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- | PROTOMAT | + | ==== Knowledge Base: PROTOMAT |
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | === Table of Contents === | ||
+ | - Overview | ||
+ | - Q&A | ||
+ | - How do I use the 0.15mm drill bit? | ||
+ | - Additional small bit information | ||
+ | - Common processing errors | ||
+ | - Software cannot/did not connect to the tool | ||
+ | - My gerber/ | ||
+ | - The tool didn't drill out my holes! | ||
+ | - The tool exchange was botched! | ||
+ | - The drill hits are incorrect, or the routing path was wrong! | ||
+ | - I can't change the layer/ | ||
- | My gerber/ | + | ---- |
- | You probably forgot to assign it a layer. Try re-importing the files, and make sure you’ve assigned each file a Layer/ | + | === Overview === |
- | The pre-toolpath file did not import correctly into the ProtoLaser. | + | The LPKF ProtoMat S103 is a 2.5-dimension CNC mill capable of drilling, milling, and routing to manufacture printed circuit board (PCB) and 2.5-dimension structures on a variety of substrates. The tool is located in the Semi-Clean Room on the 1st floor of the IDC. It is part of the IDC’s PCB fabrication process flow. The tool uses a moving tray and toolhead |
- | It’s | + | |
+ | Substrates: | ||
+ | * Fiberglass-based or carbon fiber reinforced polymers, including FR4 | ||
+ | * The Hive provides 0.5 oz and 1 oz double-sided copper on 1.55mm FR4. | ||
+ | * PTFE or ceramic-filled base material | ||
+ | * Wood | ||
+ | * Nonferrous materials, such as aluminum or brass | ||
+ | * Plastics such as polyoxymethylen (“Delrin”), | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tool sizes | ||
+ | * Drill bits between 0.15mm and 3mm | ||
+ | * Contour routing, 1mm or 2mm | ||
+ | * Milling bits between 0.8mm and 3mm | ||
+ | * “Universal” cutting bits, 0.1 or 0.2mm | ||
+ | |||
+ | More details regarding tool structure or usage can be found in the following documents: | ||
+ | The Manual: [[https:// | ||
+ | LPKF's " | ||
+ | The ProtoMat software (" | ||
+ | The vacuum system manual: [[https:// | ||
+ | Our standard operating procedures: [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | === Q & A === | ||
+ | * How do I use the 0.15mm drill bit? | ||
+ | The LPKF sofware handles drill hits down to 0.2mm (7.5 mil) without any adjustments, | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Additional small bit information | ||
+ | The tool is most reliable with drill hits down to 0.4mm (15 mil), which is a pretty standard via size. For smaller bits, you're going to want to be very careful. The bits are quite fragile at this size and prone to breaking when either | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | === Common processing errors=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **Software cannot/did not connect to the tool** | ||
+ | First, make sure the ProtoMat hardware is on; if it's on already, there will be a red light under the toolhead (for the camera), and the status light on the toolhead should be at least blinking green. If it's not on, turn it on by toggling the green switch located underneath the cover, to the right of the working table, above the main power cable. Once you've confirmed | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **My gerber/ | ||
+ | You probably forgot to assign it a layer. If this happens, the software will put the gerbers onto their own layers that are named with the gerber' | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **The tool didn't drill out my holes!** | ||
+ | You likely forgot | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **The tool exchange was botched!** | ||
+ | Stop the process as soon as possible, if it's still running. Go get a PI. If they don't know what to do, ask them to message our Slack channel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **The drill hits are incorrect, or the routing path was wrong!** | ||
+ | There are a couple of possible reasons for this. | ||
+ | - You may not have imported the drill file or the board outline gerber correctly. | ||
+ | - The bits in the magazine may have been incorrect. | ||
+ | - The tool may have done something silly. | ||
+ | In any of these cases, there is no good solution other than to restart the project and double | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **I can't change the layer/ | ||
+ | Sometimes, for reasons unclear, a Gerber file gets automatically assigned to a undesired layer in the LPKF software on the ProtoMat, and cannot be changed. If this happens, what you need to do is highlight all the polygons on that layer in question that were imported, and move them to the correct layer (right click > Move to Layer). Highlighting a whole layer requires playing with the Layers pane on the left, and then click-and-drag across all the polygons. If there are things on that layer that are // | ||
+ | |||
+ | Details of this process can be found in [[https:// | ||
- | ProtoMat - Software cannot connect to the tool | ||
- | Turn on the ProtoMat by toggling the green switch located underneath the cover, to the right of the working table, above the main power cable. The vacuum system will engage and a red light underneath the toolhead will turn on. Then, in the software, in the main toolbar (with the File menu), click “Machining” > “Connect”. Make sure that “S103” is selected in the dropdown menu and click “Connect”. Let the connection process happen, and then try the fabrication again. | ||
- | How to use the PM's Operate tab to re-start projects\\ |