Gerber

nwojesse

I need some help. How do I take the Gerber files from the BASIC Stamp and use them on a Modela milling machine. I've looked at the PCB Design and make and none of the file extensions are accepted. So I guess the question is: What program do I use to make the Gerber Files into tool paths for Modela that is free?

Thanks,
Jesse Anderson

Chris Savage

This thread is being moved from the Stamps In Class Forum to the Sandbox Forum.

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

Steel

You're right. These aren't good file extensions...I opened a few of them up in notepad to look at them, and there is data in there. I don't know if it is correct data for your milling machine, though...If it is, you should be able to just change the file extensions. It looks like there is a possible naming convention now, but Parallax will have to tell us for sure....

...But these aren't straight gerbers...

Franklin

Maybe? http://sinfor.lcs.mit.edu:8180/pcbmill/ (try google, it works)

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- Stephen

daniel

While not directly answering your question as to how to use Parallax's PCB files on your Modela, I can answer your question about the Gerber file names (for at least some of the Parallax published PCB).

Some time ago, I posted to another thread a link to an article providing a simple Introduction To G-Codes, ·(http://mcglothin.us/RobotScrapbook/CommunityPcbMill2005/IntroductionToGCodes/index.php).· About half-way down (or use the "Gerber Files" link at the top) are the details about the OEM Basic Stamp PCB.


HTH,
Daniel

nwojesse

Thanks Franklin, but I have tried that site and it just stops halfway through on the processing. So, Daniel, Gerber files aren't actually made for drill milling, but for a type of printer?

daniel

Gerber files are one type of a larger family of files that might be called G-Code files. Specifically, the typical Gerber machine is a photoplotter that exposes a photosensitive resist mask as part of PCB preparation. Gerber is pretty close to, however, the broader industrial CNC G-Code.

Excellon is the drill file associated with PCBs; and it too is a variation (or dialect) of G-Code.

If you want isolation milling (similar to what NewZed does, see especially near the end of the PCB Mill thread), I think there are programs that take Gerber files as input and produce a mill's G-Code for isolation milling as output. I know that, for example, the Eagle schematic capture tool has an output tool (plugin) that produces the isolation milling G-Code for a typical mill.

HTH,
Daniel