Tutorial Single Sided PCB

This tutorial makes the machine code for a single-sided board. You load the copper, the board outline and the drill file. Then you make the isolation paths, the drill paths and the cutout. At the end, you save the G-code files.

What you need

• The Gerber copper file of the top layer, for example board-F_Cu.gbr.
• The Gerber outline file (board edge), for example board-Edge_Cuts.gbr.
• The Excellon drill file, for example board.drl.
• FlatCAM Evo started. See Installation.
• The tool diameters of your real tools: the isolation tool, the drill bits and the end mill for the cutout.

FlatCAM Evo works in mm. Check the units of each file in the design software before you export it.

This tutorial uses Beginner mode, the default level. Each panel must show Beginner in green on the level button next to its title. See Beginner and Advanced mode.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-1.png — the three input files in a file browser.

Step 1: Load the copper layer

1. Click File > Open > Open Gerber (Ctrl+G).
2. Select the copper file and click Open.
3. The Gerber object appears in the Project tab.
4. Check the plot on the canvas. Press V to zoom to fit.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-2.png — the copper Gerber object plotted on the canvas.

Step 2: Load the board outline

1. Click File > Open > Open Gerber (Ctrl+G) again.
2. Select the outline file and click Open.
3. The outline is a second Gerber object. Check that it lines up with the copper. If the two objects do not line up, check the Gerber files in your design software.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-3.png — the copper and outline objects in the Project tab, both plotted.

Step 3: Load the drill file

1. Click File > Open > Open Excellon (Ctrl+E).
2. Select the drill file and click Open.
3. The Excellon object appears in the Project tab.
4. Click the Excellon object. In the Properties tab, check the tool list. Each row is one drill diameter.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-4.png — the Excellon object with its tool table in the Properties tab.

Step 4: Make the isolation paths

The isolation paths cut a narrow groove around each track and pad. The copper of each track is then electrically separated from the copper around it.

1. Select the copper Gerber object in the Project tab.
2. Click Plugins > Isolation. The Isolation panel opens in a new tab of the side panel.
3. The tool table shows the tool diameter from the preferences. Double-click the Diameter cell and type the diameter of your isolation tool.
4. Select the tool row. In Shape, select the shape of your tool. For a V-shape tool, set V-Tip Dia, V-Tip Angle and Cut Z.
5. Set Passes to 1 or more. Set Overlap for the next pass.
6. Click Generate Geometry.
7. A new Geometry object appears in the Project tab. Select it before you go to the next step.

Note: To add a second tool, switch the panel to Advanced. The tool add section is hidden in Beginner mode.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-5.png — the Isolation panel with one tool row and the Generate Geometry button.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-6.png — the isolation paths plotted around the tracks and pads.

Step 5: Make the CNC job for the isolation paths

1. Select the new isolation Geometry object in the Project tab.
2. Click Plugins > Milling. The Milling panel opens in a new tab of the side panel.
3. Set Cut Z (cut depth), Travel Z (height when the tool moves between paths), and the feed rates Feedrate X-Y and Feedrate Z.
4. Select the Preprocessor of your machine.
5. Click Generate CNCJob object.
6. A CNCJob object appears in the Project tab.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-7.png — the Milling panel with the cut depth, travel height, feed rates and preprocessor.

Step 6: Drill the holes

1. Select the Excellon object in the Project tab.
2. Click Plugins > Drilling (Alt+D). The Drilling panel opens.
3. Select the tools to drill. Set Cut Z, the depth of the hole, for each tool.
4. Set Travel Z, Feedrate Z and Spindle speed.
5. Select the Preprocessor of your machine.
6. If your machine must stop to change the drill bit between tools, turn on the Tool change Z check box. Set the height in the field next to it. Set Toolchange X-Y.
7. If the Tool change Z check box is off, all selected holes are drilled with the parameters of the first tool.
8. Click Generate CNCJob object.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-8.png — the Drilling panel with the tool list, the tool change check box and the Generate CNCJob object button.

Step 7: Cut the board out

The cutout cuts the board from the stock along its outline. It can keep small tabs (gaps) so the board stays in place.

1. Select the outline Gerber object in the Project tab.
2. Click Plugins > Cutout (Alt+X). The Cutout panel opens in a new tab of the side panel.
3. Set the cutout tool diameter in Tool Dia.
4. Set the cut depth in Cut Z. Set Multi-Depth if the board must be cut in several passes.
5. Set Margin, the distance from the outline.
6. To keep the board in place, set the gaps in the Gaps section. Set Size, the length of each gap. In Gaps, select where the gaps go, for example 4.
7. Click Generate Geometry. A Geometry object appears.

In Beginner mode the gaps are bridges. The other gap types (Thin, Mouse Bytes) are in Advanced mode. See Cutout.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-9.png — the Cutout panel with the Gaps section and the cut result on the canvas.

Then make the CNC job of the cutout Geometry. Use Plugins > Milling, as in step 5.

Note: If you use the cutout at the end, cut the board last. The board must stay in place during the isolation and the drilling.

Step 8: Check the results on the canvas

1. Select each CNCJob object. Check the plot of the paths.
2. Check the order of the jobs: isolation, drilling, cutout.
3. Check that the drill holes are inside the board.
4. Use View > Zoom Fit (V) to see the whole board.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-10.png — the CNCJob objects of the isolation, drilling and cutout plotted together.

Step 9: Save the G-code

1. Select a CNCJob object in the Project tab.
2. In the Properties tab, click Save. Choose a file name and a folder.
3. Repeat for each CNCJob object. Use a file name for each job, for example board-isolation.nc, board-drill.nc and board-cutout.nc.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Tutorial-Single-Sided-PCB-11.png — the Save button of a CNCJob object in the Properties tab.

Step 10: Save the project

1. Click File > Save > Save Project (Ctrl+S).
2. Choose a name for the project file. The extension is .FlatPrj.

The project keeps all objects and settings. You can open it again later and change the paths.

Check the result before you cut

• Check the tool diameters against the real tools.
• Check the cut depths against the thickness of the board.
• Check the travel height. It must clear the clamps and the board.
• Check the origin. Use the same origin on the machine as in FlatCAM Evo.
• Run the G-code on the machine without the material first, if your machine allows it.

Advanced

• For a board with large copper areas, use Plugins > NCC instead of, or after, the isolation. See Non-Copper Clearing.
• For a board that needs a double-sided layout, see Tutorial Double-Sided PCB.
• The Milling and Drilling plugins also support path optimization and exclusion areas. See Milling and Drilling.

See also

• Getting Started
• Isolation Routing
• Milling
• Drilling
• Cutout
• CNCJob Object
• Exporting Files
• Glossary