Exporting gcode for CNC

pcb2gcode

Use CNC for drilling holes and milling board outlines. You can also use CNC for isolation traces milling. However, the best result will give you MSLA PCB exposure.

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

nano millproject

Make sure to set mirror-axis in the millproject to half of your board width!!!

./export.sh ../kicad2panel/panel/Flow_Controller_Panel.kicad_pcb

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/slot_outline.ngc file for milling the panelized slot outlines.
Load the gcode/back.ngc file if you want to mill the isolation traces.
Load the gcode/front.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.