CircuitToolchain

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.

Trying Kicad for schematic capture and pcd layout.

Following the tutorial at http://code.google.com/p/opendous/wiki/KiCADTutorialCreatingGerberFiles.

It uses the Micropendous which is a board done in kicade which has been released as open source at svn checkout http://micropendous.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Micropendous/ micropendous-read-only

• Install kicad. TODO link. This tutorial was written using version "2012-01-19 BZR 3256".
• 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.
• 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).
• Leave the rest as defaults. TODO screen shot.
• Click Plot.
• Close Kicad.
• 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:

• http://pcbgcode.org/
• http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/pcb2gcode/index.php?title=Main_Page
• http://gcnccam.sourceforge.net/

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