51 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
51 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
## Panelize the board
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Install `kikit`:
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```bash
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pipx install --system-site-packages kikit
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```
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Panelize a finished PCB:
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```bash
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mkdir -p panel
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kikit panelize \
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--layout 'type: grid; rows: 1; cols: 2; space: 0mm' \
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--tabs 'type: fixed; width: 48mm; vcount: 1' \
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--cuts 'type: mousebites; drill: 1mm; spacing: 1.5mm' \
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--post 'origin: tl; script: move_to_origin.py' \
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--framing 'type: none' \
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../Flow_Controller.kicad_pcb panel/Flow_Controller_Panel.kicad_pcb
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```
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## Exporting gcode files from KiCad
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Adapt milling and drilling parameters in `millproject`. Look up [pcb2gcode/wiki](https://github.com/pcb2gcode/pcb2gcode/wiki) for help.
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```bash
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nano millproject
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```
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Run the export by providing the `.kicad_pcb` file as a first argument:
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```bash
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chmod +x export.sh
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./export.sh panel/Flow_Controller_Panel.kicad_pcb
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```
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The script will first generate gerber files in the `output` directory and then convert them into `ngc` format in the `gcode` directory.
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Launch the `gSender` program.
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* Load the `gcode/drill.ngc` file for drilling holes.
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* Load the `gcode/outline.ngc` file for milling the board outlines.
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* Load the `gcode/back.ngc` file if you want to mill the isolation traces.
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## Milling tip: Increase the thermal spoke and trace width
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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.
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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.
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