (pads
and traces), and then import them into Vector. Once in vector, I can do
the offsets, and I have a milling file for a PCB!
Kellyware can do Gerber's (RS274X), but it didn't like mine from work
(Pads, I think). DesKAM can also take a DXF drawing (from your favorite
CAD program) of pads and traces, and do the offsets for you. I've
played with that too.
I'd like to use Eagle (RS-274D files) :>( to generate a PCB layout, and
then process it for either milling or commercial etching.
Alan KM6VV
Carol & Jerry Jankura wrote:
>
> Alan:
>
> I thought that Vector provided the G-Codes for the machine, if you bought
> the "full" package. If that's the case, why use ACE? If not, are you saying
> that we can use VectorCAD to handle tool offsets and build a drawing of the
> toolpaths that can be exported to a DXF for further processing? If so, how
> do you do it? (I've got the OEM version that Fred's been selling)
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- Jerry Jankura
> So many toys, so little time....
>
> | -----Original Message-----
> | From: Alan Marconett KM6VV [mailto:KM6VV@...]
> | Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 9:35 PM
> | To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> | Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: CAM Expert software
> |
>
> | I don't believe ACE does the tool compensation. That's why you want to
> | use Vector to do the offsets. THEN export .DXF to ACE.
> |
>
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