Need Help!- Zenbot cnc

[tototester]

Hello all,
I did not find a thread about Zenbot, so, I hope I am asking in the proper place. I just purchased a Zenbot 1216 cnc router, a special made pcb spindle, and a couple of mill sets. I am controlling from Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) Linux via EMC2. I am stuck after doing my initial config of stepping, etc. I am not sure of what pcb schem/layout software is best and how to ultimately have EMC2 spit out a pcb. This is for proto work and I was directed to EMC2 over Mach3 in XP. Has anybody had any success with the same setup?

Thanks.

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by tototester Hello all, I did not find a thread about Zenbot, so, I hope I am asking in the proper place. I just purchased a Zenbot 1216 cnc router, a special made pcb spindle, and a couple of mill sets. I am controlling from Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) Linux via EMC2. I am stuck after doing my initial config of stepping, etc. I am not sure of what pcb schem/layout software is best and how to ultimately have EMC2 spit out a pcb. This is for proto work and I was directed to EMC2 over Mach3 in XP. Has anybody had any success with the same setup? Thanks.

I think there is some PCB layout software available for Linux. Look in the Add/Remove Applications, select All, search on PCB Layout and you should find KiCAD PCB-Suite. I haven't tried it. There may be others available also, so search the internet for Linux PCB layout programs and see what turns up.

By enabling the Show: All available options choice and searching on Circuit board layout, Eagle appeared. This is limited to two layer boards of 100x80mm (4x3.2 inches).


CarveOne

[tototester]

Thanks CarveOne. I am trying it now. I must find, however, a way to do larger pcb's. My initial one is 9 x 6. I have used different XP based PCB programs that do allow for this size and up. Perhaps I am just to unfamiliar with the ins and outs of transferring from layout to cnc-ing. Have you used EMC2?

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by tototester Thanks CarveOne. I am trying it now. I must find, however, a way to do larger pcb's. My initial one is 9 x 6. I have used different XP based PCB programs that do allow for this size and up. Perhaps I am just to unfamiliar with the ins and outs of transferring from layout to cnc-ing. Have you used EMC2?

Did you download KiCAD or Eagle? I have not used either of them or made CNC PCBs at home. I have been using EMC2 a little on my first Solsylva 25x37 build for cutting a little wood, but have been building machine #2 for the past 9 months. I have a newly purchased machine that can boot up either Vista Business edition and the trial Mach3 or Ubuntu 8.04 and EMC2 for the new machine. I have another computer that has Ubuntu 8.04 and EMC2 on it also

KiCAD seemed to be the most complete of the two based on the descriptions. It can do 16 copper layers and 12 technical layers. Their website does not mention maximum board size. I'll download and install it for grins....

I haven't looked into what is needed to get the board layout into the cutting file format. Maybe it will become more clear after I install KiCAD.

For the last 20 years I have designed 19" wide 20 copper layer high speed telecom switch system and DSL back panels using Cadence Concept schematic capture and then told another engineer using Allegro Designer how to do my layouts. I'm not doing that kind of work any longer.

CarveOne

[tototester]

I downloaded KiCAD. At this point, it is free(which is good for the immediate). I have set up my stepping config with EMC2 wizard. I can move the 3 axis manually. I can set "homes", although, I do not have machine limit switches. When I try to "touch-off", I get an error. It says that it can't execute the command because the system is not "homed". Aaaaargh ! I guess the first thing is to get a firm grasp on how EMC2 works for my app., or, just in general. I am glad to know you have PCB design experience and have worked with EMC2 as well. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[CarveOne]

Set up your soft limits in EMC2 for the working area that your machine has. You will see a red box outline in Axis. Your project must be positioned to fit inside that box. Then you can "touch off" x,y, and z. If your project was set for home at the center of the project during gcode creation no offset is needed. If it is set to a location away from the project it will need offsets that keep your project within the box.

I have been away from board design for five years and the details become more murky with each week that passes. Here are some links from a quick Google search on "PCB Design":

http://www.pcbdesign.org/

http://www.alternatezone.com/electro...torialRevA.pdf

There are free calculators of all sorts online for design of controlled impedance traces, current carrying capacity, trace spacing, etc.


CarveOne