View source for Printed Circuit Board Milling

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=== <br />Introduction ===
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=== Creating Gerber Files ===
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==== from KiCad ====
You can export Gerber files from the [[KiCad]] PCB editor by using the GUI. The process is called 'plotting', in accordance with traditional nomenclature. For workflow automation, however, you want to make use of the Python scripting interface. [https://git.launchpad.net/kicad/tree/demos/python_scripts_examples/plot_board.py  Here is an example script] from the official code repository.
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I wasn't able to find documentation for the ''pcbnew'' Python module and ended up using [https://docs.python.org/3/library/pydoc.html pydoc] to create an HTML documentation page.
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==== from Eagle ====
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==== from Fritzing ====
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=== Creating G-code from Gerber Files ===
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==== pcb2gcode ====
===== Building From Source =====
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===== Usage =====
There are a bunch of command line arguments for pcb2gcode. For example,
<pre class="terminal">
pcb2gcode --metric --front My_PCB.gbr --zsafe 20 --zchange 10 --zwork -1 --offset 0 --mill-feed 10 --mill-speed 800
</pre>
The alternative (and more elegant) way is to write the settings to a file called ''millproject'', which will be picked up by pcb2gcode by default.
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=== Sending G-code to the Milling Machine ===
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==== LinuxCNC ====
LinuxCNC ([http://linuxcnc.org linuxcnc.org]) is a command-line tool for sending [http://en.wikipedia.org/G-code G-code] to a CNC machine. G-code can be sent over the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port parallel port] of a PC or via a PCI extension card installed in a desktop PC.
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===== Building LinuxCNC from Source =====
Installing the dependencies on a Debian Linux distribution like [[Ubuntu]]:
<pre class="terminal">
sudo apt-get install libudev-dev libmodbus-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev bwidget libtk-img tclx8.4 
</pre>
Getting the source code:
<pre class="terminal">
git clone https://github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc.git
</pre>
Building the source:
<pre class="terminal">
cd linuxcnc
./autogen.sh
./configure --with-realtime=uspace --enable-non-distributable=yes
make
</pre>
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===== Using LinuxCNC with AXIS =====
[http://linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gui/axis.html AXIS] is the standard graphical user interface for LinuxCNC. To start LinuxCNC with the AXIS GUI you need to edit the ''.ini'' file that you provide to ''linuxcnc'' as parameter. Add the '''[DISPLAY]''' section if it is missing, and add the line ''DISPLAY = axis'' like shown below.
<pre class="code">
[DISPLAY]
DISPLAY = axis
</pre>
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=== Post-processing ===
You can use a scouring pad or the rough side of a kitchen sponge to enhance the board visually and, more importantly, to remove copper chips that may have stuck inside the milled tracks and cause short circuits. Use a dab of ammonia for better results.
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