coppercam.lic
What is CopperCAM and How to Use It for CNC PCBs
CopperCAM is a software that allows you to design and engrave printed circuit boards (PCBs) using a CNC machine. It can import Gerber files from various PCB design software, such as Proteus, and generate GCODE files for the CNC machine. CopperCAM can also optimize the output by reducing the number of drills and contours, and adding card cut-out contour and centering holes.
How to Install CopperCAM
CopperCAM is a standalone software that does not require any installation. You can download it from the official website of Galaad, the developer of CopperCAM. The download link is www.galaad.net/coppercam-download-eng.html. You can choose between a multilingual version or an English-only version. The file size is about 10 MB.
After downloading the file, you need to extract it to a folder on your hard disk. You can use any folder you like, but the default suggestion is C:\\CopperCAM. You should avoid installing it in C:\\Program Files or C:\\Documents and Settings, because these folders are not accessible for write-operation in a simple user's session with no privileges. CopperCAM needs to write its own files in its own installation directory, otherwise your parameter changes and your current project won't be saved.
To run CopperCAM, you just need to double-click on the executable file CopperCAM.exe in the installation folder. You can also create a shortcut icon on your Windows desktop for easier access.
How to License CopperCAM
CopperCAM is not a free software. You need to purchase a license to use it without limitations. The license price is 80 EUR, and it has no time-limits and is not related to a computer or hard-disk drive. It remains valid for all software updates in the same major version.
To purchase a license, you have two options: using PayPal or using a bank transfer. You can find the details of these options on the official website of Galaad: www.galaad.net/coppercam-purchase-eng.html. You need to provide your name (or your company name, or your school/university name) and your postal address for registering the license. The license is nominative and its code number is related to the given name.
After making the payment, you will receive an email with an attached file that contains your license. You need to copy this file into the installation directory of CopperCAM on your hard disk. When you start CopperCAM, it will detect the file and validate the license. You can check your license information by clicking on Help / License in the menu bar.
How to Use CopperCAM with Proteus for CNC PCB Projects
Proteus is a popular PCB design software that can create Gerber files for your PCB layout. You can use these files as input for CopperCAM to generate GCODE files for your CNC machine.
To export Gerber files from Proteus, you need to follow these steps:
Open your PCB project in Proteus and click on Output / Generate CAM Outputs in the menu bar.
Select Gerber/Excellon Output as the output type and click Next.
Select all the layers that you want to export and click Next.
Choose RS274X as the format and click Next.
Choose a folder where you want to save the Gerber files and click Finish.
To import Gerber files into CopperCAM, you need to follow these steps:
Open CopperCAM and click on File / Open Gerber File in the menu bar.
Select the folder where you saved the Gerber files from Proteus and choose one of them.
CopperCAM will automatically detect all the other Gerber files in the same folder and load them into different layers.
You can adjust the parameters of each layer by clicking on them in the left panel.
You can also add or remove layers by clicking on File / Add Layer or File / Remove Layer in the menu bar.
To generate GCODE files from CopperCAM, you need to follow these steps:
Select a toolset from the right panel or create your own by clicking on Tools / Tool Library in the menu bar.
Select an output format from the right panel or create your own by clicking on Tools / Output Format in the menu bar.
Click on Tools / Generate Output File in the menu bar.
Choose a folder where you want to save the GCODE files and click Save.
CopperCAM will create one GCODE file for each layer that you have selected.
Tips and Tricks for Optimizing Your PCB Output
CopperCAM has some features that can help you optimize your PCB output by reducing the machining time and improving the quality. Here are some tips and tricks that you can use:
You can use Tools / Optimize Drilling Order in the menu bar to rearrange the drilling order according to different criteria, such as minimizing tool changes, minimizing travel distance, or maximizing drilling speed.
You can use Tools / Optimize Contour Order in the menu bar to rearrange the contour order according to different criteria, such as minimizing tool changes, minimizing travel distance, or maximizing engraving speed.
You can use Tools / Add Card Cut-Out Contour in the menu bar to add a contour around your PCB that will cut it out from the board material. You can adjust the parameters of this contour by clicking on it in the left panel.
You can use Tools / Add Centering Holes in the menu bar to add two holes at opposite corners of your PCB that will help you align it with your CNC machine. You can adjust the parameters of these holes by clicking on them in the left panel.
You can use View / Show Toolpaths in 3D in the menu bar to preview how your PCB will look like after machining. You can rotate, zoom, and pan the 3D view by using your mouse or keyboard shortcuts.
Conclusion
CopperCAM is a powerful software that can help you design and engrave PCBs using a CNC machine. It can import Gerber files from various PCB design software, such as Proteus, and generate GCODE files for your CNC machine. It can also optimize your output by reducing drills and contours, adding card cut-out contour and centering holes. You can purchase a license for CopperCAM from Galaad's website for 80 EUR. You can also download a trial version with some limitations from their website. If you are interested in learning more about CopperCAM, you can watch some tutorials on YouTube or visit their website: www.galaad.net/coppercam-eng.html
What are the Benefits of CopperCAM for CNC PCBs
CopperCAM has many benefits for CNC PCBs, such as:
It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface.
It supports various PCB design software and can import Gerber files from them.
It can generate GCODE files for different CNC machines and output formats.
It can optimize the output by reducing drills and contours, adding card cut-out contour and centering holes.
It can preview the toolpaths in 3D and show the estimated machining time and cost.
It has a low license price and no time-limits.
CopperCAM is a great software for anyone who wants to design and engrave PCBs using a CNC machine. It can save you time, money, and hassle by providing you with a high-quality output.
How to Troubleshoot CopperCAM Issues
CopperCAM is a reliable software that works well with most CNC machines and PCB design software. However, sometimes you may encounter some issues or errors while using it. Here are some common problems and solutions that you can try:
If CopperCAM does not start or crashes, you may have a corrupted installation or a missing license file. You can try to reinstall CopperCAM or copy the license file again into the installation directory.
If CopperCAM does not recognize your Gerber files or shows them incorrectly, you may have a wrong format or a corrupted file. You can try to export your Gerber files again from your PCB design software or choose a different format.
If CopperCAM does not generate the GCODE files or shows an error message, you may have a wrong toolset or output format. You can try to select a different toolset or output format or create your own by clicking on Tools / Tool Library or Tools / Output Format in the menu bar.
If CopperCAM generates the GCODE files but they do not work with your CNC machine or show poor results, you may have a wrong configuration or calibration of your CNC machine. You can try to adjust the settings of your CNC machine or calibrate it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
If none of these solutions work, you can contact Galaad's support team by sending them an email at their address: www.galaad.net/coppercam-eng.html. They will be happy to help you with any CopperCAM issues.
How to Manage Isolation Engraving with CopperCAM
Isolation engraving is the process of removing the copper layer around the tracks and pads of a PCB, creating electrical isolation between them. CopperCAM can perform isolation engraving by generating GCODE files that control the movement of a CNC machine with a milling tool.
To manage isolation engraving with CopperCAM, you need to follow these steps:
Open your Gerber file that contains the copper layer of your PCB in CopperCAM. You can use File / Open Gerber File in the menu bar or drag and drop the file into the main window.
Select the layer that you want to engrave in the left panel. You can rename it by double-clicking on it or right-clicking and choosing Rename Layer.
Click on Tools / Isolation Engraving in the menu bar or right-click on the layer and choose Isolation Engraving.
A new window will open where you can adjust the parameters of the isolation engraving, such as the tool number, the depth, the speed, the margin, and the number of passes.
Click on OK to generate the GCODE file for the isolation engraving. You can preview it by clicking on View / Show Toolpaths in 3D in the menu bar.
Save the GCODE file by clicking on Tools / Generate Output File in the menu bar or right-clicking on the layer and choosing Generate Output File.
How to Manage Drilling and Cutting with CopperCAM
Drilling and cutting are two other processes that are essential for making a PCB. Drilling creates holes for through-hole components and vias, while cutting creates a contour around the PCB to separate it from the board material. CopperCAM can perform drilling and cutting by generating GCODE files that control the movement of a CNC machine with a drilling tool or a cutting tool.
To manage drilling with CopperCAM, you need to follow these steps:
Open your Excellon file that contains the drill data of your PCB in CopperCAM. You can use File / Open Excellon File in the menu bar or drag and drop the file into the main window.
Select the layer that you want to drill in the left panel. You can rename it by double-clicking on it or right-clicking and choosing Rename Layer.
Click on Tools / Optimize Drilling Order in the menu bar or right-click on the layer and choose Optimize Drilling Order.
A new window will open where you can choose a criterion for optimizing the drilling order, such as minimizing tool changes, minimizing travel distance, or maximizing drilling speed.
Click on OK to generate the GCODE file for drilling. You can preview it by clicking on View / Show Toolpaths in 3D in the menu bar.
Save the GCODE file by clicking on Tools / Generate Output File in the menu bar or right-clicking on the layer and choosing Generate Output File.
To manage cutting with CopperCAM, you need to follow these steps:
Click on Tools / Add Card Cut-Out Contour in the menu bar or right-click on any layer and choose Add Card Cut-Out Contour.
A new layer will be created with a contour around your PCB. You can adjust its parameters by clicking on it in the left panel.
Click on Tools / Optimize Contour Order in the menu bar or right-click on the layer and choose Optimize Contour Order.
A new window will open where you can choose a criterion for optimizing the contour order, such as minimizing tool changes, minimizing travel distance, or maximizing engraving speed.
Click on OK to generate the GCODE file for cutting. You can preview it by clicking on View / Show Toolpaths in 3D in the menu bar.
Save the GCODE file by clicking on Tools / Generate Output File in the menu bar or right-clicking on the layer and choosing Generate Output File.
Conclusion
CopperCAM is a software that can help you design and engrave PCBs using a CNC machine. It can import Gerber and Excellon files from various PCB design software and generate GCODE files for your CNC machine. It can also optimize your output by reducing drills and contours, adding card cut-out contour and centering holes. You can purchase a license for CopperCAM from Galaad's website for 80 EUR. You can also download a trial version with some limitations from their website. If you are interested in learning more about CopperCAM, you can watch some tutorials on YouTube or visit their website: www.galaad.net/coppercam-eng.html
Puedes jugar mejor cada vez. Simplemente juegue la versión gratuita primero para calentarse un poco. Y entonces verás que todo saldrá cada vez mejor. Solo cree en ello, cree en ti mismo. Ahora aquí https://sweetbonanza.es/sweet-bonanza-candyland/ hay una forma genial de ganar dinero. Este juego está lleno de bonos y ofertas interesantes. Por lo tanto, en él definitivamente encontrarás una pieza de éxito para ti.