GC-Prevue and EagleCAD

"Doug Miller" <user@default.dom> wrote in message

news:fqk2bc$vq9$1@cheetah.cadsoft.de...

Hello,

 

When I generate RS274X and Excellon files for my project I import into

GC-Preview to double check the gerbers.  I get a weird error about

"WARNING: Zeror and/or negative dimension tools detected in the floowing

tool tables:" and 2 of the gerber files are listed (my .pls and .plc

files).

 

I can open the aperture list and I see a 0.0 dimension 1 value for one of

the entries.  Any idea why, or how to track this down and fix it?  I

shouldn't be having zero dimension apertures generated, should I?

 

Thanks,

 

Doug

With a little more playing around, it appears that it is holes that are

putting a 0.0000 dimension object on the silkscreen layers.  I understand

they are used to place restrictions on the autorouter.  Is there a way to

disable this though, say, if you don't ever use the autorouter?  Or possibly

have the GERBER_RS274X device not output dimensions with aperature size of

zero?

Thanks!

Doug

Doug Miller schrieb:

When I generate RS274X and Excellon files for my project I import into

GC-Preview to double check the gerbers.  I get a weird error about

"WARNING: Zeror and/or negative dimension tools detected in the floowing

tool tables:" and 2 of the gerber files are listed (my .pls and .plc

files).

 

I can open the aperture list and I see a 0.0 dimension 1 value for one of

the entries.  Any idea why, or how to track this down and fix it?  I

shouldn't be having zero dimension apertures generated, should I?

 

With a little more playing around, it appears that it is holes that are

putting a 0.0000 dimension object on the silkscreen layers.  I understand

they are used to place restrictions on the autorouter.  Is there a way to

disable this though, say, if you don't ever use the autorouter?  Or possibly

have the GERBER_RS274X device not output dimensions with aperature size of

zero?

Due to these implicit objects in the dimension layer, I always recommend

to not use this layer for generating the outline data of the board.

Simply draw a narrow line (0.01mm for example) in the milling layer, and

use this layer to generate the outline data for the board house. The

line should be very narrow to avoid discussions which of the three

possible interpretations (inner, center, outer) is valid.

I use the dimension layer only for documentation (i.e. the board outline

is drawn with a somethat wider line, so it appears nice on printouts). I

have requested several times to either remove these implicit objects

from the dimension layer, or make its width adjustable, but this has not

been fixed for many years now.

Tilmann

"Tilmann Reh" <tilmannreh@despammed.com> wrote in message

news:fqlgqe$1ej$1@cheetah.cadsoft.de...

Doug Miller schrieb:

 

When I generate RS274X and Excellon files for my project I import into

GC-Preview to double check the gerbers.  I get a weird error about

"WARNING: Zeror and/or negative dimension tools detected in the floowing

tool tables:" and 2 of the gerber files are listed (my .pls and .plc

files).

 

I can open the aperture list and I see a 0.0 dimension 1 value for one

of

the entries.  Any idea why, or how to track this down and fix it?  I

shouldn't be having zero dimension apertures generated, should I?

 

With a little more playing around, it appears that it is holes that are

putting a 0.0000 dimension object on the silkscreen layers.  I understand

they are used to place restrictions on the autorouter.  Is there a way to

disable this though, say, if you don't ever use the autorouter?  Or

possibly

have the GERBER_RS274X device not output dimensions with aperature size

of

zero?

 

Due to these implicit objects in the dimension layer, I always recommend

to not use this layer for generating the outline data of the board.

 

Simply draw a narrow line (0.01mm for example) in the milling layer, and

use this layer to generate the outline data for the board house. The

line should be very narrow to avoid discussions which of the three

possible interpretations (inner, center, outer) is valid.

 

I use the dimension layer only for documentation (i.e. the board outline

is drawn with a somethat wider line, so it appears nice on printouts). I

have requested several times to either remove these implicit objects

from the dimension layer, or make its width adjustable, but this has not

been fixed for many years now.

 

Tilmann

Tilmann,

That's a great suggestion.  I think I will follow your practice and utilize

the milling layer for the actual board outline.

Thanks a million,

Doug

"Tilmann Reh" <tilmannreh@despammed.com> wrote in message

...

is drawn with a somethat wider line, so it appears nice on printouts). I

have requested several times to either remove these implicit objects

from the dimension layer, or make its width adjustable, but this has not

been fixed for many years now.

 

Tilmann

Being precise: nobody remembers except you. No offense. See "Newsgroup

limitations" in eagle.suggest.eng. I have thought about this every so often,

but your statement here and another one elsewhere gave me reason to write a

bit more about it... though I am sure nobody remembers it in a week. For the

same reason.

T.

 

Tilmann,

 

That's a great suggestion.  I think I will follow your practice and

utilize the milling layer for the actual board outline.

 

Thanks a million,

 

Doug