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Mail Archives: geda-user/2012/12/23/12:42:27

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Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:43:07 +0100
From: Leonardo Guardati <leonardo AT guardati DOT it>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: [geda-user] PCB: gcode export: missing drill file
Message-ID: <20121223174307.GD2518@guardati.it>
References: <20121223154752 DOT GC2518 AT guardati DOT it>
<50D72EAE DOT 6010307 AT estechnical DOT co DOT uk>
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On Sun, Dec 23, 2012 at 04:17:50PM +0000, Ed Simmons wrote:
> On 23/12/12 15:47, Leonardo Guardati wrote:
> >Hi to all,
> >
> >      I've got a  problem exporting  gcode drill file from PCB.
> >
> >Here the situation.
> >
> >I'm new to gEDA, but I managed to  capture a  schematic  using
> >gschem, then passing it to PCB for layout.
> >I exported  the  gcode of the  board  and used it with EMC2 to
> >mill the actual board.
> >
> >Now I need to drill the holes for through-hole elements.
> >
> >I'm using PCB 20110918.
> >
> >When I export gcode, PCB generate 4 files:
> >    name.gcode.group1.cnc (and .png)
> >    name.gcode.top.cnc    (and .png)
> >
> >The *.gcode.top.cnc file has got the tracks.
> >The *.gcode.group1.cnc has got the pins.
> >
> >Reading PCB  Manual for  20110918 (  section 3.9.2 about gcode
> >export) it says:
> >"A drill file is also generated, and it  contains  all  drills
> >  regardless  of  the  hole  size;  the  drilling  sequence  is
> >  optimized in order to require  the least amount of movement."
> >
> >[I've checked the  previous and  the next manual versions, and
> >they don't have this section.]
> >
> >I  suppose  the  *.gcode.group1.cnc  file  is  the drill file.
> >
> >_Here is the problem_.
> >
> >There  is  no  drill info, just the drawing of the pins on the
> >board surface.
> >
> >I would  expect to see on emc2 a path  going 2mm (for example)
> >below the plane containing the other tracks.
> >
> >Am I missing something? Is this a missing compile-time option?
> >
> >
> >Leonardo.
> 
> Hi Leonardo,
> 
> Have you opened the generated drill file in a text editor?
> 
> It ought to have a drill depth variable in there for you to adjust
> in the header. Also, I found recently that if you don't have
> something drawn (eg a trace or rectangle of copper) on both top and
> bottom layers, sometimes no drill file is output.

That was the problem! :D

I drawn a little rectangle on the bottom layer and now 2 additional
file (.cnc) are generated:
 
  somename.gcode.bottom.cnc (and .png)
  somename.gcode.drill.cnc

I saw the parameter about the depth; is named #101 (drill depth)


I've checked the drill file on emc2 and it looked like I expected.

> 
> The .cnc files are not the drill files, IIRC the drill file is
> called somename.drill.gcode.
> 

Here with PCB 20110918 the name is: somename.gcode.drill.cnc

> I hope that helps - I'm glad to see someone's getting on with
> something productive despite the festive season ;)
> 

Yes you saved me a lot of time! Thank you.

I think a little note could be added to the manual page to help
others understand why the drill file is not created.

http://pcb.geda-project.org/pcb-20110918/pcb.html#gcode


*** pcb.html	2012-12-23 18:34:41.121253206 +0100
--- pcb-mod.html	2012-12-23 18:38:05.997691892 +0100
***************
*** 2045,2054 ****
--- 2045,2056 ----
  
     </p><p>A drill file is also generated, and it contains all drills regardless of the hole
  size; the drilling sequence is optimized in order to require the least amount of
  movement.
  
+ </p><p><b>Note:</b> The drill file is generated only if the bottom layer is not empty.
+ 
     </p><p>The export function generates an intermediate raster image before extracting the contour
  of copper elements, and this image is saved as well (in .png format) for inspection.
  
     </p><p>When the spacing between two elements is less than the tool diameter they will merge
  and no isolation will be cut between them; the control image should be checked for




I don't know if this apply to newer versions too.


> Best,
> Ed
> 

Thank you.

Leonardo.

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