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HOWTO make SMT Stencils with LASER

This documents how to make solder paste stencils with a LASER using Inkscape. This is the preferred method over using FlatCAM, for now.

Equipment Used

LulzBot TAZ 6.
J-Tech Photonics 3.8W LASER.
Graytex Papers "Clear Transparencies for Color Laser Printers" (P/N 235-8511). 5 mil (0.127 mm), clear.

Software Used

Debian.
KiCAD.
Inkscape.
J-Tech Photonics Inkscape Plugin.

KiCAD

This HOWTO assumes you already have a KiCAD file ready. You will need to export the paste layers from KiCAD. This process is for one or two layer boards. You could make stencils for more layers, but that is only useful if you have a process to assemble PCBs with more than two layers.

KiCAD Steps

Do thusly:

Open your KiCAD .pro file.
Click on "PCB Layout Editor" icon.
File --> Export --> SVG....
Output directory: Where you would like the output file to go.
Under Layers:
Under Copper Layers: Uncheck all.
Under Technical Layers: Include the one layer you want to create a stencil for. Example: F.Paste for the front solder paste layer or B.Paste for the back solder paste layer.
Under Options:
Default Pen Size: 0.05 mm. XXX confirm.
Print Mode: Black and white.
SVG Page Size: Board area only.
Print Board Edges: Unchecked.
Print mirrored: Unchecked.
Pagination: One file per layer.
Under Output Messages show debug as you like. You can Save... the file if you want, but it isn't needed. Useful just for debugging.
Now that everything is set up, hit the Export button. This will export a file to the Output directory specified above.
After Plot, hit the Close button.
Exit KiCAD: File --> Exit.

Inkscape

In these steps, you take the .svg file exported from KiCAD, open it in Inkscape, and use a plugin to export gcode.

Inkscape Initial Setup

The first time you do this process, you need to set up the Inkscape plugins. It is only needed the first time.

First you need to download the plugins. It is available from upstream here: https://jtechphotonics.com/Downloads/Inkscape/JTP_Laser_Tool_V2_2%20-%20inkscape%209_2%20version.zip
If the above URL is unavailable, there is a mirror in this repo here: https://code.forksand.com/forksand/pcba/src/branch/master/equipment/laser/inkscape/jtech
For example, it could be done thusly:

git clone https://code.forksand.com/forksand/pcba
cd pcba/equipment/laser/inkscape/jtech
mkdir ~/.config/inkscape/extensions/
cp -p dxf_input.inx dxf_input.py laser.inx laser.py ~/.config/inkscape/extensions/

Inkscape Steps

Steps to generate gcode from an SVG file.

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