Simple PCB layout software

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

Huub

I recently bought a cheap 3018 CNC router. After looking at various suggestions on this site and others I have used Eagle, Flatcam and Candle to make my first small pcb using this method. It took a bit of experimenting but came out ok. I used the Heightmap feature in Candle which seemed to work ok.

Stuart

Edited By Stuart Smith 5 on 18/01/2023 00:09:08

[Anonymous]

Stuart, I'm curious to know how you aligned the table of your 3018 to be perpendicular relative to the cutter. On my (two) machines there is no screw-adjustment just multiple fixing screws for each axis. When I tried that, it was impossibly hit and miss.

I did see a suggestion somewhere of mounting a thick aluminum sheet on the table and a milling-type cutter in the head. Then machining the whole sheet area – which would guarantee alignment.

(Someday I'm going to get back to that 3018 if I can remember where I shelved it).

[HuubParticipant @huub]

Posted by Stuart Smith 5 on 18/01/2023 00:02:19:

Huub

I recently bought a cheap 3018 CNC router. After looking at various suggestions on this site and others I have used Eagle, Flatcam and Candle to make my first small pcb using this method. It took a bit of experimenting but came out ok. I used the Heightmap feature in Candle which seemed to work ok.

Stuart

Edited By Stuart Smith 5 on 18/01/2023 00:09:08

Stuart,
That looks like a pretty good PCB.
I want to build a PCB router because the build is also a tryout for the steel milling router that I am going to build. It also gives me the option to optimise the outside dimensions.

Peter,
Aligning a router starts by using the adjustment options (play) in the construction. After that, milling the table is a good option to get things right. If you use a (wooden) spoil board, you can also just mill the top of the spoil board.

Huub

 

Edited By Huub on 18/01/2023 12:02:13

Edited By Huub on 18/01/2023 12:02:37

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Even when you have milled a flat plate the board may be bowed or non-uniform. You can correct this by probing the board when mounted using a simple conducting probe to measure the deviation and correct the g-code for depth. There's software around to do this.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Thanks for all the inputs – I now have more options than I can handle! For the moment I will persevere with Fritzing, anything that produces Gerber output is fine. I use CamBam and that has an isolation routing plugin which I hope will work. First priority though is testing the breadboard on the new clock!

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

Peter

The router I bought is this one:

With a bit of time, you can adjust it but it is still not that robust. I made a couple of aluminium blocks to hold the gantry in position, loosened the screws and used feelers to hold in position while I tightened everything up.

I used the probe feature to test the spindle height above the table at various points. It is still not perfect, but using the Heightmap feature I managed to get it to mill the pcb ok using a v cutter.

This is a screenshot of the Heightmap in the Candle software:

Stuart

[Anonymous]

Interesting …. thanks, Stuart!

[RobinParticipant @robin]

The easy one is the one you are used to, everything else is a nightmare. I am still using the same Protel I have been using for the last 30 years or so.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Posted by Robin on 19/01/2023 10:51:14:

The easy one is the one you are used to, everything else is a nightmare. I am still using the same Protel I have been using for the last 30 years or so.

Absolutely true!

[Author]

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