Post by thread:[EE] Eagle CAD drill file help

I'm trying to get used to the cam processor to make the files needed for my pcb's. Can anyone tell me what to do to make the .dri (drill information) file? I made the .drd and .drl files ok but I'm not sure how to make this one or what is included. The rest of the files needed appear to be ok. The help file doesn't mention this but the board maker needs it done correctly so I'd really appreciate some suggestions. Regards, Andy _________________________________________________________________ Search for grocery stores. Find gratitude. Turn a simple search into something more. http://click4thecause.live.com/search/charity/default.aspx?source=hmemtagline_gratitude&FORM=WLMTAG

The *.drd file is the excellon file required for drills coordinates. The *.drl is the file containing a simple list of the tools used for drilling, like this: T01 0.20mm T02 0.25mm T03 0.60mm T04 0.70mm T05 1.00mm T06 1.30mm T07 3.50mm The PCB manufacturer could ask you one more file showing the drill locations on PCB (is good only for controlling the project and has no manufacturable function) So the *.dri could be the last file I'm talking about (which is a standard gerber file in which you'll select only drills and CAD should generate also a table with drill numbers/ categories and a shape used to mark every drill) Vasile On 1/30/07, Andy Tuthill <spam_OUTazandy63TakeThisOuThotmail.com> wrote: {Quote hidden}> I'm trying to get used to the cam processor to make the files needed for my > pcb's. Can anyone tell me what to do to make the .dri (drill information) > file? I made the .drd and .drl files ok but I'm not sure how to make this > one or what is included. The rest of the files needed appear to be ok. > > The help file doesn't mention this but the board maker needs it done > correctly so I'd really appreciate some suggestions. > > Regards, > Andy > > _________________________________________________________________ > Search for grocery stores. Find gratitude. Turn a simple search into > something more. > http://click4thecause.live.com/search/charity/default.aspx?source=hmemtagline_gratitude&FORM=WLMTAG > > -

Thanks for the help on directing me to the answer. Vasile's reply clarified the situation some but another search turned up a document which explained how to get the excellon files out of the Eagle Cam processor. Unless you know that the excellon drill files are run differently from the RS-274X files you don't have the proverbial snowball's chance of getting it right. Regards, Andy {Quote hidden}>From: "Alan B. Pearce" <.....A.B.PearceKILLspam@spam@rl.ac.uk> >Reply-To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <piclistKILLspammit.edu> >To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <.....piclistKILLspam.....mit.edu> >Subject: Re: [EE] Eagle CAD drill file help >Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:26:18 -0000 > > >The help file doesn't mention this but the board maker > >needs it done correctly so I'd really appreciate some suggestions. > >Haven't any experience with eagle, but this sounds like the PCB >manufacturer >is expecting "RS274X" also known as "Extended Gerber" format, which has the >hole size info in the gerber file. > >Try using those terms in your help file search. > >

{Quote hidden}> -----Original Message----- > From: EraseMEpiclist-bouncesspam_OUTTakeThisOuTmit.edu > [piclist-bouncesspam_OUTmit.edu] On Behalf Of Andy Tuthill > Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 6:42 PM > To: @spam@piclistKILLspammit.edu > Subject: Re: [EE] Eagle CAD drill file help > > > Thanks for the help on directing me to the answer. > > Vasile's reply clarified the situation some but another > search turned up a > document which explained how to get the excellon files out of > the Eagle Cam > processor. > > Unless you know that the excellon drill files are run > differently from the > RS-274X files you don't have the proverbial snowball's chance > of getting it > right. > > Regards, > Andy You can make your own CAM file and combine the Gerber and Excellon runs into a single pass. But you will still need to run "drill_cfg.ulf" or similar just prior to the CAM pass. Likewise you can modify the CAM file to include or exclude the creation of placement diagrams, outlines, drill "maps", etc. The CAM files supplied with Eagle make good starting points. For example, I've made a set of four, one each to match the four offerings from PCBExpress (now Sunstone). And another one that creates only the gerbers and drill data I need to feed an LPKF. Rob

On Jan 30, 2007, at 11:36 PM, Vasile Surducan wrote: > Are you complete satisfied with your LPKF system ? > I mean did you try 6 layers boards with it ? > > I want to buy a complete system this year. > I bought a used LPKF from eBay a couple years ago for hobbyist usage. Less than half the price of the cheapest new unit... I don't know if it was worth it. I'm pretty sure I'm still far behind where I'd be $-wise if I'd sent every board I've made (including the N iterations of some of them) to a professional fabricator. It's nice to be able to go from eagle design to SS PCB in a couple hours, especially for the tiny boards that aren't quite right that I tend to make, but often the several hours of baby-sitting needed don't come along for quite a while, and I could've sent them out. It's a pain not having Plated through holes. Yeah, the newer systems have some PTH system of somesort, but it adds to the time and complexity of fabrication... It's a pain not having a soldermask. Tools and other expendable items are expensive; you can buy surplus partially used drills for cheap, but the mechanical etching bits are uncommon, without many providers, and rather expensive (and they wear out pretty quick.) I have my doubts about it working very well below about 1mm pin pitch. While the specs say you can get 0.2mm isolation (with the standard tool), you're looking at a V-shaped trench, so if you were hoping to do .5mm TQFP with 0.3mm lands 0.2mm apart, you're at the very edge of possible, and you get a pattern in the third dimension that is exactly wrong for helping to position the packages. (trenches for the leads to fall in, between the pads.) Did I mention that it's a pain not having soldermask? Steps for more than 2 layers would add additional complexity and cost. Did I mention that it's a pain not having PTH ? It's really noisy. I think they rig the trade-show demos where it seems to run at only "moderate" noise levels. Or maybe the vacuums have gotten better since the one I have. On the bright side, it's a pretty good CNC drill even if everything else stops working. You can easily have complex board outlines and internal cutouts and such that are rare to find in "prototype" PCB houses. You can do signs and (2D) CNC-router type projects other than PCBs. The software works ok, isn't hard to use, and seems to offer capabilities far beyond "free" stuff (like EAGLE's OUTLINES.ULP) BillW

On 2/1/07, William Chops Westfield <RemoveMEwestfwTakeThisOuTmac.com> wrote: {Quote hidden}> On Jan 30, 2007, at 11:36 PM, Vasile Surducan wrote: > > > Are you complete satisfied with your LPKF system ? > > I mean did you try 6 layers boards with it ? > > > > I want to buy a complete system this year. > > > I bought a used LPKF from eBay a couple years ago for hobbyist > usage. Less than half the price of the cheapest new unit... > > I don't know if it was worth it. I'm pretty sure I'm still far > behind where I'd be $-wise if I'd sent every board I've made > (including the N iterations of some of them) to a professional > fabricator. It's nice to be able to go from eagle design to > SS PCB in a couple hours, especially for the tiny boards that > aren't quite right that I tend to make, but often the several > hours of baby-sitting needed don't come along for quite a while, > and I could've sent them out. > > It's a pain not having Plated through holes. Yeah, the newer > systems have some PTH system of somesort, but it adds to the > time and complexity of fabrication... > > It's a pain not having a soldermask. My purpose would be proffesional PCB prototypes not hobby usage. That means I need at least 4 layers (but often 6 layers isn't enough) The soldermask tool is here: www.lpkf.com/applications/rapid-pcb-prototyping/working-examples/solder-mask.htm Take a look to the catalog. {Quote hidden}> > Tools and other expendable items are expensive; you can buy surplus > partially used drills for cheap, but the mechanical etching bits are > uncommon, without many providers, and rather expensive (and they > wear out pretty quick.) > > I have my doubts about it working very well below about 1mm pin > pitch. While the specs say you can get 0.2mm isolation (with the > standard tool), you're looking at a V-shaped trench, so if you > were hoping to do .5mm TQFP with 0.3mm lands 0.2mm apart, you're > at the very edge of possible, and you get a pattern in the third > dimension that is exactly wrong for helping to position the packages. > (trenches for the leads to fall in, between the pads.) Did I mention > that it's a pain not having soldermask? Yes I need 0.5mm BGA and TQFP > > Steps for more than 2 layers would add additional complexity and > cost. Did I mention that it's a pain not having PTH ? There is PTH too with electrochemical plating or with chemical rudimentary tool. see the catalog. Thanks for your feedback. I would appreciate also a link to other CAM/complete PCB prototyping lines including PTH. {Quote hidden}> > It's really noisy. I think they rig the trade-show demos where it seems > to run at only "moderate" noise levels. Or maybe the vacuums have > gotten > better since the one I have. > > On the bright side, it's a pretty good CNC drill even if everything > else stops working. You can easily have complex board outlines and > internal cutouts and such that are rare to find in "prototype" PCB > houses. You can do signs and (2D) CNC-router type projects other > than PCBs. The software works ok, isn't hard to use, and seems to > offer capabilities far beyond "free" stuff (like EAGLE's OUTLINES.ULP) > > BillW > -

> > > On 1/31/07, Robert Young <spamBeGonerwyoungspamBeGoneieee.org> wrote: > > The CAM files supplied with Eagle make good starting points. For > > example, I've made a set of four, one each to match the > four offerings > > from PCBExpress (now Sunstone). And another one that > creates only the > > gerbers and drill data I need to feed an LPKF. > > > > Rob > > Are you complete satisfied with your LPKF system ? > I mean did you try 6 layers boards with it ? > > I want to buy a complete system this year. > I am satisfied enough with it. I salvaged the Protomat from being junked by another company. They had long since stopped using it and had lost the software. Also the machine's maintenance had been neglected. After some work and some phone calls to get a new software license, it was back up and running. Do 8/8 rule stuff OK and have done a limited amount of 6/6 with it, but that was on its ragged edge of ability. I only two one and two sided boards with it, and then only a few. No production quantities. Just prove out the design or whip up a prototype using TQFPs and 0603 passives. Much easier than point-to-point wiring with those little buggers. Also use it to machine out some case parts like end-panels for extruded aluminum cases. For anything that will exist in a quantity of 10 (approximately) or more or has more than two layers or ends up with lots of vias (ie more than 20) on a two layer, I have prototypes made at a "real" board house. Rob