"Scan" to Gerber?

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

 

Hi Martin,

<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.

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

Happy Holidays!
--don

 

Hi Mike,

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

 

Hi Mike,

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

 

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]

Yes. It seems a pretty common feature of photoplot editors et al.

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.

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

--don