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"Scan" to Gerber?

D

Don Y

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi,

Are there any tools (interactive or batch) that will
accept a high resolution scan (this shouldn't matter!)
and produce a "normalized" Gerber photoplot format
(that I can subsequently post-process) from existing
films or an actual (bare) board?

Thx,
--don
 
M

Martin Riddle

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi,

Are there any tools (interactive or batch) that will
accept a high resolution scan (this shouldn't matter!)
and produce a "normalized" Gerber photoplot format
(that I can subsequently post-process) from existing
films or an actual (bare) board?

Thx,
--don

Ether import a bitmap into Eagle, or import a DXF file.
You can convert a pdf to a DWG file, then export a DXF out of Autocad.
Or just import the Bitmap into Eagle, fix the layers and create
Gerbers.

See...
<http://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/re-laying-out-a-board-from-a-pdf/>

I could give it a shot if you like. I just need a good scan.

Cheers
 
D

Don Y

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Martin,

Ether import a bitmap into Eagle, or import a DXF file.
You can convert a pdf to a DWG file, then export a DXF out of Autocad.
Or just import the Bitmap into Eagle, fix the layers and create
Gerbers.

<frown> I think that's just fiddling with graphics.

What I want is to get to valid gerbers and, from there,
rebuild the connectivity map (netlist) and, eventually,
schematic.
See...
<http://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/re-laying-out-a-board-from-a-pdf/>

I could give it a shot if you like. I just need a good scan.

Thanks, but I'm looking more for a toolset than a "one-off".

Happy Holidays!
--don
 
D

Don Y

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Mike,

Many years ago I recall a package that could rebuild a netlist from a
Gerber. Not sure if this is the one though, or if it can accept other
formats associated with scans:

http://numberone.com/intellgerber.asp

Yes, this looks like it does the "back end" of the process.
But, it expects a "gerber" as inputs. I.e., there's already
some connectivity information present in the photoplot file.
It doesn't appear that it would be able to take a "bitmap"
(e.g., TIFF) and deduce the connectivity from that -- essentially
build a gerber from a TIFF. Then, the netlist from the gerber.

But, it looks promising! I will DL their trial if only to see
how well it does what it actually does do!

Thanks!
--don
 
D

Don Y

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Mike,

Pleasure, although I know of some who have used this package I haven't
myself.

It used to be very popular and I guess still has a loyal following.

Some time ago, I wrote a program that converted from various plotter
formats. I know very little about the TIFF format, but there are such a
plethora of free programs out there, I'm sure a search will come up with
some conversion software that you need.

TIFF is essentially a compressed bitmap. So, not a straightforward
conversion to a vector-oriented format (which I think is true of
most plotter formats, e.g. Gerber) where they are actually trying
to "steer" a marking element (aperture) around a surface.

[Of course, that's not to say there aren't algorithms to do exactly
this sort of conversion]

I think what makes Gerber to netlist/schematic much easier is
that you already have the connectivity implicit in the "motions"
of the plotter (i.e., if it never goes to a certain (x,y), then
there is no connection to the object located at that (x,y)!)

Thanks, I'll investigate (busy trying to finish up "year end"
stuff... always too much to get done in too short of a window!)

--don
 
D

Don Y

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Jim,

[apologies for delay in replying... end of year is even more hectic
than normal :< ]

On 12/30/2013 4:31 PM, WangoTango wrote:

[attrs elided]
I use FAB3000 from Numerical Innovations for my Gerber editor/verifier
and it has a lot of options that are geared towards reverse engineering
and netlist extraction.

Yes. It seems a pretty common feature of photoplot editors et al.
I haven't played around with all those goodies,
but I do know it will import scans/JPGs and so on.

OK. Trick will be if they can use these for *electrical* connectivity
vs. just silk screen legends, etc. And, if they allow them to be
"electrical conductors", if they do anything more than letting your
"add/remove copper" free-hand.
I think they do a
full featured 30 day trial and the newer versions have a lot more
functionality than the old version I'm running. They also have
EXCELLENT phone support and I'm sure if you gave them a call and went
over what you were trying to do they would let you know if the software
was up to the task.

Thanks! I've bookmarked it and will pursue it once I get some "free
time" (another oxymoron :< )

--don
 
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