Re: Can a ULP initiate a CAM job?

I suspect you can. But I haven't confirmed this before writing.

Your ULP could use the system() command to launch a second silent instance

of eagle to run your CAM job. Worth looking into.

Warren

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On 03/19/2013 06:17 PM, Warren Brayshaw wrote:

I suspect you can. But I haven't confirmed this before writing.

Your ULP could use the system() command to launch a second silent instance

of eagle to run your CAM job. Worth looking into.

Warren,

I use this method on every new board I make now.  I have gotten rid of

most of my .cam files migrating each project to use "camprep.ulp", which

produces a shell script that gets executed just before the ULP exits.  I

wrote this strictly for linux.  It probably works on Macs, and Windows

may need some modifications.  The shell script produced also launches

"gerbv" to preview the gerber files.

The CAM processor does essentially the same thing, which is why you have

to save the board before running the CAM job.  But instead of having

different cam jobs for every project, I have just one ULP that handles it.

camprep.ulp will detect a "-Array" in the board file name, in which case

it assumes that the board is a product of "panelize.ulp" and replaces

layers 25 and 26 with layers 125 and 126 respectively.  I have not

tested it with blind or burried vias.

Near the start of the ULP, it calls "fixdrills.ulp" which rounds all the

vias to the nearest mil, and it also saves the board.  You can comment

these out if you don't need it.

Bottom line is that it comes without warranty.  It's decently commented

and works for me, which meets my requirements.  Modify at will to suit

your needs.

Attached is a sample shell script that is produced, and the camprep.ulp.

HTH,

    - Chuck

On 03/19/2013 06:17 PM, Warren Brayshaw wrote:

I suspect you can. But I haven't confirmed this before writing.

Your ULP could use the system() command to launch a second silent instance

of eagle to run your CAM job. Worth looking into.

Warren,

I use this method on every new board I make now.  I have gotten rid of

most of my .cam files migrating each project to use "camprep.ulp", which

produces a shell script that gets executed just before the ULP exits.  I

wrote this strictly for linux.  It probably works on Macs, and Windows

may need some modifications.  The shell script produced also launches

"gerbv" to preview the gerber files.

The CAM processor does essentially the same thing, which is why you have

to save the board before running the CAM job.  But instead of having

different cam jobs for every project, I have just one ULP that handles it.

camprep.ulp will detect a "-Array" in the board file name, in which case

it assumes that the board is a product of "panelize.ulp" and replaces

layers 25 and 26 with layers 125 and 126 respectively.  I have not

tested it with blind or burried vias.

Near the start of the ULP, it calls "fixdrills.ulp" which rounds all the

vias to the nearest mil, and it also saves the board.  You can comment

these out if you don't need it.

Bottom line is that it comes without warranty.  It's decently commented

and works for me, which meets my requirements.  Modify at will to suit

your needs.

Attached is a sample shell script that is produced, and the camprep.ulp.

HTH,

    - Chuck