Hello guys, been looking into getting gerber files from vector images/PDFs without much luck...
HERESo thought I would look at the problem from another angle.
I need to make gerber files for boards like this, with arcs and non parallel lines.....something impossible in Eagle (the only software Iv used)
So, I was wonder if any other software give more freedom when it comes to route shapes, so I can keep that hand drawn board style?
TopoR
Thank you, do you know where I can find any tutorials?
Iv managed to import a .brd file from eagle and can move the routes and create arc, but cant work out how to create routes between pads that are arced?
I need to make gerber files for boards like this, with arcs and non parallel lines.....something impossible in Eagle (the only software Iv used)
EAGLE can lay boards out like that; use one of the three 'arc' wire-bend options (there's straight-then-arc, arc-then-straight, and 'freehand' arc). SET WIRE_BEND 5, 6, or 7, or alternatively use the toolbar buttons - freehand is the one shaped like an S and the other two precede it. There's also the 'straight' wire-bend (runs at any angle, not constrained to 90/45 degree runs) which looks like it might come in handy for some segments on your example.
(Results of a quick play around attached for reference.)
Thanks baljemmett, The trouble with Eagle is the depth of an arc is a constant tied to the distance between the two pads, this makes having differing severity of arcs impossible (at least iv not found a way to do it
)
Altium can do that. But why on earth do you want to make such butt ugly boards?
Some Bishops Graphics tape and a lightbox.
Ahhh those were the days
Thanks baljemmett, The trouble with Eagle is the depth of an arc is a constant tied to the distance between the two pads, this makes having differing severity of arcs impossible (at least iv not found a way to do it )
Yes you have to use multiple arc segments. Your board is not using Bézier curves so complex arcs are not required. If it started with Bézier curves it is now flash proximate on like all other routers will do.
If you really want Bézier curves there is a cheesy router out there that used Bézier curves for entry. It is very lacking in most other areas. I don't know the name right now. The router wasn't memorable enough to remember the name.
If you want to copy what you see in the picture use Adobe Illustrator to trace the plot, and export the pattern to DXF then import it into a gerber editor for board prep.
If you want the old school pattern style use the old school handrolic ways. Lay down the traces on the board and seal them down.
I'd like to help you out; but only If I could play Star Spangled Banner with my Fender using my soldering iron as a pick whilst I try and convert the file ?
I'd like to help you out; but only If I could play Star Spangled Banner with my Fender using my soldering iron as a pick whilst I try and convert the file ?
You sir, get bonus point
(and any help would e more then welcome, flaming fender or not!)
Altium can do that. But why on earth do you want to make such butt ugly boards?
Thanks, will check out Altium.
Regards the looks of the boars, I personally prefer it to all the miter leiden generic boards......(but that aside its a clone of a 1966 board that is used in restoration and retrofitting, so has to look right as well as work right.)
If you post the original vector file I'll have a look for you.
Altium can do that. But why on earth do you want to make such butt ugly boards?
Does Altium support bezier curves for tracers? (googled a little and seen it supports bezier curves in the schematic capture)
I managed to get the pdf2gerb working although it produced a weird large circle on my layout that I couldn't seem to get rid of; so I ended up removing it from the gerb file by hand. If you follow the steps described on the page you should be able to do what you need.
This is my conversion of the sample vector file; top layer only.
Here's a quick version of your legendary Hendrix Arbiter Fuzz-Face and how it's possible to replicate the curves; I left in that weird circle anomaly I described in my previous post.
I think I must have a duff version of perl running as I i just keep getting 0x0 size boards as output.......would it be ok to PM and go though what i'm doing and see if you can spot what I'm doing wrong?
I think I must have a duff version of perl running as I i just keep getting 0x0 size boards as output.......would it be ok to PM and go though what i'm doing and see if you can spot what I'm doing wrong?
Just post the steps here and the file you tried.
OK,
Using Strawberry Perl for Windows, I put the pdf2gerb.pl and the 3 PDF files in 'My Documents' and open a Perl comand line, and type
pdf2gerb.pl Demo-top.pdf Demo-bottom.pdf Demo-silk 
But its just not extracting the compressed streams from the PDFs
What Perl are you using, a it could be a library issue?
I'm using Activestate Perl5 v16, x64 for windows. are you not missing the ".pdf" from the last file in your commandline?
I'm using Activestate Perl5 v16, x64 for windows. are you not missing the ".pdf" from the last file in your commandline?
Yes, missed it there by mistake, but same results when I type it correctly.
When I try just the "Demo-top.pdf" it seems to works fine (see attached) so it could well be your Perl setup?
When I try just the "Demo-top.pdf" it seems to works fine (see attached) so it could well be your Perl setup?
will try with Activestate.
How do you bring up the perl command line with Activestate? only seeing "critic" and "package manager" under Activestate in the star menu?
Still no joy with Activestate
here is my command line
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Brook>cd C:\users\Brook\Documents\
C:\Users\Brook\Documents>perl C:\users\Brook\Documents\pdf2gerb.pl
Pdf2Gerb.pl 1.6h
This is EXPERIMENTAL software.
Gerber files MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. Please CHECK them before fabrication!
Usage: perl pdf2gerb.pl <top-copper.pdf> [<bottom-copper.pdf>] [<top-silk.pdf>]
On Windows, you may need to put "perl" at the start.
Output files will be placed in the current working folder.
C:\Users\Brook\Documents>perl C:\users\Brook\Documents\pdf2gerb.pl Demo-top.pdf
Demo-bottom.pdf Demo-silk.pdf
Pdf2Gerb.pl 1.6h
This is EXPERIMENTAL software.
Gerber files MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. Please CHECK them before fabrication!
processing file#1: Demo-top.pdf ...
processing file#2: Demo-bottom.pdf ...
processing file#3: Demo-silk.pdf ...
files processed: 3, layers: 3, src lines: 3, warnings: 0
pcb size is 0.000 x 0.000, origin at (0.000, 0.000) inches
total input stream size: 3K, processing time: 0.05 sec
-end-
And produces a sinle gerb file called demo-top-outline(OLN) that has no size or origin
pcb size is 0.000 x 0.000, origin at (0.000, 0.000) inches
Just gave it a go on a XP box and same single blank gerb file output.
I've got to be doing some really stupid here!
Im putting the PDFs and the pdf2gerb.pl in the My Documents folder, then open command prompt and type
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents>perl pdf2gerb.pl Demo-top.p
df Demo-bottom.pdf Demo-silk.pdf
Try that in the root of the C drive, something tells me that perl/that script really hate path names with spaces in them.
Try that in the root of the C drive, something tells me that perl/that script really hate path names with spaces in them.
I move the files the D: and C: with the same problem.......but when in C: there was no gerber output all all?
