Milling a One-Sided PCB in Etcheverry

Step 2: Creating the "print file" for the milling machine

Bring the GBX and drill files compiled in the previous step down to the second floor of Etcheverry where the milling machine is located.

Starting CircuitCAM for Windows:

1. Boot up the ancient computer connected to the milling machine and go to start/program files/LPKF Software/CircuitCAM 32

Import your layout files

1. CircuitCAM should start a new file so you need to export the GERBER files that you created in Step 1. Click on the big button on the far left that shows a picture of a disk and sheet of paper.
2. Select layer TOP.GBX from your floppy and say OK. Now you need to make sure that this layer is designated as TOP in the drop down boxes and that resolution 3.4 is selected in the bottom left-hand corner. Click import. The top layer should appear on the screen.
3. Repeat this with the bottom layer (if you have one) and the board outline making sure to select the appropriate thing in the drop down boxes each time.
4. Now import the drill.nc file. Make sure resolution 3.4 is selected here and Select DrillUnPlated as the layer. Click import to see your drill holes appear on the screen.

Run Contour Routing

1. Now we want to define the outline of the board so that the milling machine can cut all of the way around it. Select the button just to the right of the import button (Contour routing button). Select run and a grey outline should appear around your board. This is where it will be cut.

Set a breakout tab

1. In order to make sure that the board doesn't fall out while cutting the outline, we will leave a small tab uncut that we will punch with the drill at the very end.
2. Select the grey outline that defines where the cutting bit will cut the board out.
3. Click a point in the top middle of this grey square -- this selected point will be where we breakout a piece. Now press the breakout button which is to the right of the Contour Routing button. The selected point should be cut out (it will be obvious).

Rubout
I have no idea what this does, but press the rubout button to the right of breakout anyway.

Insulate the board

1. This is what will create an image for the milling machine to mill. The files given so far can be considered a positive image and the milling machine needs to mill around them.
2. First, let's make sure the settings are right. Go to Edit/Insulate and make sure the milling around pads and lines are both set to 8mil for all layers of importance. Otherwise, it could make your pads really small.
3. Now press the Insulate button which is to the right of Rubout.
4. It should run through a lot of tasks and when it completes it will show the milling routes around your traces and pads.

Make sure everything looks good (traces and lines are of reasonable size) and let's export!

1. Click the export button to the right of the insulate button
2. It should produce an LMD file for you. If it gives an error, it is likely that you have run out of room at wherever you're saving it to.

Now you're done with CircuitCAM. How does it feel? If good, progress to Step 3. If bad, well...