Setting Up Prints with CircuitPro

Circuit Pro is the CAM software used to control the S64

It is used to set up files for milling and send CNC commands to the S64

On startup, the first screen will have 2 tabs: Projects and Templates

Projects are used to resume work on a project

Templates are used to start from scratch. They're essentially blank projects

For the purpose of this guide, we will be starting from a template and saving it as a project so we can save progress as we work on it

The different templates detail the type of board and steps needed to make the board

Theres a long list of templates, each with different settings

Layers - the number of layers of the board. Most will be 2, but we can do up to 8 with the multipress

THP/No THP - Stand for Through Hole Plating. All vias require THP. If there are no vias, then no THP is required

Galvanic/ProConduct or EasyContac - the THP process. We have Galvanic, so make sure to select that

ProConduct and EasyContac are LPKF's other plating methods. Becase we have the Contac S4, we use galvanic

Click on a template to begin a project

You'll probably want to use DoubleSided_GalvanicTHP.cbf most of the time

The main type of PCB files are .gbr (gerber) and .drl (drill) files

Each layer will have its own file

Click the import button to import your gerber and drill files

Disregard .gbrjob files when importing

Make sure your files are assigned to the correct layers. CircuitPro will detect most by default but some must be assigned manually

You can add rubout to the top or bottom layers if you wish

Draw a rectangle and all unused copper in that area will be removed

Drag a box to select your entire board and click the duplicate button along the top row to create more copies

The dialogue box will ask you how many copies you want and how much space should be between each copy

By default, the edges of the copied boards will touch each other and this will cause problems when the board outline is being cut out. Add about 3mm to the x and y directions to give some space.

Keep in mind that a sheet of FR4 is 9"x12" (228x305mm) so make sure your copied boards can fit

Now that the board is copied we must add fiducials for the vision system to stay aligned

Click to make four fiducials in the corners of your design (these do not need to be precise)

Click Close when you're finished and NOT Apply; clicking Apply will create another fiducial at the xy-coordinates in the text box (probably 0,0)

The ProtoMat may have connected automatically if you had it on when you started CircuitPro

If not, then turn the machine on and navigate to Machining->Connect

Select S64 from the drop-down menu and click Connect

Now we're going to generate the toolpath. This step is comparable to slicing for 3D printers - we are generating the code that the S64 will follow to route out the PCB

Click the Generate isolation and contour routing toolpath button

Uncheck Micro Cutter 0,1 mm from the list of available tools

You can change the Isolation Method if you want more space around your traces

Choose whichever Contour Routing Method you want on the Contour routing tab

Under Marking tool on the Drills tab, choose MarkingDrills for Assign to Phase

Click Start to begin generating the toolpath

Check that you don't have any warnings or errors before proceeding

You can disregard the pocket conversion warning; it always appears

Check that all the required tools are in the machine

Tools are listed on the left

Tool life is listed on the right

Use this window to put needed tools into the machine and replace spent ones

You can see where your board will be routed on the FR4 under Machining view

Click the middle button above <Process All> to begin routing

CircuitPro will guide you through the whole process