Creating a CNC File

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Navigation:  Designing a PCB with the DEX PCB Designer > Designs > Exporting Data > CNC >

Creating a CNC File

To create/export to a CNC file click the Tools→Exportclip0321 button. The dialog box show below will appear.

DEX will generate.

1.A top side CNC file named XXXX-Top.nc

2.A bottom side CNC file named XXXX-Bottom.nc

3.A Board profile file named XXXX-Profile.nc

4.A Drilling file named XXXX-Drill.nc

5.Where XXXX is the name you select.

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Generate CNC files dialog

clip0845 Check to show a report of files generated.
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Typical Report File

clip0846 Check to show a view of the files generated. See CNC Viewer
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Move Height

This is the vertical (Z) height for movements of the tool when not cutting.

Fast Feed-Rate

Enter the feed rate when the cutter is moving without cutting at the move height.

Cutter Diameter

Enter the diameter for the cutter.

Cut Feed-Rate

Enter the feed rate when the drill is cutting.

Surface Height

This is the vertical (Z) height for below which the feed-rate is given by the cut feed-rate.

Target Depth

This is the vertical (Z) height for the cutter when cutting copper.

Output Top Layer

Check to output the top layer.

Output Bottom Layer

Check to output the bottom layer.

Quality

Select quality.

To see the effect of the quality setting consider the following sample PCB...

 

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High

The high setting gives you the best quality of CNC cut as shown below.

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Low

The low setting gives you the best quality of CNC cut as shown below. Note, the rounded corners of the rectangles are replaced by beveled corners. This setting gives you a lot faster production of your CNC files compared to the high setting but is much slower than the Quick setting.

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Quick

The quick setting gives you the poorest quality of CNC cut as shown below. Note, elliptical and rounded pad shapes are replaced by rectangular budgets and vias are replaced by rectangles. This will give you the quickest production of your CNC files and is useful for complicated PCBs.

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clip0847 Click to display this help topic.

Click clip0931 to generate the CNC files. You will see 3 progress dialogs like the one shown below; one for the top side and one for the bottom side.

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File generation progress dialog.

After the files have been generated you will see the report and/or the CNC Viewer