pcb-help_pm_0.15mm-drills [HiveMind]

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
===Making 0.15-mm Drill Hits===

You've reached the 0.15mm Drill Hits page! That probably means that you wants the down-low on drilling those super-duper tiny holes.

The first thing to know is that tiny bits are really, really, really tiny. So tiny that they frequently break, sometimes even during a run. So it's important to be watching the whole time the tool is using them to be able to stop it (usually by lifting the cover) if it does break, and get a PI to remove and replace the bit. You'll then have to restart the process from the step you stopped at with the fresh bit. Don't blink!

Unfortunately, the software isn't clever enough to handle this bit because it's smaller than the default drill marker (which is 0.2mm), so we have to do of manual work to force it into using that bit. Not hard, just a few steps:

  - Setup your process, import your files, and add your fiducials, all as you would normally.
  - Open the toolpath generation window (the fourth button, called "Toolpath Dialog") {{ ::00_technology-dialog-window.png?direct&400 |}}
  - In the bottom section ("Convert to Toolpath"), next to "Drills", click "Show Details" {{ ::01_showDetails.png?direct&400 |}}
  - For "Tool", select "Spiral Drill 0.15mm". {{ ::02_toolDropdown.png?direct&400 |}}
  - For "Marking tool", select "Micro Cutter 0.1mm". {{ ::03_markingToolDropdown.png?direct&400 |}}
  - Start the toolpath generation (click "Start"). You should get a result that looks like the below image; each hole in your design will be assigned the 0.15mm spiral drill. {{ ::04_firstToolpathResults.png?direct&400 |}}
  - Now go back into the Technology Dialog window. Change the "Tool" to "<Automatically assigned"> and the "Marking tool" to "Universal Cutter 0.2mm". Make sure "Replace existing toolpath" is checked before running the algorithm again (click "Start"). {{ ::05_toolAutoAssigned.png?direct&400 |}}{{ ::06_markingToolReset.png?direct&400 |}}
  - The results should now be adjusted correctly for the other drills, with the correct number of 0.15mm drill hits as well. {{ ::07_finalToolpath.png?direct&400 |}}

When you save it after the correct toolpath generation, it will save with the 0.15mm drill hits. However, you'll have to do this every time you generate a toolpath with 0.15mm drill hits.

Good luck!