ENGINEERING JOURNAL
Jingyan Ling
06/27/2019 (Thur)
- Compile
OldRoCo
repo- Record of modification:
- ++line 8 of
vstart.sh
- -->
pip install -r requirements.txt --user
- ++line 8 of
- Record of modification:
- Export
paperbot
dxf file :graph-silhouette.dxf
toOnShape
- Draw circuit diagram as CAD on
Onshape
- Multiple connection approaches:
- 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 inInkscape
(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
ofInkscape
to ensure separated cuts have same origin.
- Different trace (especially cut and etching) need to be sent separately. Use
- TODO:
- Cut and etching from same
Inkscape
file
- Cut and etching from same
- Record of Tips:
06/28/2019 (Fri)
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 assessmbly.
-
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
- EAGLE cannot import
- KiCad
- Can import
.pcb
file -
svg
can be exported but not imported
- Can import
- LayoutEditor
- support multiply file type
-
svg
can be exported with different color makers as multiple layers - include open-sourced auto-router
freerouting
- EAGLE
-
Auto-routing package:
- TopoR
- Python-PCB
- FreeRouting
-
Approaches:
-
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)
-
A
Approach -
Use regular shape board for PCB in EAGLE/KiCAD
-
image processing: divide alternative shape of
paperbot
to multiple rectangles (openCV) -
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
- Additional header pins at each side of kink mark
06/29 & 06/30/2019 (Sat & Sun)
B
Approach -
Potential needed functions of packages
- A package draws on DXF file through script
- 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:
- Python DXF editor:
- ezdxf
-
dxfgrabber
-
Note
: able to grab simple geometry from file
-
- sdxf
- Going through tutorials of
ezdxf
- All lines on paper space
layer0
- All lines on paper space
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
-
Use block feature to draw similar pattern
-
Blocks are
symbol
in Inkscape. Convertsymbol
topath
- Edit > Clone > Unlink Clone (Shift+Alt+D), and you have a group, ungroup (Object > Ungroup, or Shift+Ctrl+G) and edit
-
Convert
text
topath
- Path combine (Ctrl+K)
-
Test fabrication with different drawing settings
- Layers can be cut separately but toggling visibility
- Set cuts with same
intensity
andfeedrate
on same layer - Entities' layer can be changed through
Entity.dxf.layer