[PCB_FORUM] Re: Plotting

I've found that importing my gerbers into gerbtool and
plotting from there works pretty well.
It also gives the added bonus of being able to check
your output to be sure you didn't muck something up.
I highly recommend it. It has saved my a$$ many times.
Well, not many, but enough to make it worth the trouble.
Nothing like a final check on the way out the door.
Plus, I can mirror the board in gerbtool for plotting
of the assembly layer without having to mirror
the border with it.
The only negative from my point of view is the time.
But that is saved if the design goes out with fewer
errors in it, right?

Kevin McCowan
Sr. PCB Designer
TSI Telsys

Gene Carman wrote:
Uh, I plot all the time... Not sure of the problem you might be having, but one thing I do notice is that it plots the area of the screen that is showing... so I move the edges of the window so that the window fits the PWB. I am irratated by the fact that one cannot change the settings of paper or the plotter without having to hit the OK button which actually starts the plot process. I usually end up throwing away the first plot... (something quick like board outline) and then I can preview the rest before I hit that OK button again. I am plotting through Windows, to an HP Design Jet 500 onto 36 inch wide paper... and yes, using 15.2. Perhaps Windows is handling the plot process. I have been pretty successful getting 1:1 and 2:1 etc. plots. 

    -----Original Message-----
    *From:* icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]*On Behalf Of
    *george.h.patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    *Sent:* Wednesday, June 22, 2005 5:35 PM
    *To:* icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    *Subject:* [PCB_FORUM] Plotting

Good evening:
I have avoided plotting like the plague ever since Cadence
"improved" it to the point it doesn't work any more, but I have an
EE who wants plots now so I have to try to get it to work. I have
tried every combination of settings inside Allegro, tried moving the
origin around, tried changing the drawing extents, I still can't get
it to plot a 2X size board layer so the full thing is on the paper. Has anyone found the secret to reliably plotting drawings or do I
tell this engineer and the product line VP that if he wants plots we
better buy Mentor?

-- /George Patrick/
*Tektronix, Inc.*
Central Engineering, PCB Design Group
P.O. Box 500, M/S 39-512
Beaverton, OR 97077-0001
Phone: 503-627-5272 Fax: 503-627-5587
http://www.tektronix.com <http://www.tektronix.com/> http://www.pcb-designer.com <http://www.pcb-designer.com/>

    /It's _*my*_ opinion, not Tektronix'/

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