CAMTASTIC_Cmd-ToolsMillAutoToolsMillAuto_AD

Applied Parameters: CommandMode=NC

Summary

This command is used to create a routing path around the entire board, using the PCB border.

Access

This command is accessed from the CAMtastic Editor by choosing the Rout » Auto-Rout PCB Border command from the main menus.

Use

First, ensure that the PCB border is a single, closed boundary. You may need to use the Join command to effect this.

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a small square and you will be prompted to select the corner of the border in which to position the plunge and retract points for the path. Simply position the cursor over the border and click - the corner selected will be the one closest to the position you click.

You will then be prompted to choose the routing direction. A guideline is provided relative to the selected corner of the border, to aid you. Position the cursor in the general direction that you wish to rout and click - the Auto Rout PCB dialog appears. Use this dialog to select the tool that you wish to use to rout the border, and also specify plunge and retract point extensions.

After defining the rout options as required, click OK. The rout path will be created and added to the rout layer.

Tips

1. The direction point must be set in an adjacent position to the border's edge.
2. If the tool you choose for the routing has no defined cutter compensation, a dialog will appear asking whether you wish to assign a default value. This default value will be the same size as the tool itself.
3. At least one drill tool must be defined in order to use this command. If no tools have been defined, launching this command will bring up a dialog alerting you to this fact and you will be guided to the Tool Table dialog (Tables » NC Tools), from where you can load drill data from file, or enter tool definitions manually.
4. The rout layer will be created (if it does not exist already) based on the name of the layer from which the PCB border was used.