RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: CNC Milling PCB's

The post processor is not in a state to release yet. It is a set of
scripts that run on a Linux machine.

The Protel part is easier.

1. Make a copy of the PCB file.
2. In the Layers make sure that only the layer you wish to outline and
the multilayer is enabled
3. Set up the rules for 0.001 clearance (0 won't work so it has to be
something small)
4. Set the trace width to the desired isolation width.
5. Do Edit-Select-All
6. Do Tools-Outline selected objects.
7. Delete the selected items.
8. I usually will then do an area select of the pieces I want and copy
them back to a different layer in the origonal PCB file aligned with the
rest of the board.
9. Repeat for other layers.

Then in the Protel CAM manager you can mirror image any layer you need
to for the back if desired.

Chris Coley

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Homann [mailto:peter.homann@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 4:14 PM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: CNC Milling PCB's
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I am also using Protel and have been playing around with the
> "manual" process. I am very interested to hear how you get
> Protel to produce the isolation outline. Are you able to
> share your method and post processor.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Peter Homann
> <mailto:peter.homann@...>
> Work : +61 3 8530-7755
> Adacel Technologies Ltd Fax : +61 3
> 9596-2960
> 250 Bay St, Brighton 3186, VIC, AUSTRALIA Mobile :
> 0421 601665
> http://www.adacel.com.au Australian Software Engineering
> Excellence
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christopher Coley [mailto:ccoley@...]
> Sent: Thursday, 29 November 2001 2:36 AM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: CNC Milling PCB's
>
>
> Much like others are describing. After a week or so of using
> Protel for board layout, use the Protel CAM processor and
> export the gerbers then convert them to eagle scripts to
> import into eagle then converting to outlines and outputing
> G-codes and then post processing them. Also I was taking the
> drill files and seperately processing them. And finally
> taking a board outline and processing that.
>
> And after all that I could not work with oval pads.
>
> The whole process was very manual and a PAIN!
>
> Thanks to some help from this list I can now generate
> outlines in Protel. I also do all the CAD work for the board
> outline. Then I run the Protel CAM processor to get gerbers
> for top layer outline, bottom layer outline, board outline
> (including tool dimensions) and NC drill file for the holes.
>
> I then have a post processor (Basically a scripting program
> and script) that takes the files and converts them to G-Code
> along with tool changes and clearance heights.
>
> Finally I just load the G-Code files into my MaxNC and run
> them in order, getting a completed board out at the end.
>
> This new version uses far less programs works with oval pads
> and is a lot more automated. Plus I have more control in
> Protel as to what happens.
>
> Chris Coley.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tony Jeffree [mailto:tony@...]
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 2:53 AM
> > To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: CNC Milling PCB's
> >
> >
> > Ian -
> >
> > Thanks for the very informative post - it is good to see a clear
> > description of how this can be done, as this is something I
> need to be
> > able to do in the next few weeks.
> >
> > A question though...it sounds like you are using two PCB layout
> > packages - one that generates Gerber output that you then
> post process
> > in Eagle. Wouldn't it be simpler to do the layout in Eagle to
> > start with, or
> > am I missing something here?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Tony
> >
> > At 11:03 27/11/2001 +0000, you wrote:
> > >Around 6 Weeks ago I decided as I had a CNC mill I should
> > produce PCB's
> > >by milling an isolation slot. During investigating the
> > process I posted
> > >to various news groups for information and several people
> > asked me to
> > >let them know the results of my searches.
> >
> >
> >
> > Addresses:
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> >
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> >
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