Creating Rout Paths Using CAMMaster

Creating Rout PathsUsing CAMMaster

Step 1 • Import Gerber File. • User Ctrl+W to window around data. • Save file as RoutPaths.bin.

Step 2 • Select all traces using global select with selection criterion set to “Traces”. • Remove text block from selection.

Step 3 • Replicate selection to layer 2 using Ctrl+J. • Turn off layer 1. • Turn on and activate layer 2.

Step 4 • Window select all of the outlines.

Step 5 • Convert the selection to routing paths. • Note that 10 routing paths are created.

Step 6 • Clear all selections. • Turn on both layer 1 and layer 2. • Zoom in on one of the slots. • Notice that the cut line is centered to the board outline. • This will change when we assign the paths a tool code.

Step 7 • Setup the routing path properties. • With all 10 paths selected, choose the Tools, Routing, Selection Properties menu item.

Step 8 • First, we will setup the tool that we want to use. • Click on the button shown in the figure to the right.

Step 9 • Setup tool code number 3 to be 0.061 and set the type to “Tooling”. • I know you want to use a 0.062 tool. I’ll explain later.

Step 10 • Set the routing path properties as shown. • Precedence set to “0” for now. We will adjust later. • Orientation set to “CounterClockWise”. • Compensation set to “Right”.

Step 11 • Clear all selections. • Turn on both layer 1 and layer 2. • Zoom in on a slot. • Note that the rout path has now been offset and that it reflects the proper tool width.

Step 12 • Turn off layer 1, leaving only layer 2 on. • Note that the outlines have now been changed to routing paths, instead of traces. • Change the selection criterion to “Routing Paths”. • With the selection tool active, click near the board outlines. Note that these are now selected as a complete path. • In the figure to the right, the upper left board outline is selected.

Step 13 • We will now add the plunge and retract point for the upper left board outline. • Place the cursor in the approximate area shown and zoom in.

Step 14 • Clear all selections and deactivate the selection tool. • Your screen should appear as shown to the right.

Step 15 • We will use a curved lead-in and lead-out segment. • You will activate the “Lead-In” tool and then click on the outline where you want the lead in to join the outline. • You will then move the mouse and click where you want the plunge point to appear. • Begin by activating the “Lead-In” tool.

Step 16 • Begin by clicking at the approximate point shown in the figure to the right.

Step 17 • Now drag the cursor to the approximate position shown in the figure to the right and then click the mouse button. • The path is modified to add a plunge point, a blend segment and a retract point. • The routing tool will enter the material at the plunge point, traverse the path in a counterclockwise direction and exit at the retract point. • The “Blend Segment Length” is controlled by selecting “Routing, Lead-In Options, Blend Segment Length”. This is a value that is a multiple of the tool radius.

Step 18 • To graphically view the plunge point, set the display mode to zero width (press the “O” key.

Step 19 • You could build just one routing path and add the plunge and retract points. • You could then step and repeat that one path. • However, these are so simple, that I’ve decided to just add the plunge points to each path manually. • Do this for the rest of the outlines. Your screen should appear approximately as shown on the right.

Step 20 • Now, we want to set the routing order. • You do this by setting the “Precedence” property of each routing path. • Lower numbers of Precedence get routed first. • A precedence setting of “0” (the default) means you don’t care about the order. These paths will be routed last. • You could select all of the board outlines and set the precedence to “1”. You could then select all of the coupons and set the precedence to “2”. • I’ve decided to rout these paths in the order shown on the right.

Step 21 • Let’s set the precedence for the upper left board outline. • Make sure your selection criterion is set to “Routing Paths” and click to select the upper left board outline. • Right click the mouse and click on “Routing Properties.

Step 22 • Set the Precedence to “1” for this path. • Select each remaining path in turn and set the precedence to match the numbers shown to the right.

Step 23 • As a final step, we’ll output the finished file. • First, delete the board outline that is still on this layer. • Then select the Rout Export menu.

Step 24 • I chose the default output name.

Step 25 • Review the output in a text editor.

A Note about Tool Sizes • You wanted a 0.062 inch tool size. However, the slots are also 0.062 inches in width. Our algorithm would not automatically plunge into a slot that is the same width as the tool. We could have used 0.06199 inches and it would work. • If necessary, we could have mapped the tool to 0.062 inch and then programmed the slots separately. But, I think that’s more work. • You would probably also get better (cleaner) routs if a slightly smaller tool was used . . . e.g. 0.055 or so. I know the tool won’t be as stiff . . . but it will probably make cleaner cuts in the slots.

Summary • I hope this gives you a decent introduction to using the routing functions in CAMMaster. • If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to send an email to support@pentalogix.com or you can always call me directly at (307) 248-0118. Happy Routing!!! Max

Creating Rout Paths Using CAMMaster