How do I create holes and positions from imported DXF

Hi Sean,

I posted this on your other thread in the suggest forum first then saw this so I am reposting in this thread which seems more live. Anyway, I thought this was an interesting query so decided to write a ULP to do this. Save the code below as circleToHole.ulp.

#usage "en: Adds a hole at the location and size of the selected circle\n"

           "run circleToHole install - to install to the boards context menu"

 

 

if (argv[1] == "install") {

    exit("edit .brd; set context circle 'Place hole (Non-PT)...' 'run circleToHole';"

         "           set context circle 'Place hole (PT)...' 'run circleToHole plated';");

} else {

 

   string cmd="";

   string grid="mil";

 

   if (board) {

      board(B) {

         if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_MIC) {

            grid = "mic";

         } else {

            if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_MM) {

               grid = "mm";

            } else {

               if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_INCH) {

                  grid = "in";

               }

            }

         }

         B.circles(C) {

            if (ingroup(C)) {

               if (argv[1] == "plated") {

                  sprintf(cmd, "GRID mil; VIA %f Round 1-16 (%f %f); CHA DRI %f (%f %f); GRID %s;", 2.0 * u2mil(C.radius), u2mil(C.x), u2mil(C.y), 2.0 * u2mil(C.radius), u2mil(C.x), u2mil(C.y), grid);

               } else {

                  sprintf(cmd, "GRID mil; HOLE %f (%f %f); GRID %s;", 2.0 * u2mil(C.radius), u2mil(C.x), u2mil(C.y), grid);

               }

            }

         }

      }

   }

 

   exit(cmd);

 

}

Then in the board do:

     run circleToHole install <return>

Then two context menu items will appear when you right click on circles in imported DXF's relating to hole positions (actually any circle but I can't easily differentiate). You can then select to insert a non-plated or a plated hole (which is just a via).

Best Regards,

Rachael

Hi Rachael,

great ULP. Thank you.

-Richard

Am 28.05.2016 um 00:22 schrieb rachaelp:

Hi Sean,

 

I posted this on your other thread in the suggest forum first then saw this so I am reposting in this thread which seems more live. Anyway, I thought this was an interesting query so decided to write a ULP to do this. Save the code below as circleToHole.ulp.

 

#usage "en: Adds a hole at the location and size of the selected circle\n"

            "run circleToHole install - to install to the boards context menu"

 

 

if (argv[1] == "install") {

     exit("edit .brd; set context circle 'Place hole (Non-PT)...' 'run circleToHole';"

          "           set context circle 'Place hole (PT)...' 'run circleToHole plated';");

} else {

 

    string cmd="";

    string grid="mil";

 

    if (board) {

       board(B) {

          if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_MIC) {

             grid = "mic";

          } else {

             if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_MM) {

                grid = "mm";

             } else {

                if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_INCH) {

                   grid = "in";

                }

             }

          }

          B.circles(C) {

             if (ingroup(C)) {

                if (argv[1] == "plated") {

                   sprintf(cmd, "GRID mil; VIA %f Round 1-16 (%f %f); CHA DRI %f (%f %f); GRID %s;", 2.0 * u2mil(C.radius), u2mil(C.x), u2mil(C.y), 2.0 * u2mil(C.radius), u2mil(C.x), u2mil(C.y), grid);

                } else {

                   sprintf(cmd, "GRID mil; HOLE %f (%f %f); GRID %s;", 2.0 * u2mil(C.radius), u2mil(C.x), u2mil(C.y), grid);

                }

             }

          }

       }

    }

 

    exit(cmd);

 

}

Then in the board do:

 

      run circleToHole install <return>

 

Then two context menu items will appear when you right click on circles in imported DXF's relating to hole positions (actually any circle but I can't easily differentiate). You can then select to insert a non-plated or a plated hole (which is just a via).

 

Best Regards,

 

Rachael

 

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  CadSoft Support -- hotline@cadsoft.de

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Am 30.05.2016 um 14:24 schrieb Sean Hearder:

So i seem to be battling. I have imported the DXF for the CAD drawing which gives me my layout of where i want LEDs etc. It appears my holes are drawn as 4 1/4 round segments so selecting only selects one quadrant and not a full circle. How do i join the quadrants into circles. I saved the ULP but it doesn't work even if i select all 4 quadrants of the circle/hole.

 

I have been battling for hours. First time i am trying something like this BU it is much easier to design the PC board around the panel

 

Hi again,

what info shows the "info of your quadrant?

Is it an arc?

If so than we(or racelp thanks for the ulp ) can think about

it (b.arc).

The issue: if the ulp goes straight throu all "arc" we get 4 holes per

dxf Hole.

HTH

werner

Hey there here is the info. I copied and saved the ULP and even when i selected all arcs/quadrants and ran the ULP it did nothing - it does indicate that the ULP did run and says "Finished" but nothing to be seen.

I have also attached the SCR which will create the PC board i am lookng for. the 5mm circles are LED placements all other holes are to be cut out and the rectangle is also a cutout. The outside rectangle should move to dimension and is the boarder of the PCB. I will machine this with my CNC from DS 300mmx300mm PCB

Hi Sean,

It currently won't work for arcs, it only works for circles. I'll update it and see if I can make it work for you.

Best Regards,

Rachael

That will be awesome. Thanks SO much. I tried to attach the SCR file but not allowed. I tried a couple of CAD packages and in Rhino if i join the arcs i get smaller segments in Eagle.

Here is the DXF attached.

Hi Sean,

The below should help. save it as arcToHole.ulp and then issue:

run arcToHole install <return>

This will add the insert hole options to the WIRE context menu. I'll only add holes to arcs but just be aware that is where it is. So DO NOT GROUP all the arcs in your circle when you run this or you will end up with multiple holes in the same location.

I tried changing it along the lines of Lorenz's suggestion earlier to avoid needing to mess with the grid but it wasn't doing as I expected so have kept my original method for now. If I get the simpler way working I will update.

#usage "en: Adds a hole at the location and size of the selected arc\n"

           "run arcToHole install - to install to the boards context menu"

           "WARNING: ARC'S EXIST AS WIRES SO THIS ULP CAN ADD TO ANY WIRE WITH ARCS"

if (argv[1] == "install") {

    exit("edit .brd; set context wire 'Place hole (Non-PT)...' 'run arcToHole';"

         "           set context wire 'Place hole (PT)...' 'run arcToHole plated';");

} else {

   string cmd="";

   string grid="mil";

   if (board) {

      board(B) {

         if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_MIC) {

            grid = "mic";

         } else if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_MM) {

            grid = "mm";

         } else if (B.grid.unit == GRID_UNIT_INCH) {

            grid = "in";

         }

         B.wires(W) {

            if (ingroup(W)) {

               if (W.arc) {

                  if (argv[1] == "plated") {

                     sprintf(cmd, "GRID mil; VIA %f Round 1-16 (%f %f); CHA DRI %f (%f %f); GRID %s;", 2.0 * u2mil(W.arc.radius), u2mil(W.arc.xc), u2mil(W.arc.yc), 2.0 * u2mil(W.arc.radius), u2mil(W.arc.xc), u2mil(W.arc.yc), grid);

                  } else {

                     sprintf(cmd, "GRID mil; HOLE %f (%f %f); GRID %s;", 2.0 * u2mil(W.arc.radius), u2mil(W.arc.xc), u2mil(W.arc.yc), grid);

                  }

               }

            }

         }

      }

   }

   exit(cmd);

}

Best Regards,

Rachael

Hi Sean,

I just imported your dxf and then used the script I just posted and I can successfully add holes by right clicking on a single arc segment of a circle and selecting the hole type to insert.

Let me know if you have any more issues.

Best Regards,

Rachael

Many thanks for all your assistance. Si i have a new ULP now ArcToHole

I run it and get:

Run: ArcToHole.ULP: Finished. I right click a segment but i get no option to create a hole:

How did you initially run it? Did you remember to put install on the end?

Ok i have the hole menu now. Some reason it didn't add. Let me play around

I must have typo'd. Works now. On thew right there is a rectangle which is where a LCD screen will go what is the easiest way to make that a hole?

I must have typo'd. Works now. On thew right there is a rectangle which is where a LCD screen will go what is the easiest way to make that a hole?

Hi Sean,

Sean Hearder wrote:

 

I must have typo'd. Works now. On thew right there is a rectangle which is where a LCD screen will go what is the easiest way to make that a hole?

Copy the rectangle to the Dimension (20) and Milling (46) layers and make a note on your drawings to indicate this is a cut out. Also make sure you adequately communicate this with your PCB vendor. If you are using Eurocircuits, they can import the .brd file directly then in their PCB visualizer you can select it and mark it as a cut out in the section to edit milling.

Best Regards,

Rachael

Thanks Rachael. I am going to mill the board myself with the CNC.