isel_icv4030:milling_pcb_s_v2

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isel_icv4030:milling_pcb_s_v2 [2024/09/06 05:09] – [Single layered PCB] formlabisel_icv4030:milling_pcb_s_v2 [2025/08/18 02:48] (current) – [Single layered PCB] formlab
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 ===== Single layered PCB ===== ===== Single layered PCB =====
-You will be milling the copper away. Soldering is done on the copper side. The components go on the other side, so in the PCB software, make the traces on the **bottom layer**!+You will be milling the copper away. Soldering is done on the copper side. The components go on the other side, so in the PCB software, make the traces on the **bottom layer**! (This layer will still be mirrored horizontally later).
  
-Make circuit and PCB layout in Kicad. Save the Kicad project.+Make circuit and PCB layout in Kicad.  
 +  * Set a margin of 0.5mm 
 +  * Use 1mm wide traces 
 +  * Try to enlarge the pads as much as possible while respecting the margin. You can speed up the process for similar components by changing 1 pad, then choose ''Copy pad properties to default'' from the context menu. Then set the selection filter (right bottom window) to only pads. Box select to select all wanted pads choose ''Paste default pad properties to selected''. 
 +  * Don't draw GND tracks, as you'll use a ground plane (copper pour) with the option 'fill zone'. This prevents unnecessary overlapping track geometry in Freecad & Rhino. 
 + 
 +Save the Kicad project.
  
   * Open Freecad   * Open Freecad
-  * Select the KicadStepUp workbench +  * Select the KicadStepUp workbench. 
-  * Click the ''Load Board'' icon and select the Kicad pcb file (.kicad_pcb extension)+    * If this workbench isn't there. Install it: 
 +      * **automatically**: Freecad > Tools > Addon manager. Search for "KicadStepUp" and click install 
 +      * **Manually**: copy the [[https://github.com/easyw/kicadStepUpMod/?tab=readme-ov-file|kicadStepUpMod folder from Github]] to the computer: ~/Library/Application Support/FreeCAD/Mod/kicadStepUpMod 
 + 
 +  * Click the {{:isel_icv4030:kicad-loadboard-icon.png?50|}} ''Load Board'' icon and select the Kicad pcb file (.kicad_pcb extension) 
 +    * Click OK on a few popups
     * The PCB without the pads and traces appears     * The PCB without the pads and traces appears
-  * Click the ''Add tracks'' icon and select the same Kicad pcb file (.kicad_pcb extension)+  * Click the {{:isel_icv4030:kicad-addtracks-icon.png?50|}}''Add tracks'' icon and select the same Kicad pcb file (.kicad_pcb extension)
     * The pads and traces appear     * The pads and traces appear
-  * Select the top object (more info please) and export (file > export. Select STEP).+  * In the model panel, select the top object and export: file > export. Select STEP. 
 +  * {{:isel_icv4030:freecad-select-top-object.png?200|}}
  
 Open Fusion 360 Open Fusion 360
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  * Delete the ''PCB sketch'' and the ''top pads'' components  * Delete the ''PCB sketch'' and the ''top pads'' components
  
-Align the pads with the tracks+Align the pads with the tracks on the Z-axis:
   * Select the bottom pads components and press ''M''.   * Select the bottom pads components and press ''M''.
   * Move the pads up ''0.01mm''. Now they are exactly the same height as the traces. (Check in side view)   * Move the pads up ''0.01mm''. Now they are exactly the same height as the traces. (Check in side view)
  
-Extrude the pads+Extrude the pads. The pads are positioned just below the PCB. Extrude them into the PCB:
   * Only show the pad component   * Only show the pad component
   * Press ''E'' to extrude. (You might be asked to capture the location of the object, click ''Capture'').   * Press ''E'' to extrude. (You might be asked to capture the location of the object, click ''Capture'').
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   * You can now show the PCB component to make sure you're extruding into it.   * You can now show the PCB component to make sure you're extruding into it.
   * Set distance to ''0.02mm'' upwards and operation to ''New body''   * Set distance to ''0.02mm'' upwards and operation to ''New body''
 +
 +Info: We're not joining because due to the many faces overlapping each other this often doesn't work.
  
 Extrude the tracks Extrude the tracks
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   * Press ''E'' to extrude.   * Press ''E'' to extrude.
   * Drag a selection rectangle over all the tracks.   * Drag a selection rectangle over all the tracks.
-  * You can now show the PCB component again to make sure you're extruding into it. 
   * Set distance to ''0.02mm'' upwards and operation to ''New body''   * Set distance to ''0.02mm'' upwards and operation to ''New body''
  
-Info: We're not joining because due to the many faces overlapping each other this often doesn't work.+Extrude the zones (if you have any) 
 +  * Only show the zones component 
 +  * Press ''E'' to extrude. 
 +  * Drag a selection rectangle over the zones. 
 +  * Set distance to ''0.02mm'' upwards and operation to ''New body''
  
 Go to Manufacture mode Go to Manufacture mode
-  * Create a setup and select all objects (PCB, tracks and Pads) as the model.+  * Create a setup and select all objects (PCB, tracks, Pads and zones) as the model.
   * Add a drilling operation   * Add a drilling operation
-    * Select the hole face of the hole through the copper. For some reason it doesn't work with the hole in the PCB object.+    * Select the hole face of the hole through the copper. If that doesn't work, try on the holes of the PCB object.
     * Check ''select same diameter''.     * Check ''select same diameter''.
     * Set the bottom height to ''bottom height: lowest of model -0.1mm''     * Set the bottom height to ''bottom height: lowest of model -0.1mm''
-  * Add a 3D contour option and set the bottom height to ''top height -0.1mm''.+  * Add a 3D contour operation and set the bottom height to ''top height -0.1mm''.
  
 Todo:  Todo: 
  • isel_icv4030/milling_pcb_s_v2.1725624571.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2024/09/06 05:09
  • by formlab