CircuitToolchain: Difference between revisions

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For the moment, it's just a collection of my (Daniel Benamy's) notes as I figure out the toolchain. I'll neaten it up once I get a bit further.
For the moment, it's just a collection of my (Daniel Benamy's) notes as I figure out the toolchain. I'll neaten it up once I get a bit further.


These instructions are based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 bit. An LTS (long term support) release is a good basis for an OSE project so the instructions don't need to be updated that often.
These instructions are based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 bit. An LTS (long term support) release is a good basis for an OSE project since it will allow the instructions to be useful for a few years.


Trying Kicad for schematic capture and pcd layout.
This tutorial is heavily based on the excellent Opendous tutorials at http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/Tutorials.


Following the tutorial at http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/KiCADTutorialCreatingGerberFiles.
* Install KiCad: sudo apt-get install kicad. This tutorial was written using version 2011-05-25-stable which is in the Ubuntu 12.04 repository on May 18, 2012.
 
* For now I'm just testing export to cnc machine, so I'll use an existing board design: sudo apt-get install subversion && svn checkout http://micropendous.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Micropendous/Design/Micropendous1/ ~/Documents/Micropendous/
It uses the Micropendous which is a board done in kicade which has been released as open source at
* Run kicad: Alt + F2, kicad <enter>
svn checkout http://micropendous.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Micropendous/ micropendous-read-only
* Open Documents/Micropendous/Micropendous1.pro.
 
* Open the board in the PCB Editor (pcbnew). TODO picture.
* Install kicad. TODO link. This tutorial was written using version "2012-01-19 BZR 3256".
* TODO Edit mask clearance? Opendous tutorial says to so this.
* For now I'm just testing export to cnc machine, so I'll use an existing board design. Svn checkout http://micropendous.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Micropendous/ to Documents/Micropendous/
* Run kicad.
* Open Documents/Micropendous/Design/Micropendous1/Micropendous1.pro.
* Open the board in the pcd editor (pcbnew). TODO picture.
* TODO Edit mask clearance?
* Click File -> Plot.
* Click File -> Plot.
* Choose an output directory. I recommend Documents/Micropendous/CNC Files/. If it asks if you want to use a relative path, say yes.
* Choose an output directory. I recommend Documents/Micropendous/CNC Files/. If it asks if you want to use a relative path, say yes.
* Only check off the Front and Back layers. (SilkS_Front is checked by default).
* Make sure the Front and Back layers are checked off any uncheck any other layers.
* Leave the rest as defaults. TODO screen shot.
* Leave the rest as defaults. TODO screen shot.
* Click Plot.
* Click Plot.
* Click Close on the plot window.
* Click Close on the plot window.
* TODO Check gerber files for correctness. See existing tutorial.
* Close the PCB Editor.
* TODO Check gerber files for correctness. See http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/KiCADTutorialCreatingGerberFiles.
* Close Kicad.
* Close Kicad.
* TODO convert to gcode.
* TODO convert to gcode.
Kicad tutorials:
* http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/KiCADTutorialOpeningProjects
* http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/KiCADTutorialAddingLibraries
* http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/KiCADTutorialCreatingGerberFiles


Gerber to Gcode:
Gerber to Gcode:

Revision as of 21:23, 17 May 2012

This will become a page describing the open source toolchain used to go from schematic design to pcb (printed circuit board) layout to the files which can be fed into the CNC Circuit Mill to create a pcb.

For the moment, it's just a collection of my (Daniel Benamy's) notes as I figure out the toolchain. I'll neaten it up once I get a bit further.

These instructions are based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 bit. An LTS (long term support) release is a good basis for an OSE project since it will allow the instructions to be useful for a few years.

This tutorial is heavily based on the excellent Opendous tutorials at http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/Tutorials.

  • Install KiCad: sudo apt-get install kicad. This tutorial was written using version 2011-05-25-stable which is in the Ubuntu 12.04 repository on May 18, 2012.
  • For now I'm just testing export to cnc machine, so I'll use an existing board design: sudo apt-get install subversion && svn checkout http://micropendous.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Micropendous/Design/Micropendous1/ ~/Documents/Micropendous/
  • Run kicad: Alt + F2, kicad <enter>
  • Open Documents/Micropendous/Micropendous1.pro.
  • Open the board in the PCB Editor (pcbnew). TODO picture.
  • TODO Edit mask clearance? Opendous tutorial says to so this.
  • Click File -> Plot.
  • Choose an output directory. I recommend Documents/Micropendous/CNC Files/. If it asks if you want to use a relative path, say yes.
  • Make sure the Front and Back layers are checked off any uncheck any other layers.
  • Leave the rest as defaults. TODO screen shot.
  • Click Plot.
  • Click Close on the plot window.
  • Close the PCB Editor.
  • TODO Check gerber files for correctness. See http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/KiCADTutorialCreatingGerberFiles.
  • Close Kicad.
  • TODO convert to gcode.

Gerber to Gcode:

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

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