Generate Gerber Files for LPKF S62 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MAntunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2016, 03:58:17 pm
content: Hello!I am having trouble in generating gerber files for using with a LPKF S62 Milling Machine.In Eagle I know you have to use the CAM processor and use a .cam file for your output device.How can I do this in Altium? Do I simply generate the gerber files?Thank you in advance.Miguel

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2016, 05:29:57 pm
content: I don't know how you generate Gerber files in Eagle as I don't use it (there are some quite old tutorial available if you do an internet search). However I have EXTENSIVE (3 years and counting) experience with Kicad and 6 months of using Diptrace occasionally. I use both an LPKF S62 and S103 machines. The S62 uses CircuitCAM V5.xx and BoardMaster V5.xx whereas the S103 use the newer Circuitpro software which is more integrated.You import your standard Gerber (and Excellon drill) files (the same ones that you would send to your board house) into CircuitCAM (in your case) where you can edit the Gerber file (ie remove or add a board outline layer for example) and normalise the drill sizes (so that they match the actual drill sizes you have in your machine). You then save the edited board as a .CAM file (so that you don't have to repeat the editing again) and then EXPORT the gerber file to an intermediate LMD file which will automatically be imported and opened by Boardmaster if it is running at the same time. I won't go into any more depth as you only asked about the gerber file opening bit. Hope my explanation has been helpful.David.PS I have done boards created with Altium on both machines as well and it's the same principle as all the other PCB software. Just make sure the numerical formats for the drill and Gerber files match when exporting from and to the LPKF software.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2016, 06:43:40 pm
content: If you're asking how to get gerbers out of Altium, you can do that from the PCBDoc: File->Fabrication Outputs->Gerber Files or NC Drill Files. You will be able to select numeric format, layers, etc from the following dialogs.A better way, though, is to setup an OutJob (File->New->Output Job File or "Add New to Project->Output Job File"). In the OutJob you can define gerbers and drill files as outputs with specific settings and map them to an output folder. That way at any point you can regenerate your CAM files with exactly the same settings with a single click.OutJobs are also where you can define all sorts of documentation, mechanical, BOM, and assembly outputs. It's well worth going though and setting up an OutJob file with all of the typical outputs you want, then you can just add it to each new project and get the same set of outputs every time.

author: technotronix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2016, 12:37:05 pm
content: Then why you do not move to Eagle?

author: MAntunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2016, 02:51:34 pm
content: Quote from: djsb on August 19, 2016, 05:29:57 pmThank you very much for you answer!If I send you the gerber files can you see if it's all ok?Quote from: ajb on August 19, 2016, 06:43:40 pmThank you! Will do thatQuote from: blueskull on August 21, 2016, 10:49:18 amThank you, I'll check this out!

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 08:58:16 pm
content: I'm sorry but I can not check your files for you. The best think you can do is open up the Gerber files in a free gerber viewer (I use Kicad's viewer and Gerbv). If you can see the tracks and the drill holes line up with the pads then you are good to go.