PDF copper side to Gcode?

[Konstantin]

Hello.
I am finishing building a small cnc pcb milling machine and I dont know the basic things about PCB milling, software wise. How do I create the gcode from the pdf files I see around with copper image on them?
Please be as specific as you can.
Thanks.

[acondit]

I believe that the pdf files are designed for people who are printing (iron on, print on, photo exposure, etc) the image on the bare pcb as "resist" and then chemically etching the pcb.

Alan

[Konstantin]

That is correct. And I have done pcbs with toner-iron technology quite a few times. Now I would like to do isolation routing.
So thats basically my question, how to go from the pdf to gcode.
Some people work hard on their pcb designs in Eagle and are generous enough to put copper side artwork, I dont think no one gives out the Eagle brd files anymore. I read that there is a ulp for gcode but thats another topic.

[bill south]

Try the PDF to DXF converter from aidecad.com (i think). I've used it for conversions (trial version only) and it's quite impressive.
Good Luck.
Bill

[Konstantin]

What do I do with the resulting DXF then?

[acondit]

Convert the dxf to gcode. That is what a lot of people do with their CAD files. There are a number of programs to convert DXF files to gcode.

Alan