Express PCB - making a PC Board with my CNC machine

[EL34]

I was drawing up a PC board for a voltage monitor for my one wire sensor network.

I saw you can export the drawing to DXF file, which means it can be opened in my CAM program and then it can be machined on the CNC machine.

One glitch though, when you export the PC board to a DXF file, the traces do not show up, just the component pads where you solder the components.

Those bastards!
I guess they do that so you have to send the drawing off to them to make the PC board.

I got around it by finsihing the DXF drawing in my cad program, but that was a bunch of extra work.

I set up a web page with some info on this project
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/Cnc/CNC14.htm

[DummyLoad]

try routing traces on the silkscreen layer... that layer does export.


never mind... what a cheesy app.  :-X

[tubesornothing]

can you post the DXF file?  I have a DXF editor - the layers might be hidden (but I doubt it...)

[EL34]

The others layers are there, I exported the silk screen layer

I have two different programs that can open DXF's - CAD and CAM

The silk screen idea may work, but then I ran into a different problem once I started working on the CAM program for the CNC

The lines need to be double width lines, as wide as you want the traces will be.
Otherwise, the tool bit removes everything on either side of the line, and if the line is just a single line, there is no copper left because the lines is is only .001 wide or something like that.

This does not work ----------------
This does work ================



Still working on the process to nail it down.
I'll see if I can create some sort of custom trace that is a double line and exports correctly and then export it on the silk screen layer

[EL34]

Ok, I had more sucess today cutting PC boards.

After 3 attempts, I got the trace width right and the CNC cut depth right.

I used a 1/32" ball end - end mill to cut the circuit board set to cut at a depth of .005"

see screen shots
screen shot 1 is the final result
screen shot 2 is the 3 attempts
screen shot 3 is the CAM program screen shot showing the traces and a tool path.

I also set up a web page with some info on this project
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/Cnc/CNC14.htm

[RicharD]

ooooo it has a 3 pin happy face connector just like the pseudoacoustic infector.

http://www.rane.com/pi14.html

Very nice looking, but I'd expect no less.

Just one of the many benefits of this forum was getting into ExpressSCH.  It has a mild learning curve and the application improves itself as one creates more custom symbols.  I really like that I don't have to quit a drawing to create/edit a symbol.... that and it doesn't lock up my machine.

-Richard

[FYL]

ooooo it has a 3 pin happy face connector just like the pseudoacoustic infector.

The one fitted with Spinal Tap taper pots which slews at 13 furlongs per fortnight?

 8)