FlatCAM 8.994 Beta Tips

I'll be adding here some tips and how-tos on how on FlatCAM 8.994, an Open-Source PCB CAM tool.

This is a work in progress and it's mostly for my own reference. I'll be updating it as I discover new stuff. Note that procedures shown may not be correct or the most efficient. This is provided "as is".

FlatCAM's website: http://flatcam.org/

Installation: https://bitbucket.org/jpcgt/flatcam/downloads/

Create and save new project:

Load Gerbers & Excellon:

Single-sided isolation routing:

On the left pane, double-click your front copper gerber, and you'll be taken to a Properties window. Choose Isolation routing. If the left pane somehow disappears, you may go to View > Toggle project/Properties/Tool.

On tools & tools library:

From within the isolation window, delete default tools and choose the tool you want to use, or create a new one. See the screenshow on how to do so.

Here is how to configure a traditional V bit.

To be continued... Soon (TM) Don't you find it annoying when you are faced with this words, only to see the post is three years old? :)

Example PCBs

LED flasher schematic

Working demonstration

Rev. A PCB

0.5 & 0.8 mm traces (20 & 30 mil). Isolation routing, 0.1 mm depth, single pass. A pain to solder.

Rev. B PCB

0.3 & 0.5 mm traces (20 & 10 mil). Isolation routing, 0.1 mm depth, single pass (approx 2-3 min). Copper clear (approx 15 min). Easy to solder. Cleaning traces with an abrasive sponge is a bad idea with this thin traces...

Bottom left: Guess which one was done before and which one after tightening the screws on my CNC machine.

Comments

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