CircuitToolchain - Revision history

Daniel Benamy at 19:08, 21 May 2012

2012-05-21T19:08:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:08, 21 May 2012
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	Tons of info on all parts of the process can be found at http://reprap.org/wiki/PCB_Milling		Tons of info on all parts of the process can be found at http://reprap.org/wiki/PCB_Milling

			[[Category: CAD]]
			[[Category: Circuit Board Fabrication]]
			[[Category: Digital Fabrication]]
			[[Category: Software]]

Daniel Benamy at 18:46, 21 May 2012

2012-05-21T18:46:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:46, 21 May 2012
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	This page describes the open source toolchain, or series of tools, used to go from an idea for a circuit to a physical circuit board in your hand.		This page describes the open source toolchain, or series of tools, used to go from an idea for a circuit to a physical circuit board in your hand.

	~~THIS PAGE IS UNDER ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT~~ AND ~~LIKELY HAS~~ MISTAKES. Feel free to improve it or email me. My email address is "FIRST@LAST.info" where FIRST is "daniel" and LAST is "benamy".		THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT WELL TESTED AND MAY HAVE MISTAKES. Feel free to improve it or email me. My email address is "FIRST@LAST.info" where FIRST is "daniel" and LAST is "benamy".

	These instructions are based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 bit because it's the most recent LTS (long term support) release. KiCad and Visolate also run on Windows, but I haven't gone through the process there.		These instructions are based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 bit because it's the most recent LTS (long term support) release. KiCad and Visolate also run on Windows, but I haven't gone through the process there.
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	# Run KiCad: Alt + F2, kicad <enter>		# Run KiCad: Alt + F2, kicad <enter>
	# Open Documents/LevelTranslator/LevelTranslator.pro.		# Open Documents/LevelTranslator/LevelTranslator.pro.
	# Open the board in the PCB Editor (pcbnew). TODO screenshot.		# Open the board in the PCB Editor (pcbnew). TODO screenshot showing which button that is.
	# ~~TODO Edit mask clearance? Opendous~~ tutorial says to so this.		# The opendous tutorial says to edit mask clearance at this point. I don't know what that means or if it's needed. Please update this if you do know or if you try it both ways and see what the difference is.
	# Click File -> Plot.		# Click File -> Plot.
	# Choose an output directory like Documents/LevelTranslator/CNC Files/. If it asks if you want to use a relative path, say yes.		# Choose an output directory like Documents/LevelTranslator/CNC Files/. If it asks if you want to use a relative path, say yes.

Daniel Benamy at 02:59, 18 May 2012

2012-05-18T02:59:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:59, 18 May 2012
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	==Overview==		==Overview==
	~~At a high level, you create a circuit board like this:~~
	# Design a schematic.		# Design a schematic.
	# Create a pcb layout for the schematic.		# Create a pcb layout for the schematic.
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	==Creating Gerber Files==		==Creating Gerber Files==
	# Install KiCad: sudo apt-get install kicad. This tutorial was written using version 2011-05-25-stable which is what's in the Ubuntu 12.04 repository as of May 18, 2012.		# Install KiCad: sudo apt-get install kicad. This tutorial was written using version 2011-05-25-stable which is what's in the Ubuntu 12.04 repository as of May 18, 2012.
	# Download an existing board design: sudo apt-get install subversion && svn checkout http://~~micropendous~~.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/~~Micropendous/Design/Micropendous1~~/ ~/Documents/~~Micropendous/~~		# Download an existing board design. Here's one that doesn't really do much but is a good test: sudo apt-get install subversion && svn checkout http://opendous.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Abandoned_Designs/LevelTranslator ~/Documents/LevelTranslator
	# Run KiCad: Alt + F2, kicad <enter>		# Run KiCad: Alt + F2, kicad <enter>
	# Open Documents/~~Micropendous~~/~~Micropendous1~~.pro.		# Open Documents/LevelTranslator/LevelTranslator.pro.
	# Open the board in the PCB Editor (pcbnew). TODO screenshot.		# Open the board in the PCB Editor (pcbnew). TODO screenshot.
	# TODO Edit mask clearance? Opendous tutorial says to so this.		# TODO Edit mask clearance? Opendous tutorial says to so this.
	# Click File -> Plot.		# Click File -> Plot.
	# Choose an output directory like Documents/~~Micropendous~~/CNC Files/. If it asks if you want to use a relative path, say yes.		# Choose an output directory like Documents/LevelTranslator/CNC Files/. If it asks if you want to use a relative path, say yes.
	# Make sure the layers you want are checked and all other layers are unchecked. ~~You probably~~ want Front or Back or both.		# Make sure the layers you want are checked and all other layers are unchecked. For this particular board, you'll want Component. Often with other boards you'll want Front or Back or both.
	# Leave the rest as defaults. TODO screenshot.		# Leave the rest as defaults. TODO screenshot.
	# Click Plot.		# Click Plot.
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	# Download Visolate from https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate/downloads.		# Download Visolate from https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate/downloads.
	# Run it: Alt + F2, java -jar Downloads/visolate-3.0.1.jar <enter>.		# Run it: Alt + F2, java -jar Downloads/visolate-3.0.1.jar <enter>.
	# Load a gerber file: click "Browse", select ~~the file~~, click "Load".		# Load a gerber file: click "Browse", select Documents/LevelTranslator/LevelTranslator-Component.gtl, click "Load".
	# If you don't see it, click the "Fit" button on the right just below the display area.		# If you don't see it, click the "Fit" button on the right just below the display area.
	# Click "Fix Topology".		# Click "Fix Topology".
			# Click "Fit" again if needed.
	# Select "voronoi" or "outline" (on the right). Voronoi will try to figure out efficient cuts for the cnc mill, to separate the traces with the least cutting. Outline will make cuts that outline each trace so the board looks more normal.		# Select "voronoi" or "outline" (on the right). Voronoi will try to figure out efficient cuts for the cnc mill, to separate the traces with the least cutting. Outline will make cuts that outline each trace so the board looks more normal.
	# Click "Make Toolpaths" next to those options.		# Click "Make Toolpaths" next to those options.

Daniel Benamy: /* More Info */

2012-05-18T02:24:15Z

More Info

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:24, 18 May 2012
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	This tutorial is heavily based on the excellent Opendous tutorials at http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/Tutorials.		This tutorial is heavily based on the excellent Opendous tutorials at http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/Tutorials.

	Tons of info on all parts of the process at http://reprap.org/wiki/PCB_Milling		Tons of info on all parts of the process can be found at http://reprap.org/wiki/PCB_Milling

Daniel Benamy: /* Visolate */

2012-05-18T02:23:41Z

Visolate

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:23, 18 May 2012
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	# If you don't see it, click the "Fit" button on the right just below the display area.		# If you don't see it, click the "Fit" button on the right just below the display area.
	# Click "Fix Topology".		# Click "Fix Topology".
	# Select "voronoi" or "outline" (on the right). Voronoi will try to figure out efficient "cuts" for the cnc mill ~~to make~~ to separate the traces with the least cutting. Outline will make ~~normal looking~~ cuts ~~which~~ outline each trace.		# Select "voronoi" or "outline" (on the right). Voronoi will try to figure out efficient cuts for the cnc mill, to separate the traces with the least cutting. Outline will make cuts that outline each trace so the board looks more normal.
	# Click "Make Toolpaths" next to those options.		# Click "Make Toolpaths" next to those options.
	# When it's done processing, if you can't see the board, click "Fit".		# When it's done processing, if you can't see the board, click "Fit".
	# Click "Save G-Code".		# Click "Save G-Code".
	# If you have more than 1 layer, repeat the process with the other layer(s).		# If you have more than 1 layer, repeat the process with the other layer(s).
	# You can preview the G-code at http://gcode.joewalnes.com/ to make sure it looks right before sending it to the [[CNC Circuit Mill]].		# You can preview the G-code at http://gcode.joewalnes.com/ to make sure it looks right before sending it to the [[CNC Circuit Mill]]. Note: I haven't gotten this to work yet.

	For more info or if these instructions get out of date, ~~the project~~ has good documentation at https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate.		For more info or if these instructions get out of date, Visolate has good documentation at https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate.

	===pcb2gcode===		===pcb2gcode===

Daniel Benamy: /* Visolate */

2012-05-18T02:21:23Z

Visolate

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:21, 18 May 2012
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	[https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate Visolate 3] looks like an interesting and user-friendly tool. I don't have any experience with it so I can't comment on how well it works.		[https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate Visolate 3] looks like an interesting and user-friendly tool. I don't have any experience with it so I can't comment on how well it works.

	~~# Download it from https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate/downloads.~~
	# Install dependencies: sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends openjdk-6-jre libjava3d-java libjava3d-jni libvecmath-java.		# Install dependencies: sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends openjdk-6-jre libjava3d-java libjava3d-jni libvecmath-java.
			# Download Visolate from https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate/downloads.
	# Run it: Alt + F2, java -jar Downloads/visolate-3.0.1.jar <enter>.		# Run it: Alt + F2, java -jar Downloads/visolate-3.0.1.jar <enter>.
	# Load a gerber file: click "Browse", select the file, click "Load".		# Load a gerber file: click "Browse", select the file, click "Load".

Daniel Benamy at 00:33, 18 May 2012

2012-05-18T00:33:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:33, 18 May 2012
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	# Create a pcb layout for the schematic.		# Create a pcb layout for the schematic.
	# Create gerber file(s) of the board layout. ''Details below''.		# Create gerber file(s) of the board layout. ''Details below''.
	# Convert the gerber files to ~~gcode~~. ''Details below''.		# Convert the gerber files to G-code. ''Details below''.
	# Feed the ~~gcode~~ into the [[CNC Circuit Mill]] which carves your design into a blank copper board.		# Feed the G-code into the [[CNC Circuit Mill]] which carves your design into a blank copper board.
	# Drill holes if needed for through-hole parts.		# Drill holes if needed for through-hole parts.
	# Solder on components.		# Solder on components.
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	# Close Kicad.		# Close Kicad.

	==Converting to ~~GCode~~==		==Converting to G-code==
	===Visolate===		===Visolate===
	[https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate Visolate 3] looks like an interesting and user-friendly tool. I don't have any experience with it so I can't comment on how well it works.		[https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate Visolate 3] looks like an interesting and user-friendly tool. I don't have any experience with it so I can't comment on how well it works.

Daniel Benamy: /* Visolate */

2012-05-18T00:32:55Z

Visolate

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:32, 18 May 2012
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	# Click "Save G-Code".		# Click "Save G-Code".
	# If you have more than 1 layer, repeat the process with the other layer(s).		# If you have more than 1 layer, repeat the process with the other layer(s).
	# You can preview the ~~gcode~~ at http://gcode.joewalnes.com/ to make sure it looks right before sending it to the [CNC Mill].		# You can preview the G-code at http://gcode.joewalnes.com/ to make sure it looks right before sending it to the [[CNC Circuit Mill]].

	For more info or if these instructions get out of date, the project has good documentation at https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate.		For more info or if these instructions get out of date, the project has good documentation at https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate.

Daniel Benamy: /* Visolate */

2012-05-18T00:31:58Z

Visolate

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:31, 18 May 2012
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	# Click "Save G-Code".		# Click "Save G-Code".
	# If you have more than 1 layer, repeat the process with the other layer(s).		# If you have more than 1 layer, repeat the process with the other layer(s).
			# You can preview the gcode at http://gcode.joewalnes.com/ to make sure it looks right before sending it to the [CNC Mill].

	For more info or if these instructions get out of date, the project has good documentation at https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate.		For more info or if these instructions get out of date, the project has good documentation at https://github.com/Traumflug/Visolate.

Daniel Benamy: /* Intro */

2012-05-18T00:25:39Z

Intro

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:25, 18 May 2012
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	THIS PAGE IS UNDER ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND LIKELY HAS MISTAKES. Feel free to improve it or email me. My email address is "FIRST@LAST.info" where FIRST is "daniel" and LAST is "benamy".		THIS PAGE IS UNDER ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND LIKELY HAS MISTAKES. Feel free to improve it or email me. My email address is "FIRST@LAST.info" where FIRST is "daniel" and LAST is "benamy".

	These instructions are based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 bit because it's the most recent LTS (long term support) release.		These instructions are based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 bit because it's the most recent LTS (long term support) release. KiCad and Visolate also run on Windows, but I haven't gone through the process there.

	==Overview==		==Overview==