malichao / gerbercam

GerberCAM – Opensource PCB G-code Generator

GerberCAM

What is GerberCAM?
GerberCAM is an opensource software to convert a PCB gerber file to a CNC machine manufacture file(G-code).The following picture shows GerberCAM’s role in PCB prototyping process.

What are the features of GerberCAM?
GerberCAM currently support following features.
● Recieve gerber file in RS-274X format only
● Up to two layers(top & bottom)
● Pad holes automatic recognition
● Tool bits(drill,conical,cylindrical) generation & management

Contour path:
● Automatically treat closed loop as contour path
● Can determine contour path by thresholds

Toolpath generating:
● Single bit toolpath
● Automatically DRC and show the collided path

Pad types:
● pads with rotation
● Round
● Rectangle
● Obround
● Teardrop(● Track ● Arc)

Track types:
● straight line

Here are the snapshots of the current development.

GerberCAM is still a prototype.After three months of heavy development and testing it’s suspended.It has a fast generation time comparing to CopperCAM 2012,which is the CAM software I’ve been using to generate G-code for PCB prototyping for years.It can also handle some PCBs which can’t be supported by CopperCAM.

However,since I don’t have a CNC machine to test the software anymore so I didn’t continue to work on this project.I’ve been using hundreds of gerber files and thousands of times to test all current functions.There are still a lot of testing and verification work to do in the future.If anyone is interested in this project,feel free to fork it.Also I’ve been writing a detailed document about the implementation of GerberCAM on my blog.There are several opensource CAM software projects out there and I hope my works could contribute any help.

Here’s the link to the document.