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Date: Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:55:53 -0500
From: Gus Fantanas <fantanas AT innocent DOT com>
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To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
CC: Charles Lepple <clepple AT gmail DOT com>
Subject: Re: [geda-user] slots in pcb
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Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com

On 11/06/2011 10:21 AM, Charles Lepple wrote:
> On Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 7:18 AM, gene glick<geneglick AT optonline DOT net>  wrote:
>> PCB has not yet developed a slot mechanism.  So, I was wondering if anyone
>> has tried to make a slot by placing several overlapping vias in a row to
>> approximate the slot?  Seems to me the pcb fab shop might not like it since
>> the drill bit will wander around.
> Depending on where you send the board, you might just be able to mark
> an outline on the fab drawing as a slot, and they can cut it with a
> router bit. I'm pretty sure I did this with 4PCB.com once.
>
In my case, I am given a DXF file with the board outline, slots, holes, 
etc. I then import it to PCB (import it to qCAD, print it as ps; convert 
it to encapsulated ps with 'ps2epsi'; convert it to pcb using 'pstoedit' 
with the '-usbbfrominput' and '-f pcb' options), so I have the slots in 
PCB. I've dealt with Sunstone Circuits, who told me they can cut the 
slots if I choose their full-feature service, but not the quick 
turnaround service. So, I guess you could draw your slots in qCAD or 
Inkscape and import them to PCB.

In fact, it seems to me you can let other programs, such as qCAD and 
Inkscape, do whatever PCB cannot do very well—with the exception of 
buried/blind vias and, perhaps, rotations by angles which are not 
multiples of 90 degrees.