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1992-04-24
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4-24-92 9:43:35 am
The XFILL utility was written to fill in the white space areas on PCB artwork
leaving a gap (approx .05") around any existing black areas. This produces a
crude ground plane on the PCB and also minimises the the amount of copper which
needs to be etched off (it also looks better :^} ).
XFILL was written to work with a PCB cad program called EAGLE (CadSoft) and
requires that the program be configured for a LaserJet printer and the o/p
saved to a file. XFILL then produces a second file which can be printed.
Format: XFILL sourcefile destfile
The other utility NEGJET merely reverses the LJET file to produce a negative
of the original image. This may be desirable depending on wether a positive
or negative resist is used during PCB manufacture.
Format: NEGJET sourcefile destfile
The two programs may be used together.
A (very) small PCB file (TEST.JET) has been included to demonstrate the
effects of the programs.
Notes:
~~~~~
We print our PCB artwork 1:1 on heat stabilised polyester film and use this
to produce PC boards.
This utility has not been tested with any other programs apart from EAGLE. It
does however produce an ineteresting visual result and may be of use in other
applications.
The space left around existing artwork is 16 dots which is about .05" at
300 dpi. An earlier version used 8 dots but this was found to be too narrow.
The last few (graphics) lines of the image may be lost, it may pay to "pad" the
image a little at the bottom.
It's SLOW!
Because this was done to achieve a particular goal development stopped as
soon as that goal was reached. I have had other ideas to improve it such as
fixing the bugs, variable gap, on-screen display etc. and would welcome
feedback, maybe I'll get back to it sometime.
All the usual disclaimers apply as to taking no responsibility for the
correct performance or otherwise of these programs or anything resulting
from their use.
Bruce Spedding
IDW DSIR Ph 64+4+569-0788
Box 31310 Fx 64+4+569-0132
Lower Hutt Email SRGXNBS@GFV.DSIR.GOVT.NZ
New Zealand