CAM Program for Hitachi Laser Drilling Machine on PCB

Hi Flech

I am a DEM (Do Everything My selves) fan and create my own optimizations and even tool paths.

With Pascal and now Delphi (or anything) I calculate, sort and produces a tool path which can be dumped or drip fed into the machine.

Here is a basic idea:

First I select a starting point - typically x0,y0 == Xc=0 Yc=0

then select the closest hole to the current one.

set Dn (distance near) = max.

for all remaining points

Di = Distance i = squrt ( (Xi-Xc)² + (Yi-Yc) ) then

compare for closest with Dn and save closest i into C and

Di into Dn

the final i is then taken as the next point in the tool path and marked as used or removed.

The process is then completed for all the points.

Result is a reasonable optimization but it can be improved.

For example if a centre point of a DIP is chosen first there are 2 points at equal distance available and choosing the other one may be better.

Does the Hitachi use G code ?

Are all the holes the same?

Hi Hendrik

Thank you very much for your comments.

In fact our laser equipment is drilling different size of holes and is also capable of routing. We just do not master properly the program sequence I believe. For instance, when we have to route a part (cut the edge), we have to programme point by point instead of drawing a line in any CAD system (AUTOCAD or other).

I do not know if it uses G code. I'll ask Hitachi support about this.

The missing link for us is normally a software between a CAD system and a CAM system. I remember some softs in the past called CAMCAD connexion. It works something like you describe. But I do not intend to write the program by myself (I am sure it exists over the planet)

Thanks you again,

Hi Flech

Have a look at Master-Cam for example. It does the drawing and output a tool path. One can run a post processor in it to suit your machine.

ok i found a cool program

Circuit Wizard

http://www.new-wave-concepts.com/