DxfNC Readme File:

This is the first public release of this software, which I use to create NC drill files from AutoCad DXF files of my PCB designs. Although AutoCad does not have certain features that other PCB packages contain, if PCB work is not the only type of drafting you do it can be quite useable for this purpose.

The output formats are based on those I have seen around or have had to supply to board producers. If anyone has any additional information on other formats I would be pleased to hear from you.

This package has only ever been used to produce single layer boards (single and double sided). If you are into multi-layer boards, you should really be using a PCB designer product.

I have included several AutoCad blocks of pads (all on layer zero) in this package; I experimented with the hatching and found the pattern in these blocks to provide the best compromise between hatch density and output file size.

You may find that the DXf file that your drawing creates is too large for the program. Remove any nonessential items from the drawing, such as title blocks, extra layers, and traces (the drawing you use should have just the entities that correspond to holes). It helps if you create your design with your PADS on a separate layer from your traces, and just erase the traces in the copy of your drawing that you use to create the DXF file. PURGE YOUR DRAWING.

SHAREWARE

This program is being issued as shareware. If you find this program useful and would like to register for the next update, please send an INTERNATIONAL money order for US$25.00 to:

Adrian Berry
41 Slidell Crescent
Toronto
ONTARIO
CANADA M3A 2C5

Canadian residents please send a postal order for CDN$25.00 (includes GST); Ontario residents please add $2.00 Retail Sales Tax (PST).

if you become the Bill Gates of the PCB world as a result of using this program, and don't pay me, I shall be most disappointed; however as you will be able to see if you use the program, there are no 'beg' screens or crippled features to remind you of this. What you see is what you get.

Receipts for tax purposes are available on request. Remember to enclose mailing information.

If you have any questions, or suggestions for the next version, please send them along as well, or email me at:

sonix@interlog.com.

If a suggestion is used in a subsequent version, the submittor will receive a free update. 

INSTALLATION

From Program Manager in Windows 3.1, choose file: run and type A:setup in the dialog box. The setup program will walk you through installation. When the program runs for the first time it will set up its own 'INI' file in the windows directory. THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT ALTER YOUR WIN.INI OR SYSTEM.INI FILES IN ANY WAY.

If you are using Windows95, choose run from the Start menu and proceed as above. This program will run under Windows95 (it was actually written under Win95) in 16-bit mode.

If for any reason the installation fails, a DOS batch file has been included (install.bat) which will expand all files to a specific directory using the following syntax:

INSTALL <drive><directoryname>.

This command must be run from the directory containing the unzipped files; it also requires the EXPAND.EXE utility shipped with Windows to be in your Windows directory, and this directory to be in your path (check for "C:\WINDOWS" or something similar in the output when you type PATH at the command prompt in a DOS session).

DISTRIBUTION

If you are going to distribute this program to others, please ensure that you distribute only the zipped file, with all original inclusions intact.

DISCLAIMER

DxfNC is supplied as is. SONIX Research disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. SONIX Research assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of DxfNC.
  

