Newer
Older
- Compile `OldRoCo` [repo](https://git.uclalemur.com/mehtank/oldroco)
- Record of modification:
- ++line 8 of `vstart.sh`
- --> `pip install -r requirements.txt --user`
- Export `paperbot` dxf file : `graph-silhouette.dxf` to `OnShape`
- Record of Tips:
- Onshape does not read dxf file as its own saved unit. Manual settings needed when import.
- Draw circuit diagram as CAD on `Onshape`
- Multiple connection approaches:
- `Cross` shape of `0.039 in`
- `Cross` shape of `0.049 in`
- `Octangular` shape of `0.049 in`
- 
- 
- Note and issue:
- `Octangular` shape is the best connection approach so far, but none of approach has stable conductivity. More research is needed.
- Scratches can be made easily when attaching microcontroller to the sheet. Potential disconnection may occur due to such scratches on metal layer.
- Export 2D CAD drawing with PCB to SVG for silhouette cameo
- Record of Tips:
- `OnShape` unit need to be consisted with unit setting in `Inkscape` (default: mm)
- Plugin `Inkscape-silhouette` cannot take multiple types of trace for cutting.
- Different trace (especially cut and etching) need to be sent separately. Use `coordinate tool` of `Inkscape` to ensure separated cuts have same origin.
- TODO:
- Cut and etching from same `Inkscape` file
##### Connection and fabrication approach confirmed !
- Confirm that copper tape has better conductivity than aluminum sheet when attaching microcontroller pins through `H-shape` cut
- Copper tape is harder to be scratched, which provides less risk of disconnection during assembly.
- Etching on copper type isolates connections
- Research on PCB editor
- EAGLE
- EAGLE cannot import `.pcb` file
- `svg` can be exported but not imported
- Custom library needed if doing schematic design
- KiCad
- Can import `.pcb` file
- `svg` can be exported but not imported
- LayoutEditor
- support multiply file type
- `svg` can be exported with different color makers as multiple layers
- include open-sourced auto-router `freerouting`
- Auto-routing package:
- TopoR
- Python-PCB
- FreeRouting
- `A`. convert SVG/DXF file to schematic/board design of PCB. Use KiCAD or EAGLE to do auto routing.
- `B`. develop algorithm on auto routing for single layer svg/dxf file. (path finding problem)
- Use regular shape board for PCB in EAGLE/KiCAD
- image processing: divide the shape of `paperbot` to multiple rectangles (ezdxf)
- Pull required connections and place additional header pins around edges of each rectangle
- Make each connection pin to be two parallel connections so auto-router does parallel trace for each wiring.
- Etching a pair of parallel trace provides isolation, and leave the space between traces to be conductible.
- Build Library for schematic design
- Schematic design helps with router to know desired connection
##### Approach `B`
- Potential needed functions of packages
- A script that pulls out pins' coordinate on paper chassis
- Or a image process package (OpenCV) that reads pins' coordinate on paper chassis
- A package solves multi-node path finding problem*
##### Record of Research
- Python Pathfinding package:
- [pathfinding](https://pypi.org/project/pathfinding/#description)
- Python DXF editor:
- [ezdxf](https://pypi.org/project/ezdxf/)
- [dxfgrabber](https://pypi.org/project/dxfgrabber/)
- `Note`: able to grab simple geometry from file
- [sdxf](http://www.kellbot.com/sdxf-python-library-for-dxf/)
- Going through tutorials of `ezdxf`
- All lines on paper space`layer0`
### 07/01/2019 (Mon)
- Continue the dxf processing with `'graph-silhouette.dxf'`
##### Record of tips:
- Put circuit design on a new layer of dxf drawing
- [check doc about layers here](https://ezdxf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/layers.html)
- Use block feature to draw similar pattern
- [check doc about block here](https://ezdxf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/blocks.html)
- Blocks are `symbol` in Inkscape. Convert `symbol` to `path`
- Edit > Clone > Unlink Clone (Shift+Alt+D), and you have a group, ungroup (Object > Ungroup, or Shift+Ctrl+G) and edit
- Convert `text` to `path`
- Path combine (Ctrl+K)
- msp.delete_enetity('__') to remove existing entity
- Test fabrication with different drawing settings
- Layers can be cut separately by toggling visibility
- Set cuts with same `intensity` and `feedrate` on same layer
- Entities' layer can be changed through `Entity.dxf.layer`
### 07/02/2019 (Tue)
- Continue the dxf processing
- Following tasks can be completed by running the code:
- Able to detect pin center coordinate
- Able to draw arbitrary shape around the pin center
- 
- - Issue & TODO
- Convert dxf image to matrix
- Explore `pathfinding` package
- `pathfinding` package solve path finding problem by shortest path algorithm, one point to another
- To solve multiple nodes problem, use concept from reinforcement learning
- Build Q function that represents total reward of choosing certain path to be solved first
- Update Q function in a loop with certain amount of episodes
- Choose the order of solving paths randomly, and add possibility of choosing it from Q function
- Exploration-exploitation method
- To solve the problem "convert dxf to matrix" for pathfinding:
- Have tried:
- Export to `png` and read file by `OpenCV`
- Resolution problem: single point does not represented as a pixel in `png`
- TODO:
- create an empty matrix and fill in numbers with the information of each lines' start and end point
### 07/03/2019 (Wed)
- dxf processing completed
- Convert dxf to matrix with resolution (270X210) (mm)
- Potential issue:
- the `pathfinding` package is based on pixel
- When round up the line's start and end point, the accuracy of pin position is low
- Apply single point to point path finding
- Able to draw the path on matrix
- Able to draw the path on original dxf file
- break single circuit trace to parallel traces
- Write out algorithm for multi-node path finding
- pseudo code:
~~~~
for (episode in E):
set initial state s (choose first pair of nodes to connect randomly)
while not every connection is built:
choose next connection
retrieve cost (length of path)
update Q (as sum of all cost)
~~~~
- Q here represents total cost of certain choice of path finding order.
- Cost defined by length of path
- If path cannot be found, cost 1000
- Input: NX2X2 array specifies desired pin connections
- Research on KiCAD import needs and python API
- Debug multi-node path finding:
- some obstacles are ignored
- too close to each other
- Able to show the learning process:
- Trying different combination of solving order
- Try to give the best order of solving multiple path
##### Auto-routing learning process:
- 
- Comparison between episodes and choose best combo of paths
- 
##### Issues and TODO
- Path export from optimization is messed up
- Obstacles setting are incorrect
### 07/09/2019
- Finish up path-finding approach (Approach B)
- Only draw the best path on `dxf` when solution is found for every route.
- 
- Throw warning once a route cannot be found
- 
- Research on Approach A
- KiCAD 5 does not have built-in auto-router
- Have to use `FreeRouting`
- `FreeRouting` does not have python API
- Parent package of `FreeRouting`, `LayoutEditor` has multiple editions
- Part of `LayoutEditor` is open- source
- A large amount of of its website are broken, source and interface are unavailable
- Other auto-routers are not open-source
##### Approach A
- 1. Use `LayoutEditor` python API to use `FreeRouting`
- 2. Use `KiCAD 5` python API to sue `FreeRouting`
- 3. Use `KiCAD 4` python API to use builtin auto-routing
###### 1
- `FreeRouting` input format: `dsn`, `lef`, `def`
- `FreeRouting` output format: `ses`, `def`
- `FreeRouting` can take arbitrary board outlines shape
- Edit `library` manually and test routing
- 
- TODO:
- If can run KiCAD 4 from python
- Check `FreeRouting` API, see if a acceptable file can be generated from things on hand
### 07/10/2019
##### Approach A
- Import to PCBnew issue:
- Dimension of board outlines are incorrect
- Pins does not fit in original drawings
- (solved. Microcontroller footprint was incorrect)
- pipeline confirmed:
- 1. Build symbol and footprint library for all required electrical element
- 2. Sketch schematic design
- `.sch` file
- 3. Place elements in required position
- `.dsn` file
- 4. Import `dsn` file into `FreeRouting` and do auto-routing
- `.ses` file
- 5. Import `ses` file back to `KiCAD` and export as `dxf` file
- `.dxf` file
- Manually tested pipeline till step 4
- Step 3
- 
- Step 4
- 
- ISSUE:
- Board outlines are not exported correctly to `FreeRouting`
- Record of Tips:
- To run `FreeRouting` from command line:
~~~
~~~
- TODO:
- Finish with testing the pipeline manually
- Achieve steps directly from script (Python API)
### 07/11/2019
- Solved Error `unable to find segment with an endpoint`
- `DSN` file can only be exported for continuous closure outlines
- 
- Drawings like this drawing for paper cut is not acceptable for `dsn` file.
- Change it either to close shape or remove it when import to KiCAD
- Solving Issue: `FreeRouting` is not reading edge cut layer from `dsn`
- Work well on a sample `dsn` file
- Issue with KiCAD output
- Sample KiCAD project can output outlines properly.
- Issue found:
- KiCAD cannot take single line cut. Closed shape needed.
### 07/15/2019
- 3 potential ways to solve the issue on KiCAD with internal cut
- *Assume the position of each internal cut line is known*
- 1. Make internal cut a closed shape (original cut with thickness)
- Pro: Easy to import routed circuit back to dxf cutter file
- Con: Hard to make the cut itself a closed shape.
- 2. Make internal cut outlines a block on certain layer and treat it as obstacle in auto-router
- Pro: Easy to generate a block as obstacle in drawing
- Con: Hard to import routed circuit back to dxf cutter file
- 3. Put internal cut on different layer in KiCAD that can be read as obstacle in auto-router
- Best solution for now if the auto-router will be able to read single cut line, but cannot be edge.cut layer for sure, otherwise board outlines cannot be found by KiCAD.
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
- Cut lines causing issues are marked in red.
- 
- `Inkscape` :
- Object stroke to path can make everything looks like a bounding box
- Attempts:
- 1. Stroke every line, auto-router shows nothing, no error
- 
- 
- 2. Stroke every line, but has a larger boundary. auto-router shows nothing, error: cannot start a route inside of keepout area or boundary outlines
- 
- 
- 3. Stroke every line but make the boundary outlines not closed, and draw a larger outline. Auto-router shows nothing, no error
- 
- 
- 4. Stroke only outline but make the boundary outlines not closed, and draw a larger outline. Auto-router shows properly. (no way to do it from script)
- 
- 
- 
### 07/16/2019
- Fill and Stroke (Shift + Ctrl + F)
- Stroke to Path
- Union
- Break Apart
- Remove each outer layer (manually)
- Export
- 
- 
- 