Cheatsheet

Exporting Traces and Outline

• File > Export > SVG
  • Copper Layers - F. CU (Copper Layer - Front)
  • Technical Layers - Edge.Cuts
  • Options - Black and White
  • SVG Page Size - Board Area Only
  • Enable Print one page per layer
  • 💡 Disable Print Board edges on all pages

Inkscape

Preparing the Inkscape workspace

• Add a new layer and call it “board”. This layer will represent the actual board that you will mill.
• Set its size to 76x50mm (76mm wide and 50mm high).
• 💡 You will position and export all your files using this layer as the reference for positioning.

Import files into Inkscape to create the black and white PNGs

• Import the 2 SVG files you created
• Add a new layer called background
  • Add a grey rectangle in it. It will be used as a backdrop to work more easily.
• Add a new layer called traces
  • Move the traces file into it.
• Add a new layer called outline
  • Move the outline file into it.
• Preparing the colors for the layers
  • 💡 Remember, Mods works like heightmaps:
    • 100% White = highest points = this parts will remain untouched
    • 100% Black = lowest points = these parts will be milled down.

Preparing the traces layer

• This means that, for the traces layer, the traces and footpaths should be set to white, and the rest should be set to black.
• Select the figure in the traces layer, right click on it and choose Fill and Stroke
• In the new tab for Fill, enable a flat color fill and set RGB to 255 to change the traces to white
• In the new tab for Stroke Pains, enable a flat color fill and set RGB to 255 to change the footprints to white
• You are ready to export the traces PNG
  • Set the background layer to black
  • Select the traces figure
  • Go to File, Export PNG Image
  • A new tab appears
  • Select the “board” layer and click on the “Selection” button in the Export PNG
    • This will make sure that the positions are all relative to the board and that you will cut in the right coordinates
  • Set the DPI to 1000
  • Validate that the size (in mm) that appears is correct and matches what you expected.
  • Export

Preparing the outline layer

• This means that, for the outline layer, the inside of the board should be set to white, and the outside should be set to black.
• Set the background rectangle back to gray
• You will see the outline in black again
• Select the figure in the outline layer (or create your own custom outline figure in inkscape directly), right click on it and choose Fill and Stroke
  • In the new tab for Fill, enable a flat color fill and set RGB to 255 to change the traces to white
  • Set the outside of the figure to black so mods understand that it will need to be cut out.
• You are ready to export the traces PNG
  • Set the background layer to black
  • Select the outline figure/layer
  • Go to File, Export PNG Image
  • Select the “board” layer and click on the “Selection” button in the Export PNG
    • This will make sure that the positions are all relative to the board and that you will cut in the right coordinates
  • Set the DPI to 1000
  • Validate that the size (in mm) that appears is correct and matches what you expected.
  • Export

An example on how to mill out 2 board from 1 panel