1 Introduction

Many PCB-Layout programs (software for designing Printed Circuit Boards) are able to create production data for drilling printed circuit boards in Excellon format but most CNC-machines can not process the data directly. Conequently data have to be converted to a readable format. This task can be done using the Excellon to G-Code convertor.

2 Functionality

• convesion of Execellon-files to DIN G-Code

• user definable code for tool change

• scaling and movement of geometry data

• adjust numeric input data format

• creation of drilling path either as G00/G01-commands or G79/G81 drill cycles with user configuration of drill strategy

• creation of tool definition file for AkkonDesk

3 Conversion result

Figure 1 shows an example ot the conversion result. Each time a x or y coordinate movement is identified the convertor adds an up command in the output file, writes the x- of y-command and adds a down command. As different machines have diefferent code for tool change the user can also specify macros that will be added befor and after a tool change.

Example:

Macro text for tool change

; before

; G00 Z30

Macro text after tool change

; after

; M06

Zuvor		Danach
M72 M48 T1F00S00C0.028 T2F00S00C0.032 T3F00S00C0.034 % T01 X03040Y03540 Y03840 X03140 X03240 X03340 X03240Y03540 X03140 X04030Y03520 Y03820 X06570 Y03920 Y04020 Y04120 Y04220 Y04320 Y04560 Y04660 X06870 Y04560 Y04320 Y04220 .... .... ....		; Conversion done by ETC_WIN ; The file can be run with a CNC-Machine ; (c) Gerhard Burger, June 2005, Version 1.0 ; for updates check http://members.aon.at/geburger/ ; ---------------------------------------------- ; ; M72 Attention tool diameter indecated in inches ; M48 ; T1 F00 S00 C0.028 ; Tool-definition ; T2 F00 S00 C0.032 ; Tool-definition ; T3 F00 S00 C0.034 ; Tool-definition ;% of Header Definition ; zuvor G00 Z30 T01 ; danach M06 G00 X77.216 Y89.916 G01 Z-2.0 G00 Z1.00 G00 Y97.536 G01 Z-2.0 G00 Z1.00 G00 X79.756 G01 Z-2.0 G00 Z1.00 G00 X82.296 G01 Z-2.0 G00 Z1.00 G00 X84.836 G01 Z-2.0 ... ... M30

Figure 1: Conversion result of a "drl"-File and conversion result of G-Code

4 Downloads

File type	note	Description
	ETC	Converts Excellon-Files to G-Code. The program is freeware for non commercial use. Program Version 1.3, last update 3rd of February 2009