Re: gEDA-user: PCB to IGES converstion?

[Bert Timmerman <bert.timmerman@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Mike,

On Mon, 2008-10-13 at 10:42 -0500, Mike Crowe wrote:
> On Fri, 2008-10-10 at 21:23 +0200, Bert Timmerman wrote:
> Cool beans!  I've looked at the code (very briefly) and have a few
> questions.  See below.  
> > Hi Mike,
> > 
> > On Fri, 2008-10-10 at 09:21 -0500, Mike Crowe wrote:
> > > 	Hi all
> > > 
> > > Another question for the group.  
> > > 
> > > Is anyone working on a tool or know how to import a pcb layout to an
> > > IGES file?
> > > 
> > 
> > I've made a start with a DXF exporter for pcb, not an IGES exporter :)
> > since the DXF file format is well known.
> I've fooled around with DXF formats in the past, but didn't find it to
> be very stable as the there seemed to be several versions of DXF
> floating around.  That being said, a partially built car is better than
> nothing at all :-)
> > 
> > The sources can be found here:
> > 
> > http://github.com/bert/pcb-dxf-hid/tree/master
> > 
> > It's not in a very complete state, let's say halfway, it compiles and
> > sometimes segfaults.
> It appears that this is a module for PCB.  I was thinking of a separate
> application that reads the PCB file directly.  What development
> advantage is there to having this application be a module for PCB?

I started with a separate program "pcb2dxf", and before this was even
50% of halfway finished some pcb file format changes started to appear:

- "mil" units with arguments between () and numeric flags,
  for example "0x0001" for a pin (the "original" file format)
- "mil/100" units with arguments between [] and numeric flags,
  for example "0x0001" for a pin
- "mil/100" units with arguments between [] and symbolic flags,
  for example "hole" for a drilled hole with no copper annulus.

So I made the decision to draw from within the pcb application to
circumvent the above file format issues (and every other file format
change in the future).

This was helped by DJ's excellent work on what he named the HID
mechanism to separate the GUIs (GTK and Lesstiff, and other exporting
services) from the core engine, which latter handles the pcb database.

BTW: the same rationale goes for plug-in programs.

Maybe your CAD application supports, besides IGES, DXF as well.

You can always clone pcb-dxf and start from there :)

I might even help you with an IGES HID, when I have more "free" time.

BTW: github offers free public repos for open software up to 100 MB :)
read the links on their home pages.  Github has a very user-friendly
collaboration mechanism. (end-of-shameless-plug)

I hope this helps a little bit.

Kind regards,

Bert Timmerman.

> > 
> > Currently I have no time to debug the code as I'm very busy with
> > modifications to the house: extension, new kitchen, etc.
> I know how that goes.  Seems to be my life as well.
> > 
> > That will keep me busy until most of December I guess.
> > 
> > Kind regards,
> > 
> > Bert Timmerman.
> > 
> > 
> > > So how about it.  Anyone have this tool half built?
> > > 
> > > Thanks in advance
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> 
> 
> 
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