Homebrew PCBs

To the smarter minds then My self .

Ok here is what I have done so far I have taken the .dfx files and 
removed all the fill that was in it and left only the lines of the 
traces saved as a new DFX file and when I print it out it looks good  
made G-code with ACE convertor. BUT it mills the while thing out and 
leaves the traces untouched it now looks like a eched board when I 
checked it out in K cam 3.All I want it to do is mill out the 
traces of the board what have I done wrong. Now remember this is my 
first time I have ever done this ,the board looks good but I do not 
know how this happened .  I would like some information on how to 
change the toolpath on makeing this PCB.



 John Brauweiler

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., "marble_h" <marble_h@y...> wrote:
>  To the smarter minds then My self .
> 
> Ok here is what I have done so far I have taken the .dfx files and 
> removed all the fill that was in it and left only the lines of the 
> traces saved as a new DFX file and when I print it out it looks 
good  
> made G-code with ACE convertor. BUT it mills the while thing out 
and 
> leaves the traces untouched it now looks like a eched board when I 
> checked it out in K cam 3.All I want it to do is mill out the 
> traces of the board what have I done wrong. Now remember this is my 
> first time I have ever done this before ,the board looks good but I 
do not 

> know how this happened .  I would like some information on how to 
> change the toolpath on makeing this PCB.
> 
> 
> 
>  John Brauweiler

Hi John,
        In KCam there is a TRAVEL DEPTH and a CUT DEPTH. Make sure
these two numbers are set in your setup. When you import a DXF into
KCam the cut will showup in RED and the TRAVEL will be blue. Make
sure KCam is displaying these two colors. If you are getting all BLUE
or RED lines, setup KCam and import the DXF again.

     What bit are you using? How are you making sure it is the
same length all the time?

                                         John 


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., "marble_h" <marble_h@y...> wrote:
>  To the smarter minds then My self .
> 
> Ok here is what I have done so far I have taken the .dfx files and 
> removed all the fill that was in it and left only the lines of the 
> traces saved as a new DFX file and when I print it out it looks 
good  
> made G-code with ACE convertor. BUT it mills the while thing out 
and 

> leaves the traces untouched it now looks like a eched board when I 
> checked it out in K cam 3.All I want it to do is mill out the 
> traces of the board what have I done wrong. Now remember this is my 
> first time I have ever done this ,the board looks good but I do not 
> know how this happened .  I would like some information on how to 
> change the toolpath on makeing this PCB.
> 
> 
> 
>  John Brauweiler

Hi John,
        Use the ACE converter or KCam not both. KCam has an
import box that will pull in a DXF. I suspect you forgot
the cutting depth in ACE. Now KCam is showing you the lines
but they are all Blue or all RED. Or you need to set the cutting 
depth in KCam to match the depth you are entering in ACE. Red is cut 
and Blue is travel in KCam.

                                             John



--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., "marble_h" <marble_h@y...> wrote:
>  To the smarter minds then My self .
> 
> Ok here is what I have done so far I have taken the .dfx files and 
> removed all the fill that was in it and left only the lines of the 
> traces saved as a new DFX file and when I print it out it looks 
good  
> made G-code with ACE convertor. BUT it mills the while thing out 
and 

> leaves the traces untouched it now looks like a eched board when I 
> checked it out in K cam 3.All I want it to do is mill out the 
> traces of the board what have I done wrong. Now remember this is my 
> first time I have ever done this ,the board looks good but I do not 
> know how this happened .  I would like some information on how to 
> change the toolpath on makeing this PCB.
> 
> 
> 
>  John Brauweiler