X-Authentication-Warning: delorie.com: mail set sender to geda-user-bounces using -f X-Recipient: geda-user AT delorie DOT com X-ASG-Debug-ID: 1453171996-097fa245b82c248f0001-9re8WH X-Barracuda-Envelope-From: gheskett AT shentel DOT net X-Barracuda-RBL-Trusted-Forwarder: 204.111.2.17 From: "Gene Heskett (gheskett AT shentel DOT net) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com]" X-Barracuda-Effective-Source-IP: n64s149.fttx.shentel.net[204.111.64.149] X-Barracuda-Apparent-Source-IP: 204.111.64.149 X-Barracuda-RBL-IP: 204.111.64.149 To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com Subject: [geda-user] pcb vs gcode export Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2016 21:53:15 -0500 X-ASG-Orig-Subj: pcb vs gcode export User-Agent: KMail/1.9.10 (enterprise35 0.20100827.1168748) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-Id: <201601182153.15624.gheskett@shentel.net> X-Barracuda-Connect: smtp1.edbg.cloud.shentel.net[204.111.2.17] X-Barracuda-Start-Time: 1453171996 X-Barracuda-URL: https://204.111.1.147:443/cgi-mod/mark.cgi X-Barracuda-Scan-Msg-Size: 3702 X-Virus-Scanned: by bsmtpd at cloud.shentel.net X-Barracuda-BRTS-Status: 1 X-Barracuda-BRTS-Evidence: geneslinuxbox.net X-Barracuda-Spam-Score: 0.50 X-Barracuda-Spam-Status: No, SCORE=0.50 using per-user scores of TAG_LEVEL=1000.0 QUARANTINE_LEVEL=1000.0 KILL_LEVEL=6.0 tests=WEIRD_PORT X-Barracuda-Spam-Report: Code version 3.2, rules version 3.2.3.26254 Rule breakdown below pts rule name description ---- ---------------------- -------------------------------------------------- 0.50 WEIRD_PORT URI: Uses non-standard port number for HTTP Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com Greetings; Since I have a milling machine capable of doing PCB's, albeit slow as molasses since the spindle's tongue is hanging out and dripping on the floor at 2650 rpm's. But it works. Which is ATM more than I can say for the gcode exporter. It leaves out thru holes, or makes them the wrong size, as in too big, destroying the pad itself. This missing holes also affects the bottom etching file, skipping the peck with the engraving tool in the center of the pad, and despite being told to peck that about 5 thou deeper, it doesn't even make it thru the copper. But I am fairly decent, not a guru, but capable of fixing a line of code here and there, so I was able to add the peck the hold in the pad without a lot of hacking around. So that did cut what was a usable bottom(solder) side of the board. Then, attacking the drillmill file, I found the bit of code that needed help by mouse clicking on the line in the LCNC backplot to locate it in the code, first adding the missing holes with a straight drill of 0.03125 diameter. But some holes were still either too big or tool small. Using the point and click, I found it in the code, and except for the original placement move, I ripped out the octagonal carving code and did a straight drill. Checking the sizes, I added a global var to the gcode file which served as the additional radius the hole needed to be the right size. Setting it for 3 to 6 thousandths, and calling a circle cutter subroutine, I was able to fine tune the hole sizes. So then I coded up a step & repeat, and made the circuit 4 up. I populated the first one last night but ran out of giddyup, so it got tested today, works great. So today, I had pcb make some Gerber's that I could look at with gerbv. No missing holes, but since it was working with the .pcb file, the holes were still mostly too small. So, my wish list is: 1. Make a library pad patterns adjustable in the editor, both for interlead spacing, and the pad OD and hole size, using a unit of measure we are familiar with. Maybe it can be done to the copy in memory, but its not obvious from the current screen the device editor menu shows a new bee. 2. Fix the gcode export menu so it saves the last set of "makeit" settings even if I don't load pcb again for a month, and reloads them when next called. Continuity would be very handy, almost on a par with sliced bread and bottled beer. 3. Fix the missing drill holes in the gcode exporter. Not everyone is as familiar with LinuxCNC and gcode as I am, and I am by no means a guru. For probably 75% of the people who might use that code to directly generate the gcode files, and who often depend on a CAM program to generate the code they run, this is for those people, an absolute show stopper. 4. I have no facilities to lay down a solder mask, and being able to do that would be a huge help, but I haven't the foggiest where to start. Hints about that gleefully read and noted to see if its practical when I haven't had a working chemical darkroom set up since about 1977 when I moved to a new office where the door said Chief Engineer, at a tv station that is no more. That was also the title on the door for the last 18 years of my working carrear which ended 13.5 years ago. I am now 81 and counting. Any help that can be put into PCB in these areas will be appreciated, a lot. Thank you. Cheers, Gene Heskett -- "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) Genes Web page