Homebrew PCBs

I've been evaluating FreePCB for prototype PCBs and it looks like the drill
files are created in mils instead of inches. Also the files use a G6 code
for the drill cycle, which is not recognized by TurboCNC. Does anyone know
of a utility to convert drill files into a more RS274NGC-friendly format?
--
Phil Mattison
http://www.ohmikron.com/
Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software

Hi Phil,

SheetCam <www.sheetcam.com> will do that. The demo version is limited to
about 150 lines of code but if you go to the register page you can
request a free 30 day license.

Les

Phil Mattison wrote:

> I've been evaluating FreePCB for prototype PCBs and it looks like the drill
> files are created in mils instead of inches. Also the files use a G6 code
> for the drill cycle, which is not recognized by TurboCNC. Does anyone know
> of a utility to convert drill files into a more RS274NGC-friendly format?
> --
>

Hello Phil,

  Monday, January 29, 2007, 5:09:36 PM, you wrote:

> I've been evaluating FreePCB for prototype PCBs and it looks like the drill
> files are created in mils instead of inches. Also the files use a G6 code
> for the drill cycle, which is not recognized by TurboCNC. Does anyone know
> of a utility to convert drill files into a more RS274NGC-friendly format?
> --
> Phil Mattison
> http://www.ohmikron.com/
> Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software


  Send  me  some  short  file on PM and I'll explain you the format of
  Excellon drill file. Maybe can send you a converter Excellon->GCode

-- 
 Best regards,
 Zoran A. Scepanovic
 zastos@...

*********
Don't put off today what you can put off tomorow.
*********

Please be advised what was said may be absolutely wrong, 
and hereby this disclaimer follows.  
I reserve the right to be wrong and admit it in front of the entire world.



Local time: 18:48


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Phil,
You can use gbtiler (http://gbtiler.sourceforge.net/).
It is an open source program and written in Perl
language. You can modify the sw and customize it
according to your input format. I modified it to
generate gcode for my cnc.
Volkan


--- Phil Mattison <mattison20@...> wrote:

> I've been evaluating FreePCB for prototype PCBs and
> it looks like the drill
> files are created in mils instead of inches. Also
> the files use a G6 code
> for the drill cycle, which is not recognized by
> TurboCNC. Does anyone know
> of a utility to convert drill files into a more
> RS274NGC-friendly format?
> --
> Phil Mattison
> http://www.ohmikron.com/
> Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software
> 
>

Thanks, but I already understand the file format. I'm just looking to save a
little time if there is an easy way to convert them already available. The
conversion is fairly trivial, but no point reinventing the wheel even if it
is a small wheel. Judging from the limited response it looks like there is
not an easy solition, so maybe I'll write a quick converter and make it
available free on my web site. Anybody interested in hearing about that when
it's ready?
--
Phil Mattison
http://www.ohmikron.com/
Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software

----- Original Message -----

From: Zoran A. Scepanovic <zastos@...>
To: Phil Mattison <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 10:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Excellon Drill Files

>
>   Send  me  some  short  file on PM and I'll explain you the format of
>   Excellon drill file. Maybe can send you a converter Excellon->GCode
>
> --
>  Best regards,
>  Zoran A. Scepanovic
>  zastos@...
>
>

Yes, I would be Phil,
Robert

Phil Mattison wrote:

> Thanks, but I already understand the file format. I'm just looking to save a
> little time if there is an easy way to convert them already available. The
> conversion is fairly trivial, but no point reinventing the wheel even if it
> is a small wheel. Judging from the limited response it looks like there is
> not an easy solition, so maybe I'll write a quick converter and make it
> available free on my web site. Anybody interested in hearing about that when
> it's ready?
> --
> Phil Mattison
> http://www.ohmikron.com/
> Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Zoran A. Scepanovic <zastos@...>
> To: Phil Mattison <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 10:49 AM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Excellon Drill Files
>
>   
>>   Send  me  some  short  file on PM and I'll explain you the format of
>>   Excellon drill file. Maybe can send you a converter Excellon->GCode
>>
>> --
>>  Best regards,
>>  Zoran A. Scepanovic
>>  zastos@...
>>
>>
>>     
>
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
> If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/ 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Phil Mattison" <mattison20@...>
wrote:
>
> I've been evaluating FreePCB for prototype PCBs and it looks like
the drill
> files are created in mils instead of inches. Also the files use a G6
code
> for the drill cycle, which is not recognized by TurboCNC. Does
anyone know
> of a utility to convert drill files into a more RS274NGC-friendly
format?
> --
> Phil Mattison
> http://www.ohmikron.com/
> Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software
>


Mils are inches. so that part is easy.

You should be able to open it in WORD, then just search and replace
the code words you want.

Dave

Well, not quite. You have to move the decimal to the left three places on
every X/Y coordinate. Word doesn't know how to do that. You could manually
edit the G6 codes to one of the RS274NGC drill cycles but if I have to
automate some of it, might as well automate all.
--
Phil Mattison
http://www.ohmikron.com/
Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software

----- Original Message -----

From: Dave Mucha <dave_mucha@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 2:19 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Excellon Drill Files

>
> Mils are inches. so that part is easy.
>
> You should be able to open it in WORD, then just search and replace
> the code words you want.
>
> Dave
>
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Phil Mattison" <mattison20@...>
wrote:
>
> Well, not quite. You have to move the decimal to the left three
places on
> every X/Y coordinate. Word doesn't know how to do that. You could
manually
> edit the G6 codes to one of the RS274NGC drill cycles but if I have to
> automate some of it, might as well automate all.
> --
> Phil Mattison
> http://www.ohmikron.com/
> Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software

When you export the file, you should be able to set up the digits
before and after the decimal point.

Also, you can have an INI file that uses the full number as is,
without moving the decimal.  The machine really doesn't care that you
think an inch is 1.00 all it knows is that it will move the number of
steps that it is commanded to.

so, 001234 could be 1.234 inches to you, or 12.34 or 0.1234.  the
decimal is only important to us who read the code.  If you set the
machine so it moves as the steps command, the board will come out fine.

Dave

I looked, but didn't see any option to scale the units in FreePCB for the
drill files. But I suppose if you multiply the X/Y step sizes (and jog
distances) by 1000 in the gcode interpreter configuration it would have the
same effect. Then you just have to think in terms of mils instead of inches.
Then the global search and replace could fix up the drill cycle codes. It
might work. I'll have to look at it again.
--
Phil Mattison
http://www.ohmikron.com/
Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software

----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Mucha <dave_mucha@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 4:21 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Excellon Drill Files


> When you export the file, you should be able to set up the digits
> before and after the decimal point.
>
> Also, you can have an INI file that uses the full number as is,
> without moving the decimal.  The machine really doesn't care that you
> think an inch is 1.00 all it knows is that it will move the number of
> steps that it is commanded to.
>
> so, 001234 could be 1.234 inches to you, or 12.34 or 0.1234.  the
> decimal is only important to us who read the code.  If you set the
> machine so it moves as the steps command, the board will come out fine.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
> If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Hello Phil,

  Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 12:53:06 AM, you wrote:

> I looked, but didn't see any option to scale the units in FreePCB for the
> drill files. But I suppose if you multiply the X/Y step sizes (and jog
> distances) by 1000 in the gcode interpreter configuration it would have the
> same effect. Then you just have to think in terms of mils instead of inches.
> Then the global search and replace could fix up the drill cycle codes. It
> might work. I'll have to look at it again.
> --


  OK, let me put it this way:
  Most  common  format  for  number  format  in drill files is 2.3 but
  different  programs generate different headers in their output files
  where  should be stated are suppressed leading or trailing zeroes or
  no zero suppression.

  So  for everybody, please send me a small drill file (besides Protel
  99SE  which  I'm  using) so that I can figure out different headers,
  and write a freeware Excellon->GCode translator.

  Also,  please  include  your  wish list, i.e. canned drill cycles or
  pure G0, G1 mooves, Spindle controll, Stop for tool change.....

  In  Files/CNC/Conversion_Programs/ folder of this group you can find
  a program that I wrote quite long ago in M$ QBasic.

  Just  checked  the  output  of  KiCAD, it spits out coordinates with
  decimal  point,  and  can  do  it  in  Inch and Milimeters, but also
  without   decimal   point   leading/trailing   zeroes   suppressed,
  fortunately, all relevant information are present in the header.

-- 
 Best regards,
 Zoran A. Scepanovic
 zastos@...

*********
If the input editor has been designed to reject all bad input,
  an ingenious idiot will discover a method to get bad data past it. 
*********

Please be advised what was said may be absolutely wrong, 
and hereby this disclaimer follows.  
I reserve the right to be wrong and admit it in front of the entire world.



Local time: 18:29


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]