Tutorials: PCB 101 First time

note: This material provided by Erik Shorb via email.

1. Clean Copperclad PCB with steel wool or equivalent until shiny. If you skip this step, you may damage a tool bit when probing.

2. Clamp Copperclad PCB to waste board - want PCB to be held down "flat" and secure. Double-backed tape works well for some.

3. Mount First Drill bit in Router.

4. Roughly locate the Router/bit to starting location and turn on CNC machine power.

5. Start bCNC

6. Connect to CNC via bCNC

   • Select File Menu
   • Select Serial Port
   • Click on Open
   • Select Control Menu
   • Click on Unlock

7. Prepare for Autoleveling

   • Select File Menu
   • Open gcode file for cutout routing - this will make it simple to setup the correct Autolevel area
   • Position bit to X and Y start location using Control widgets.
   • Select Probe Menu
   • Click on Probe Submenu
   • Zero out X and Y by Clicking on X=0 the Y=0
   • Click on "fit to screen" button
   • Lower tool bit within a couple of mm of PCB using jog controls
   • Zero out Z by Clicking on Z=0
   • In Probe menu, Probe section, Set the Z Pos: to -10 - this will allow the bit to go 10mm down to probe before
     setting off an alarm.
   • ATTACH PROBE CLIPS TO PCB AND TOOL BIT - FAILURE TO DO SO BEFORE PROCEEDING MAY RESULT IN A DAMAGED BIT.
   • Click Probe button (in Probe: section)
   • Zero out Z axis - Click on Z=0
   • Raise Z by 1mm using jog

8. Autolevel

   • Under Probe Menu, Select Autolevel Submenu
   • Click on Margins - This will configure an autolevel area mapped to you gcode file limits
   • modify number of X/Y test points as needed by adjusting N for X and Y
   • set Z Min to -10 and Z Max to 0.5 - if you expect a large deviation in height across the board, set Z max to a higher value ( and perhaps consider leveling waste board and/or machine)
   • CONFIRM PROBE CLIPS TO PCB AND TOOL BIT - FAILURE TO DO SO BEFORE PROCEEDING MAY RESULT IN A DAMAGED BIT.
   • Click on Scan
   • Return to X/Y zero - in Command: (at bottom) enter G0 X0 Y0
   • Return to Z zero - in Command: (at bottom) enter G0 Z0
   • At top click at "Zero" in menu for Autolevel to adjust measured values (@vlachoudis: why this is required?)
   • REMOVE PROBE CONNECTION TO TOOL BIT.

9. Load first Drill gcode file

   • Under File menu select Open and select drill file
   • Answer no to the "Probe File modified" dialog
   • Answer no to the "Existing Autolevel" dialog
   • Optional - Select ISO view from "Change viewing Angle" widget.

10. Perform Drilling operation

    • Confirm that you've REMOVED THE PROBE CONNECTION TO THE TOOL BIT.
    • If manually controlling power to your router, turn it on now.
    • Select Control menu
    • Click on Start.
    • When drilling is complete, if manually controlling power to your router, turn it off.

11. Change Tool Bit - Do this every time you change a bit, whether it be a drill, routeing, or engraving bit.

    • Raise Z to comfortable height using jog controls.
    • Replace Tool bit
    • ATTACH PROBE CLIPS TO PCB AND TOOL BIT
    • Lower bit to within a couple of mm of PCB using jog controls.
    • Select Probe Menu
    • Select Probe Submenu
    • Zero out Z by Clicking Z=0
    • Click on Probe button
    • Zero out Z by Clicking Z=0
    • Raise Z by 1mm using jog controls.
    • REMOVE PROBE CONNECTION TO TOOL BIT.

12. If performing more Drilling operations, follow steps 10-12, with final Tool bit change being to the trace routing bit.

13. Load trace routing gcode file.

    • Under FIle menu select Open and select trace routing gcode file
    • Answer no to the "Probe File modified" dialog
    • Answer no to the "Existing Autolevel" dialog
    • Optional Select preferred viewing angle.

14. Change Tool Bit per step 11.

15. Perform Trace Routing operation

    • Confirm that you've REMOVED THE PROBE CONNECTION TO THE TOOL BIT.
    • If manually controlling power to your router, turn it on now.
    • Select Control menu
    • Click on Start.
    • When routing is complete, if manually controlling power to your router, turn it off.

16. Load Outline routing gcode file.

    • Under FIle menu select Open and select outline routing gcode file
    • Answer no to the "Probe File modified" dialog
    • Answer no to the "Existing Autolevel" dialog
    • Optional - Select preferred viewing angle.

17. Change Tool Bit per step 12.

18. Perform outline Routing operation

    • Confirm that you've REMOVED THE PROBE CONNECTION TO THE TOOL BIT.
    • If manually controlling power to your router, turn it on now.
    • Select Control menu
    • Click on Start.
    • When routing is complete, if manually controlling power to your router, turn it off.