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Making a PCB using a plotter

rchadwick

I've got an old flatbed HPGL-compatible plotter, with a 0.25mm pen. Years ago, I used this setup to make PCB prototypes, but don't remember my software setup. Now it seems I'm about to start using Eagle, and I'm trying to figure out how to get it to make a functional PCB. I run the CAM processor, select HPGL, all the defaults, except I change the diameter to 0.25mm. Not wanting to waste a lot of time/ink, I ran it through a HPGL viewer, and the output looks like I selected 2mm instead of .25mm. Oddly, sometimes making the diameter bigger makes the output look better. Is 'Diameter' the pen diameter, or something else? Is there anything special I have to do to plot directly to a PCB?

Thanks!

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    On 02.10.2016 02:41, Robert Chadwick wrote:

    I've got an old flatbed HPGL-compatible plotter, with a 0.25mm pen. Years ago, I used this setup to make PCB prototypes, but don't remember my software setup. Now it seems I'm about to start using Eagle, and I'm trying to figure out how to get it to make a functional PCB. I run the CAM processor, select HPGL, all the defaults, except I change the diameter to 0.25mm. Not wanting to waste a lot of time/ink, I ran it through a HPGL viewer, and the output looks like I selected 2mm instead of .25mm. Oddly, sometimes making the diameter bigger makes the output look better. Is 'Diameter' the pen diameter, or something else? Is there anything special I have to do to plot directly to a PCB?

    Thanks!

     

    Play with the CAM processor. There is an output device called HPGL..

     

     

     

  • 0 in reply to autodeskguest

    On 03.10.2016 10:14, Morten Leikvoll wrote:

    On 02.10.2016 02:41, Robert Chadwick wrote:

    I've got an old flatbed HPGL-compatible plotter, with a 0.25mm pen.

    Years ago, I used this setup to make PCB prototypes, but don't

    remember my software setup. Now it seems I'm about to start using

    Eagle, and I'm trying to figure out how to get it to make a functional

    PCB. I run the CAM processor, select HPGL, all the defaults, except I

    change the diameter to 0.25mm. Not wanting to waste a lot of time/ink,

    I ran it through a HPGL viewer, and the output looks like I selected

    2mm instead of .25mm. Oddly, sometimes making the diameter bigger

    makes the output look better. Is 'Diameter' the pen diameter, or

    something else? Is there anything special I have to do to plot

    directly to a PCB?

    Thanks!

     

    Play with the CAM processor. There is an output device called HPGL..

     

     

    Sorry for not reading it all before replying. I should just shut up,

    cause I havent touched HPGL in ages myself image