Reducing number of drill sizes

Andrew Sterian wrote:

On 6/13/12 9:53 PM, Robert Scott wrote:

>> On Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:35:34 +0100, Tilmann Reh

>> <usenet2007nospam@autometer.de>  wrote:

>>

>>> Simply make use of drill tolerances in the CAM processor.

>>>

>>> First, run drillcfg.ulp to collect all drill sizes in the board.

>>> You can edit the list (remove unnecessary values) before saving it

>>> to a file.

>>>

>>> After that, use a drill device with separate rack file (I normally

>>> use SM1000). Set the drill tolerances to reasonable values (like

>>> +/- 3%). The CAM processor will simply use the "nearest fit" within

>>> the tolerances for all drills that are not exactly in the rack.

>>

>> What devices can I select for this purpose?  I intent to send out the

>> files to Advanced Circuits in Colorado for manufacturing.  I think

>> they expect a single NC drill data file that contains both the drill

>> sizes and the hole locations.  But when I use SM1000 or Excelon Rack

>> as the device, the .DRD file contains only hole location data - not

>> the drill sizes.  There are drill sizes in the .DRL file and in the

>> DRI file, but I don't think Advanced Circuits knows what to do with

>> either of these files - at least that's what it looks like when I try

>> to include them in an upload to FreeDFM.com - an automatic design

>> file verification tool of Advanced Circuits.

>>

>> How can I get the benefit of editing my own drill rack file and still

>> produce a NC drill file for the board house that has all the data?

>>

>> Robert Scott

>> Ypsilanti, Michigan

 

Don't bother with your own drill rack file. Just use the "EXCELLON"

device and let Advanced Circuits figure it out. The number of

manufacturers that expect you to use a set of predefined sizes is

dwindling (I think Sunstone is still a holdout). I've sent in files

with

0.032" drills and 0.0315" drills (etc.) and have never had a problem.

 

Andrew.

Many of the board house websites explain the drill size rounding they do.

They have many many sizes so you should not have an issue other than cost if

you have to many different sizes.

So visit the sites of potential suppliers to understand.

HTH

Warren

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On 6/13/12 9:53 PM, Robert Scott wrote:

On Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:35:34 +0100, Tilmann Reh

<usenet2007nospam@autometer.de>  wrote:

 

>> Simply make use of drill tolerances in the CAM processor.

>>

>> First, run drillcfg.ulp to collect all drill sizes in the board. You can

>> edit the list (remove unnecessary values) before saving it to a file.

>>

>> After that, use a drill device with separate rack file (I normally use

>> SM1000). Set the drill tolerances to reasonable values (like +/- 3%).

>> The CAM processor will simply use the "nearest fit" within the

>> tolerances for all drills that are not exactly in the rack.

 

What devices can I select for this purpose?  I intent to send out the

files to Advanced Circuits in Colorado for manufacturing.  I think

they expect a single NC drill data file that contains both the drill

sizes and the hole locations.  But when I use SM1000 or Excelon Rack

as the device, the .DRD file contains only hole location data - not

the drill sizes.  There are drill sizes in the .DRL file and in the

DRI file, but I don't think Advanced Circuits knows what to do with

either of these files - at least that's what it looks like when I try

to include them in an upload to FreeDFM.com - an automatic design file

verification tool of Advanced Circuits.

 

How can I get the benefit of editing my own drill rack file and still

produce a NC drill file for the board house that has all the data?

 

Robert Scott

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Don't bother with your own drill rack file. Just use the "EXCELLON"

device and let Advanced Circuits figure it out. The number of

manufacturers that expect you to use a set of predefined sizes is

dwindling (I think Sunstone is still a holdout). I've sent in files with

0.032" drills and 0.0315" drills (etc.) and have never had a problem.

Andrew.

On Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:35:34 +0100, Tilmann Reh

<usenet2007nospam@autometer.de> wrote:

>Simply make use of drill tolerances in the CAM processor.

>First, run drillcfg.ulp to collect all drill sizes in the board. You can

>edit the list (remove unnecessary values) before saving it to a file.

>After that, use a drill device with separate rack file (I normally use

>SM1000). Set the drill tolerances to reasonable values (like +/- 3%).

>The CAM processor will simply use the "nearest fit" within the

>tolerances for all drills that are not exactly in the rack.

What devices can I select for this purpose?  I intent to send out the

files to Advanced Circuits in Colorado for manufacturing.  I think

they expect a single NC drill data file that contains both the drill

sizes and the hole locations.  But when I use SM1000 or Excelon Rack

as the device, the .DRD file contains only hole location data - not

the drill sizes.  There are drill sizes in the .DRL file and in the

DRI file, but I don't think Advanced Circuits knows what to do with

either of these files - at least that's what it looks like when I try

to include them in an upload to FreeDFM.com - an automatic design file

verification tool of Advanced Circuits.

How can I get the benefit of editing my own drill rack file and still

produce a NC drill file for the board house that has all the data?

Robert Scott

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Robert Scott schrieb:

When parts are loaded from various Eagle libraries, the hole sizes in

through-hole parts can have all sorts of values.  Some board

manufacturers charge extra if too many drill sizes are needed.  It

seems it would be desirable to make some compromises on the hole sizes

to prevent, for instance, 0.039" holes and 0.040" holes in the same

design.  Most likely these two sets of holes could be all one size.

Is there any built-in way in Eagle to accomplish this?  I know I could

copy all the various parts from the Eagle libraries and make my own

custom versions of those parts for a given project in a special

project library.  But that is a lot of work.  Is there an easier way?

Simply make use of drill tolerances in the CAM processor.

First, run drillcfg.ulp to collect all drill sizes in the board. You can

edit the list (remove unnecessary values) before saving it to a file.

After that, use a drill device with separate rack file (I normally use

SM1000). Set the drill tolerances to reasonable values (like +/- 3%).

The CAM processor will simply use the "nearest fit" within the

tolerances for all drills that are not exactly in the rack.

Tilmann

P.S. Besides, it's always good to have your own libraries with correct

and contiguous drill (and other) sizes.