CAM350 - Merging multiple gerber files

[Chris]

Hi everyone.
I am trying to merge multiple PCBs file to form an aggregate file. I have
had success in the merge, but am having a lot of difficulty reading in the
NC drill table and outputting an NC drill file. Without this, then the whole
effort is useless. I am currently using CAM350 v8.5 and PowerPCB v5.0
however I would welcome any other suggestions. Does anyone else do this and
if so, how do you get the NC drill file correct?
Chris

 

[Boris Mohar]

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 23:25:26 +0900, "Chris" <Konnector@novalid.email.com>
wrote:

Hi everyone.
I am trying to merge multiple PCBs file to form an aggregate file. I have
had success in the merge, but am having a lot of difficulty reading in the
NC drill table and outputting an NC drill file. Without this, then the whole
effort is useless. I am currently using CAM350 v8.5 and PowerPCB v5.0
however I would welcome any other suggestions. Does anyone else do this and
if so, how do you get the NC drill file correct?
Chris

The way I handle this in Orcad PCB386 is to merge the boards and than make
the gerbers and NC drill file for the merged board. Perhaps PowerPCB can do
the same?



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/

 

[Chris]

Hi Boris.
The problem with PowerPCB is that when you do a copy and paste, the part
reference designators get renumbered. They won't allow the same reference
designators in the database. Renaming them by hand may be possible, but for
a large design with many resistors/caps, it will be a nightmare. Does Orcad
386 do the same?
Chris

 

[Leon Heller]

"Chris" <Konnector@novalid.email.com> wrote in message
news:newscache$il2uwh$4zm$1@news01b.so-net.ne.jp...

Hi everyone.
I am trying to merge multiple PCBs file to form an aggregate file. I have
had success in the merge, but am having a lot of difficulty reading in the
NC drill table and outputting an NC drill file. Without this, then the
whole
effort is useless. I am currently using CAM350 v8.5 and PowerPCB v5.0
however I would welcome any other suggestions. Does anyone else do this
and
if so, how do you get the NC drill file correct?

Pulsonix has a 'step and repeat' facility. Perhaps your software has
something similar.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller

 

[Boris Mohar]

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 01:17:41 +0900, "Chris" <Konnector@novalid.email.com>
wrote:

Hi Boris.
The problem with PowerPCB is that when you do a copy and paste, the part
reference designators get renumbered. They won't allow the same reference
designators in the database. Renaming them by hand may be possible, but for
a large design with many resistors/caps, it will be a nightmare. Does Orcad
386 do the same?
Chris

It appends an extension so that R17 second occurrence becomes R17_1 but this
can set to be suppressed so that the silkscreen matches the schematic. I
once did a PC104 system which consisted of two identical and seven different
boards. Ended up with 3 x 3 arrangement yielding nine boards. Customer was
thrilled because thy thought that they would have to pay for eight setup
charges.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/

 

[Gary Crowell / VCP]

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 23:25:26 +0900, "Chris"
<Konnector@novalid.email.com> wrote:

Hi everyone.
I am trying to merge multiple PCBs file to form an aggregate file. I have
had success in the merge, but am having a lot of difficulty reading in the
NC drill table and outputting an NC drill file. Without this, then the whole
effort is useless. I am currently using CAM350 v8.5 and PowerPCB v5.0
however I would welcome any other suggestions. Does anyone else do this and
if so, how do you get the NC drill file correct?
Chris

I've done this plenty of times with CAM350 and I am certain the tool
is perfectly capable.

The part that sounds odd to be is where you say you are having
"difficulty reading in the NC drill table". What are you generating
from PowerPCB? My layout program generates Excellon files which read
right in with the Gerbers when I do an autoimport.

Autoimport in the files from all the boards, grab all the layers for
each board and offset as desired, then merge respective layers. Drill
layers copy right onto the other drill layers. Gerber and Drill
export, works swell.

I suspect you may have a dumb drill file format selected; all the
drill table information should be embedded within an Excellon file.

Gary