clean up
This commit is contained in:
26
Readme.md
26
Readme.md
@@ -25,11 +25,13 @@ sudo apt update
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sudo apt install kicad
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sudo apt install kicad
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```
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```
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### 2. KiCad: Set your design grid
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### 2. KiCad: Set your design grid (Optional)
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In KiCad's PCB editor, go to `Preferences → Preferences → PCB Editor → Grids` and add a custom grid of 0.017 mm. This ensures trace edges land on pixel boundaries and avoids the sub-pixel rounding that causes the ±1px size error people see with arbitrary grids.
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In KiCad's PCB editor, go to `Preferences → Preferences → PCB Editor → Grids` and add a custom grid of 0.017 mm (your MSLA printer's pixel size). This ensures trace edges land on pixel boundaries and avoids the sub-pixel rounding that causes the ±1px size error people see with arbitrary grids.
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### 3. Export gerbers from KiCad
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### 3. Export gerbers from KiCad
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*If you want to automate the conversion of gerber to printing files, you can jump to the section [Appendix: Automated script](#appendix-automated-script).*
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- Open your PCB project in the KiCad PCB Editor.
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- Open your PCB project in the KiCad PCB Editor.
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- Go to **File -> Plot** and select `Plot format` as `SVG` and set the `Output directory`.
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- Go to **File -> Plot** and select `Plot format` as `SVG` and set the `Output directory`.
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- In the `Include Layers` section select layers `F.Cu`, `B.Cu`, `B.Mask` and `F.Silkscreen`. Each layer will be ploted as a separate SVG file.
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- In the `Include Layers` section select layers `F.Cu`, `B.Cu`, `B.Mask` and `F.Silkscreen`. Each layer will be ploted as a separate SVG file.
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@@ -49,8 +51,6 @@ This file is reused for every job — it carries the correct LCD resolution meta
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## MSLA PCB Exposure
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## MSLA PCB Exposure
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*If you want to automate the conversion of gerber to printing files, you can jump to the section [Appendix: Automated script](#appendix-automated-script).*
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`UVtools` has a dedicated `PCB Exposure` tool that converts a Gerber file to a pixel-perfect image given your printer's LCD resolution, specifically for exposing copper traces.
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`UVtools` has a dedicated `PCB Exposure` tool that converts a Gerber file to a pixel-perfect image given your printer's LCD resolution, specifically for exposing copper traces.
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### 1. Install `UVtools`
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### 1. Install `UVtools`
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@@ -120,7 +120,11 @@ Use the project [kicad2gcode](https://gitea.virtonline.eu/2HoursProject/kicad2gc
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Automate the conversion from KiCAD to print files using a script.
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Automate the conversion from KiCAD to print files using a script.
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### 1. Install dependencies
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### 1. The `Dummy.pm4n` file
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Make sure you have the `Dummy.pm4n` file specific to your printer. See the section [5. Create the `Dummy.pm4n` file](#5-create-the-dummypm4n-file) above.
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### 2. Install dependencies
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```bash
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```bash
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python3 -m venv .venv
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python3 -m venv .venv
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@@ -130,7 +134,7 @@ pip install pygerber Pillow numpy
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Or activate the `venv` once and put `source .venv/bin/activate` in your shell profile.
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Or activate the `venv` once and put `source .venv/bin/activate` in your shell profile.
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### 2. Export multiple layers (e.g. copper + soldermask + silkscreen)
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### 3. Export multiple layers (e.g. copper + soldermask + silkscreen)
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```bash
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```bash
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./export.sh \
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./export.sh \
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@@ -161,18 +165,18 @@ output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-F_Silkscreen.preview.png
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output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-B_Silkscreen.pm4n
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output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-B_Silkscreen.pm4n
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output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-B_Silkscreen.preview.png
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output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-B_Silkscreen.preview.png
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```
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```
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#### 2.1. Check the layer preview
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#### 3.1. Check the layer preview
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Check the `output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-*.preview.png` images — traces should appear black on white background.
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Check the `output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-*.preview.png` images — traces should appear black on white background.
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- background = UV exposed = resist removed = etched away
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- background = UV exposed = resist removed = etched away
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- traces = dark = resist kept = copper stays
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- traces = dark = resist kept = copper stays
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#### 2.2. Check the printer exposure
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#### 3.2. Check the printer exposure
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Open the `.pm4n` in `Chitubox Basic` slicer to visually verify before printing.
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Open the `.pm4n` in `Chitubox Basic` slicer to visually verify before printing.
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#### 2.3. Adjust exposure
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#### 3.3. Adjust exposure
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Start with `--exposure 60` and bracket from there — Bungard presensitized at 405nm typically lands between 30–120s depending on board vintage and storage.
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Start with `--exposure 60` and bracket from there — Bungard presensitized at 405nm typically lands between 30–120s depending on board vintage and storage.
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### 3. Export single layer (e.g. copper)
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### 4. Export single layer (e.g. copper)
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Export the front layer as gerber
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Export the front layer as gerber
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```bash
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```bash
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@@ -194,6 +198,8 @@ output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-Front.pm4n
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output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-Front.preview.png
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output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-Front.preview.png
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```
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```
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### 5. Verify
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Open the preview image
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Open the preview image
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```bash
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```bash
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xdg-open output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-Front.preview.png
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xdg-open output/pm4n/Flow_Controller_Panel-Front.preview.png
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