Flow_Controller/scripts

Panelize the board

Install kikit:

pipx install --system-site-packages kikit

Panelize a finished PCB:

mkdir -p panel

kikit panelize \
    --layout 'type: grid; rows: 1; cols: 2; space: 0mm' \
    --tabs 'type: fixed; width: 48mm; vcount: 1' \
    --cuts 'type: mousebites; drill: 1mm; spacing: 1.5mm' \
    --post 'origin: tl; script: move_to_origin.py' \
    --framing 'type: none' \
    ../Flow_Controller.kicad_pcb panel/Flow_Controller_Panel.kicad_pcb

Exporting gcode files from KiCad

Adapt milling and drilling parameters in millproject. Look up pcb2gcode/wiki for help.

nano millproject

Run the export by providing the .kicad_pcb file as a first argument:

chmod +x export.sh
./export.sh panel/Flow_Controller_Panel.kicad_pcb

The script will first generate gerber files in the output directory and then convert them into ngc format in the gcode directory.

Launch the gSender program.

• Load the gcode/drill.ngc file for drilling holes.
• Load the gcode/outline.ngc file for milling the board outlines.
• Load the gcode/back.ngc file if you want to mill the isolation traces.

Milling tip: Increase the thermal spoke and trace width

When routing for milling, use the widest traces possible. 1mm, 2mm and wider, the machine doesn't care, but later you won't be soldering leads to small fragile strips of copper. You can use copper pours for routing too.

Set up the entire back side as one big GND pour. Then, increase the thermal spoke width to be larger than 1mm. This avoids small features and gives more room for error if a larger drill is used for the holes.