Author Topic: Howto convert PCB DXF file to gerber files for prototyping?  (Read 2805 times)

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Offline beduinoTopic starter

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Hello,
I'd like to convert PCB drawn in DXF to something like gerber files for PCB prototyping.
Idea is simple to draw circuit (no mask needed) as DXF file, then send as gerber files for manufacturing.

Any ideas howto convert PCB drawn in DXF to gerber TOP/BOTTOM files?
Vias not needed, while it can be drilled by hand, but it could be nice to have those holes drilled during PCB manufacture (0.5mm-1mm diameter).

Sample DXF file attached as PNG image.



Regards.
Beduino.
 

Offline bin_liu

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Re: Howto convert PCB DXF file to gerber files for prototyping?
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2020, 12:51:40 am »
Using Altium Designer can easily achieve DXF to PCB files, and finally can generate gerber files.
You can upload DXF files and I will help you.
 

Offline Kasper

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Re: Howto convert PCB DXF file to gerber files for prototyping?
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2020, 06:59:17 am »
Import dxf to an EDA then export gerbers from it.

EasyEDA can do it.   Circuit studio can too, sometimes.  Believe it or not, easyEDA the free program worked better for me than circuit studio.
 

Offline 741

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Re: Howto convert PCB DXF file to gerber files for prototyping?
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2020, 01:14:49 pm »
So, it seems, can KiCad (I've not tried this though!)

If you'd rather not bother installing this for one file conversion, I can try and do it for you if you like.

It looks like it would export everything to one chosen layer, which can be anything eg front or rear copper, silk screen etc.

Offline beduinoTopic starter

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Re: Howto convert PCB DXF file to gerber files for prototyping?
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2020, 05:55:12 pm »
If you'd rather not bother installing this for one file conversion, I can try and do it for you if you like.
Thank you very much ;)

It looks like it works fine  :-+

KiCAD is now my PCB development environment, but I'm new user, however I managed to create DXF files using custom DXF library  based on C++ parametric programming - I mean I write C++ program to generate DXF files, so many fancy complicated shapes can be done.


 

Offline 741

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Re: Howto convert PCB DXF file to gerber files for prototyping?
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2020, 07:38:11 am »
I'm glad it worked OK.

Out of interest, is your DXF export program something generically usable - how do you specify the input?

BTW: Kicad files are designed to be human readable, just text files. I understand there is also a Python scripting interface. For example someone made a script which creates a PCB starting point by laying out physical parts like the schematic (https://forum.kicad.info/t/simple-script-that-will-copy-position-from-schematic-to-layout-for-an-easier-start/23460)

I do not know Python, but I have done some potentially awkward PCB patterns using Delphi & text output.

Offline beduinoTopic starter

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Re: Howto convert PCB DXF file to gerber files for prototyping?
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2020, 04:53:17 pm »
Out of interest, is your DXF export program something generically usable - how do you specify the input?

I use pure C/C++ code with custom DXF draw library, something like this source code, where I can assign parameters and conditionals how output DXF will look like, based on C/C++ program variables and passed command line options.

I can also send such DXF files (mm) to laser cut in diffrent metals like stainless steel or aluminium, etc.

The same DXF writing library with C/C++ is used in many projects.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2020, 04:54:57 pm by beduino »
 


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