Homebrew PCBs

Andrew wrote:
>>>andrewm wrote:
>>>Problem here is that you don't get to find
>>>out things like how wide and how long the
>>>file is in pixels until you get to the end
>>>of it.
> 
>>Russel wrote:
>>Just get the PC to re-order the file before
>>sending it.
> 
> 
> The original plan was to not have to write
> ANY software on the PC ('cause we all hate
> doing that).
> 
> It was just going to be use hyper terminal to
> send the TIFF file to the plotter/EDM unit.
> (X-Modem-CRC)
> 
> Seeing as we can't be sure that a TIFF file
> is written in order - I HAVE to write some PC
> software.
> 
> Either software to read a TIFF and re-order
> it so it can be sent OR software to just
> read a BMP/TIFF and send it to the plotter
> myself (without hyper terminal)
> 
> 
>>Decent software decomposes the data (in
>>whatever image format) to specialized control
>>instructions for the machine anyway.
> 
> A Decent machine doesn't need specialised
> control instructions.  It just reads a native
> file from the control source :D

Most "real" machines read G-code, that has been
generated from the original CAD data such as DXF
(gerber is G-codes).

By converting all external data types to one format
suited to the machine, machine complexity is minimized.

> Seeing as my machine does not have enough
> memory to read an abitary TIFF or enough
> bandwidth to read a BMP.  I am going to
> have to compromise and only have a 1/2
> decent machine that needs some special
> control instructions.

Even if it could read tiff, that would mean that any
other data type would need to be converted to tiff.