Steps on How to Save Layout from Libra to interface to the CircuitCam

Software.

Author: Nilesh Kamdar

1. Get the layout view in Libra. (Use Design Synchronization in Schematic to get Layout View.) Note: Sometimes the layout view is not as expected, so repeat Design Synchronization a few more times. If it is still not right, you may actually have to move or copy/paste a few items to make it look right.

2. Click Edit, Change Units..In the window that comes up, select millimeters and then OK. (Sometimes a message comes up saying undo stack will be cleared. Click OK)

3. Click Draw, Measure..A window comes up on which measured distance will be displayed. At this move the cursor into the layout window (it will show up as X-Y axis) and click on the leftmost point of the layout (will be a port and looks like a blue box), and then go over and click on the

rightmost point of the layout (another port). At this point the Measure window will show the distance measured in mm. Note this down, Click Clear on the Measure window and now measure the height of your layout (the topmost point to the bottom most point).

4. Draw a rough sketch of your layout and label the dimensions that were measured in step 3. Submit this sketch with your layout file.

5. Zoom out until the whole circuit can be seen in the layout window with extra space on all sides. Use poly-line, one of the draw buttons at the top of the layout window, to draw a rectangle around the circuit you have designed. The dimensions of the rectangle are 50 mm high by 80 mm wide. Use the coordinates on the bottom of the window to help attain the necessary dimensions. To complete the rectangle, double click at the last corner. The rectangle should turn red. If whole circuit is not within the rectangle, you will need to use a larger one. For class projects these dimensions will be specified. Choose View, View Area. The view will change to be just outside the sides of the rectangle. Delete the rectangle from the layout window by selecting it and deleting it. This procedure is performed to attain a uniform scaling factor when the milling is performed.

6. Click File, Export. The Export window comes up. In options Choose HPGL/2. Then click on Define Layers..A Mask Layer Editor Window comes up. In the Layers box click on "ports", and then next to it DESELECT the two options Visible and Protected. Then in layers box, successively, click"silk_screen", "silk_screen2", and "case_dimensions" and DESELECT

Visible and Protected for them too. Click Apply, and then click OK. You will be back in the Export window. Enter a file name in the filename box and click OK.

7. Your file will now be in your project directory. Transfer it on a floppy.

8. To use a floppy in the SunLab.

a. Insert floppy in floppy drive.

b. Type volcheck on a terminal window and press Enter.

d. Use copy command to transfer your saved layout file (*.hpg) to the

e. Type eject at the terminal window to remove the floppy.