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Topic: How to export longer holes (not board outline slots) ?? (Read 1837 times) previous topic - next topic

How to export longer holes (not board outline slots) ??

I have supplied board-RoundHoles.TXT for round holes and board-SlotHoles.TXT for longer holes (for through hole usb connector and such), but the longer holes do not show up in the new site's preview (and my order was refunded because I opened a ticket saying "do not forget plated slots, they are in file board-SlotHoles.txt", as they cannot forward "special instructions"). How did you specify plated small slots ?

Re: How to export longer holes (not board outline slots) ??

Reply #1 –
On the board outline (GKO gerber), i can either export it like this (thin lines describing outlines): or like this (fat lines with the width of the drill bit )

The 1st one shows as in the new site preview, the latter as (both are black), the bigger rectangular cutout shows up as white in both cases (in the 2nd one it just has a big black outline like this )

I assume messing with the drill TXT file to include the slots into the same file as the round holes is impossible (since gerbv cant even open the drill file for the slots correctly)

Re: How to export longer holes (not board outline slots) ??

Reply #2 –
I think that your first case should be fine (zero-width lines in the outline layer). When the slots are surrounded by copper in the top and/or bottom layer, they will be plated. If the slots don't show up in the preview that shouldn't matter. I don't think that you can specify slots in the TXT file, this is an Excellon drill file (for round holes only!).

Re: How to export longer holes (not board outline slots) ??

Reply #3 –
Is it necessary for them to be zero width ? I made the outline and the big one 0.127mm and the small ones 0.05mm just so that they would show up on the preview (and end up being visible on at default zoom level for the operator to see when they open the gerbers). Since they are both smaller than the minimum routing drill bit, they should be interpreted as outlines and not routing paths by the fab.

The thing that caused me to send 2 TXT files the first time (exactly as exported by altium), is this mention on the about page of DirtyPCBs:
Quote
GML/GKO/GBR*    Board Outline*
TXT    Routing and Drill (the holes and slots)

Notice how it says SLOTS. However, it's probable that non-round holes were never supported in the txt file, simply because most CAM viewers (gerbv certainly doesnt) dont support slots in excellon files. Adding to this is the thing where my order was immediately refunded on the mere mention of multiple txt files (which is okay I suppose, id rather not wait and receive bad pcbs, but the refund is now being held by my bank and i wont be able to reorder for some time unless i find some more money).

Re: How to export longer holes (not board outline slots) ??

Reply #4 –
Quote
Is it necessary for them to be zero width ?
I prefer zero-width lines because otherwise you would have to specify where the routing should take place (with/without line width). As you know, it's not possible to add such instructions anywhere ;-)

Quote
TXT Routing and Drill (the holes and slots)
I have never seen Excellon files with routing. Even if it's possible, you can't be sure that the board house will be able to handle that.

Re: How to export longer holes (not board outline slots) ??

Reply #5 –
Well i don't really care if it's offset by 0.05mm, thats more likely less than the tolerance they have anyway ;)
I managed to re-order with the outlines, will see how it turns out.