Gerber to G-CODE converter, anybody?

[bojan]

For quite some time I was trying to find an easy way to print etch-resist directly on copper-cladded bare PCB from Gerber files.
The natural approach would be to use 3D printer, to deposit etch-resist... the only thing really needed for the task is Gerber -> G-CODE converter.

This webpage (http://reprap.org/wiki/Plotting) suggests it should be possible to do exactly that with RepRap Host (it should convert gerbers to g-code via Skeinforge slicer.. but all my attempts to load Gerber into RepRap (Java version) were unsuccessful.
Another possibility seems to be ACE 3000 Translator.. waiting now for trial license.

[sil]

Have you tried pcb2stl (http://pcb2stl.com/) ?

I dont have experience with plotters or etching can you convert to any other format eg autocad? I've got decades of 3d modelling experience and now some with 3d printing. I can convert most 3d formats with commercial tools to an stl file which you should be able to chuck into your preferred gcode generator.

Happy to try to help you converting if you struggle.

[iborg]

Hi

I would like to know how to do this as well.

I don't know if this is feasible, but, can you output the circuit diagram as an image, then import the 2D image into 3D printer software?

If practical, this should allow you to print onto the board.

Philip

[bojan]

No, but I tried it now... and no success, it reports an error (they say there are limitations... BTW, they have instructable here (http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-3D-Printed-Circuit-Board-That-WORKS/))
Gerbers are generated by Altium, I never had a problem with them, so there must be some formatting issue which those small apps do not accept.

Gerber is standard interchange format for PCB manufacturers... and there are no problems printing them with laser printers on transparent foil, or even printing directly on PCB with inkjet printer (I am converting one Epson for that purpose... but it will accept very small PCB size, 60mm wide maximum).

Gerbview will accept that file and will generate SVG, but the result is not accepted by RepRap, so... very frustrating situation.
And I am very sure the conversion from gerber to g-code is not complicated, file formats are not that different in principle, and both are very well documented and standardised for a long time.

[Auster1b]

Bojan, Eagle layout appears to export to DXF.

Do not know if this helps, Neil.

[LostInSp_ce]

Sorry I can't help but I too am interested to see if this is possible.

[bojan]

I managed to use PDF print and converted it to DXF (using Aide PDF to DWG converter)... but I am not happy with results, resolution is compromised and width of some tracks are not conserved.