I guess I didn't explain properly. The files that can't be read by Gerbv are from an open source project BeagleBone. I am making a daughter card for this board and wanted to view the images so I could get exact positioning data on some connectors. It turns out the connector of interest uses routed slots. That is why I wanted to view first the drill data and then the router data and found that neither were interpreted accurately by Gerbv. In the process I found that I could get the info I needed from the pad data in the Gerber file.
FreePCB does indeed output files viewable in Gerbv although it does not have a way to handle router data files. I suppose if I need routed slots internal to the board I would add them to the board outline and let the fab house interpret that data to set up their router. As to the fab houses, it is one thing to provide a full service, but does it really makes sense for them to repeatedly do the same manual work over and over without telling anyone that it isn't necessary and how to fix it? I actually had to beat on my assembly house to get them to tell me what they liked and didn't like about the XYRS data I was sending. They are so used to having to massage the data that all they wanted was to make sure I included part values so they could error check their results. If someone is having to manually edit the drill files that is a waste of time and a great way to introduce errors. I'd prefer them to point that out to me so I can change how I generate the info. After all, I end up paying for their time one way or the other. Rick On 3/3/2012 5:38 AM, Steve Adam wrote: > Hi Rickman, > > This email is sent only to the list and not CC'd to your private email > address, so if you see it then you're on the list. > > Apart from that only the list administrator can tell you if you're on it. > > It's only the drill data that sometimes needs hand editing, and not really > all that often. > > But here's some food for your thought. > > All manufacturers can accept properly formatted Excellon and Gerber files and > also various other formats. You are using CAD software that apparently does > not output properly formatted files, or perhaps you don't know how to use it > properly. Did you say that you are using FreePCB? I have not tried it for a > few years but I thought it could generate proper files. I will check it out. > > Anyway... If you send a file to a manufacturer that can't be imported > without editing then it's only good customer service if they fix it for you. > The fact that you get good service from a service industry should not blow > your mind too much. You should expect nothing less. They probably won't > even charge you any extra for the help. :) > > Steve. > > > On 03/03/2012, at 7:49 PM, rickman wrote: > >> Hi Steve, >> >> Yep, there is the way I would like to see the world and there is they way it >> really is. It just blows my mind that the world is still hand editing CAD >> files... is that insane or what? >> >> The router file has some slots for a couple of connectors. I was looking >> for position data in order to make the connector on my board match, but that >> is OBE now. I found I could also get that data from the Gerber files easily >> by using Gerbv to give me the data on the pads for the part. >> >> I feel sorry for the fab and assembly guys who have to deal with this stuff >> every day. >> >> Thanks, >> Rick >> >> PS I have tried to sign up for the mail list, but I can't tell that I am on >> it. Is this the right place for this sort of question or should I be in a >> different group? >> >> >> On 3/2/2012 5:17 PM, Steve Adam wrote: >>> Hi Rick, >>> >>> I will contribute an honest two cents worth. >>> >>> I think you understand your problem very well. The simple solution is to >>> arrange for your CAD software to output appropriately formatted files. >>> Since you have no control over that then you have no choice but to use a >>> text editor to format them yourself. If you are a programmer you could >>> write a conversion program, of course. >>> >>> The way the industry copes with this stuff is... to use a text editor. >>> It is a bit fiddly and has the potential for making errors but it is very >>> easy. There are many Excellon commands but only very few of them are >>> needed. If you have any questions I can answer all but the most tediously >>> arcane. >>> >>> What do you want to do with the rout file? It will most likely be useless >>> to the manufacturer. If there is any information in it that they need they >>> will probably put your job on hold while you supply the information in >>> their preferred way. >>> >>> Steve. >>> >>> >>> On 03/03/2012, at 7:22 AM, rickman wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Julian, >>>> >>>> Thanks for the help. I am attaching the drill file here. The issue seems >>>> to be that in spite of the fact that there are Execellon commands to >>>> specify the drill sizes some software puts them in comments in a header or >>>> I've even seen web pages saying the tool descriptions should be in a >>>> separate file! So I expect the problem really is the source software that >>>> created this file which I have no control over. I was thinking that >>>> whatever the fix is, I would need to do the same with the software I use, >>>> FreePCB. But FreePCB adds the appropriate commands... mostly. FreePCB >>>> adds a decimal spec to the INCH command that throws an error message, but >>>> seems to work anyway. Attached is the drill file that started this thread. >>>> >>>> On a similar note when I dug for specs on routing files I came up empty >>>> handed. It seems they are much less standardized although Excellon covers >>>> that in the drill codes if you stick with that. The routing file that >>>> came with the board info doesn't import well either. Just for grins I'm >>>> attaching that as well. At least it is short. How does the industry ever >>>> cope with this stuff? >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> >>>> Rick >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 3/2/2012 3:08 PM, Julian Lamb wrote: >>>>> Hi Rick, >>>>> I can try to help you out. I don't see the problem file anywhere in >>>>> this reply chain...can you send me your question and attach the problem >>>>> file? >>>>> >>>>> Cheers-- >>>>> Julian >>>>> >>>>> On 03/02/2012 01:50 PM, rickman wrote: >>>>>> I've tried to subscribe to the gerb-devel list but it seems to be >>>>>> waiting for moderator approval. We'll see if this message makes it to >>>>>> the lists. >>>>>> >>>>>> Rick >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 3/2/2012 11:54 AM, Stuart Brorson wrote: >>>>>>> I am forwarding this e-mail to the gerbv-devel list, which is the best >>>>>>> place to find the gerbv developers. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Alternately, if you get no traction from the gerbv-devel list, you can >>>>>>> file a bug report at the sourceforge site: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=33921&atid=409538 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Stuart >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 07:45:27 -0500 >>>>>>> From: Matthew Sager<matthewsa...@gmail.com> >>>>>>> Reply-To: geda-h...@delorie.com >>>>>>> To: geda-h...@delorie.com >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [geda-help] GerbV Support >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> So is there any chance of getting some feedback on my issue with the >>>>>>>> tool? >>>>>>>> Is this the right place to ask? I used to post on geda-user but >>>>>>>> that list >>>>>>>> seems to have been deprecated in favor of this one for support and the >>>>>>>> developers have their own list now. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Rick >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello Rick, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It looks like the Gerbv does not understand the tool definitions at the >>>>>>> top >>>>>>> of your file. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Here is an example of how the tool definitions usually look. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> M48 >>>>>>> INCH >>>>>>> T29C0.040 #this is for a 40 MIL hole >>>>>>> T28C0.035 #this is for a 35 MIL hole >>>>>>> % >>>>>>> T28 >>>>>>> X012900Y009100 >>>>>>> X010700Y010000 >>>>>>> X010700Y011000 >>>>>>> X020500Y009500 >>>>>>> X020500Y010900 >>>>>>> X012900Y014100 >>>>>>> T29 >>>>>>> X008196Y009433 >>>>>>> X007196Y008933 >>>>>>> X008196Y005033 >>>>>>> M30 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you manually edit the header of the file to something like this it >>>>>>> will >>>>>>> probably work. I do not remember right now what G90 is for. Also, You >>>>>>> might want to split the non-plated holes to another file. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> M48 >>>>>>> INCH >>>>>>> T01C0.008 >>>>>>> T02C0.012 >>>>>>> T03C0.038 >>>>>>> etc.... >>>>>>> % >>>>>>> G90 >>>>>>> T01 >>>>>>> X00291000Y00105000 >>>>>>> X00282000Y00097000 >>>>>>> ... >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Matthew >>>>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Virtualization & Cloud Management Using Capacity Planning Cloud computing makes use of virtualization - but cloud computing also focuses on allowing computing to be delivered as a service. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfnl/114/51521223/ _______________________________________________ Gerbv-devel mailing list Gerbv-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gerbv-devel
