Pcb-gcode lets you use your milling machine, router, engraver, etc. to make printed circuit boards without using toxic chemicals. You create your design with Eagle, then use pcb-gcode to create g-code, which you run on your machine. Your machine cuts around the traces for the circuits. pcb-gcode also creates drill files to drill holes, mill files to cut the board out, or make cutouts in the board. You can also create files to engrave text on the boards, such as your copyright, component names, etc. Did I mention it is free? There is a free version of Eagle to. http://pcbgcode.org/index.php Fri, 18 May 2012 08:15:39 -0700 Phorum 5.2.7 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,674,676#msg-676 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,674,676#msg-676 mikewaller Forum Thu, 10 May 2012 08:28:56 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,674,675#msg-675 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,674,675#msg-675 Jeff_Birt Forum Thu, 10 May 2012 07:41:23 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,674,674#msg-674 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,674,674#msg-674 mikewaller Forum Mon, 07 May 2012 19:40:52 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?10,673,673#msg-673 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?10,673,673#msg-673 i want creat a cnc via avr
how to program g-code into avr?
the shematic? &gcode?
please help me]]> j111111 General Thu, 03 May 2012 23:18:58 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,669,671#msg-671 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,669,671#msg-671
I fell into the apostrophe trap for a naming a folder.
rename folder without punctuation, voilà it works!

wasn't a new error as far as others were concerned...
[pcbgcode.org]
(searching the forum did not find this, but google does?)

Andrew]]> dustooff Forum Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:10:17 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,669,669#msg-669 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,669,669#msg-669 So this is a board I did up yesterday, don't think I have done anything out the ordinary.
When I go to process it with pcb-gcode all I get is the main dialog box with,
"Error: Sorry...
Illegal phase 0 in main routine"

pcb-gcode still works fine with other previous boards.
I don't see where to look for diagnostics of where problems may be?

can anybody try the board, and confirm, or if you're a miracle worker, spot my problem?

Andrew]]> dustooff Forum Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:55:44 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,22,668#msg-668 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,22,668#msg-668 JayC CAD for PCBs Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:20:04 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?15,635,667#msg-667 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?15,635,667#msg-667
The two etching layers are Top and Bottom.]]> JayC Documentation Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:11:43 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,666,666#msg-666 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,666,666#msg-666 I am in no way blaming softwares, i am sure i didn't check a box somewhere.

eagle pic is what it should look like.
cambam pic is what i get.
Anyways, if someone has a minute please download the board file and see what pcbgcode outputs for you.

Eagle 6.1
pcbgcode 3.5.2.11
cambam 0.9 for viewing and editing
Mach3

all traces on board are 10mil, clearance 8mil

my setup for pcbgcode is:
default .001
max .008
step size .005
tool size .007

UPDATE: Problem solved with the help of JayC pointing to this excellent site
[www.millpcbs.com]


setup should be like this:
default .0001
max .0001
step size .005]]> bizzz3 CAD for PCBs Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:36:50 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,658,658#msg-658 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,658,658#msg-658
I've just started using Eagle and PCB-Gcode. Neat stuff. The only issue I ran across was the hole drilling. My cnc machine does not have auto tool changing, so multiple drills is a pain.

I decided to write a small program that reads in the pcb-gcode drill file, and then makes a new file that cuts the holes with a small end mill. If the hole is larger than the endmill, the endmill just moves in a small circle.

I've been using a 0.0200 dia carbide endmill and it works great. I thought others might like to try it. I attached it to this Message.

Best regards,
Dave Mounce
dmounce@sceadu.com
www.sceadu.com]]> dmounce Forum Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:49:18 -0700 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,656,656#msg-656 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,656,656#msg-656 I use Eagle 6.1.0 (light) and pcb_gcode 3.5.2.11 and would like to generate Gcode to engrave a small single side pcb (routed on Top layer).
I've spent much time on this and keep having the same result :
-the .etch.tap contains only comments and drill moves (if I check the corresponding option) - but NO route outlines at all.
-adding text on the milling layer works (=produces Gcode).
Same results with all boards I have.
The viewer shows no trace either (except the text on the milling layer)

I tried default config and then changed parameters (smaller bits...) without success.

I also tried FastGcode.ulp and I have similar results : drills OK but NO outlines.

Anybody Help Please.
Pierre.]]> pierre26 Forum Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:44:31 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,643,655#msg-655 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,643,655#msg-655
I am very interested about the V bit cut width calculate, I deduced the form of calculate this and I take you xls as reference. For more easy, I have programmed a plugin for pcb-gcode 3.5.2.11, it is attached in this post.

For errors, comments, etc, please tell me!.

Sorry for my written english.

Regards,
Jose L.]]> Jose L Optimizing Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:50:47 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,443,653#msg-653 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,443,653#msg-653 Cut and paste drill section into a text editor, then save with name of your choosing?

-fab]]> fabelizer Forum Sun, 04 Mar 2012 08:03:13 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,585,652#msg-652 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,585,652#msg-652 -fab]]> fabelizer Forum Sun, 04 Mar 2012 07:44:32 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,22,649#msg-649 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,22,649#msg-649 To all who write software, especially those who give it to others I E open source . . .
Thank You.]]> Joe S. CAD for PCBs Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:22:07 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,643,644#msg-644 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,643,644#msg-644
Art
Country Bubba]]> Country_Bubba Optimizing Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:13:08 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,643,643#msg-643 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,643,643#msg-643 Jeff_Birt Optimizing Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:33:53 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,641,642#msg-642 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,641,642#msg-642 kosme Forum Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:01:10 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,641,641#msg-641 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,641,641#msg-641
C:/Eagle/ulp/source/drill.h(142):
Can't find field name 'drill_size' in header (first line of database)

Included by:
C:/Eagle/ulp/pcb-gcode.ulp

Already tried copying everything to the 'ulp' root folder but the problem prevails. Any help?]]> kosme Forum Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:26:40 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,498,640#msg-640 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,498,640#msg-640 kosme Forum Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:14:42 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,5,639#msg-639 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,5,639#msg-639 JayC Optimizing Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:15:08 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,638,638#msg-638 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,638,638#msg-638 MiniMill CAD for PCBs Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:55:31 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,633,637#msg-637 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,633,637#msg-637 MiniMill CAD for PCBs Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:24:33 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?15,635,636#msg-636 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?15,635,636#msg-636 MiniMill Documentation Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:21:36 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?15,635,635#msg-635 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?15,635,635#msg-635
Ok my new problem is after running pcb-gcode it generates all the files except the mill file is basically blank the etch files are fine it's the mill and text files that are empty. Can someone help?]]> MiniMill Documentation Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:04:25 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,22,634#msg-634 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,22,634#msg-634 MiniMill CAD for PCBs Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:31:31 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,633,633#msg-633 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?7,633,633#msg-633 MiniMill CAD for PCBs Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:25:48 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,5,632#msg-632 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?6,5,632#msg-632
I just discovered your optimizer, thank you pcb-gcode does not optimize it's paths at all! Anyway I was wondering is there any chance of a Linux version? Or am I gonna have to do like you and spend a week or more learning Qt? :-)]]> MiniMill Optimizing Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:24:52 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,630,631#msg-631 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,630,631#msg-631 In answer to your question, the way I handle this is by making a cad file of the layout I desire, then run it through my cam system to generate the g code file. In most cases, I have had to measure up the cutouts that I wanted as they seem scarce on the net unless I just plain am using the wrong search critera :S

Good luck and have a good day.]]> Country_Bubba Forum Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:48:29 -0800 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,630,630#msg-630 http://pcbgcode.org/read.php?13,630,630#msg-630
I need to generate a file for milling thru some shapes in a aluminium instrument panel, like 1.5mm thich, leave some shapes cut only ~80% thru, as "knockouts".
(Too bad square drills are so expensive!)
Any tips on a method to do this?

Thanks!]]> pancake Forum Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:46:45 -0800