This command allows you to import an NC (drill or mill) file to a layer that you specify. The format of the file will be automatically detected for you, but you are given an opportunity to review and change any of the format settings prior to loading the file.
Importing PADS Drill Files
PADS drill files do not include the drill tool definitions. Instead, a separate .rep file, containing the definitions, is created. If you are importing a drill file from a PADS CAD system, complete the following steps before you import the file.
Make sure that the following PADS ACR files are currently in the VisualCAM "ToolConv" folder:
PadsMil.acr
PadsInch.acr
PadsDrillMM.acr
Select the File|Import|NC Tool List command and import the .rep file that corresponds with your PADS drill file.
Select the File|Import|NC (Drill/Mill) command. The Import NC dialog box appears.
Tip: If your file name has an extension that does not appear in the "Files of type" list, select the Options|Configure command, and click on the Paths, Files, Extensions tab. Add your file extension to the Default Extensions list for your Drill or Mill files.
Select the file to import, and click the Open button. The Import NC Data dialog box appears.
In the Destination Layer box, select the layer to place the NC data.
Select an NC Tool Table to place your tool definitions. You can create a new tool table, or add to an existing tool table (if another database is already loaded).
Because NC files do not contain decimal points, a number such as X19485 could mean 1.9485 inches, 19.485 inches, or 194.85 inches. To help limit the possibilities, the system assumes that the minimum board size is 2.5 inches and the maximum size is 25 inches. With these base values, it can then determine the accurate coordinate (M.N) format and size of your board.
The detected board dimensions are indicated above the thumbnail view of the design. If the indicated size is significantly larger or smaller than the actual design, you can click the Set Min/Max Board Size button and specify a more accurate range for the board. VisualCAM will then recalculate the size, based upon those limits. If your boards typically fall within a certain size range and use the same data format, specifying a minimum and maximum board size value and saving the settings as the default values can aid the import process in the future.
Because the file format is automatically detected, it should not be necessary to change any of the other file format settings. However, if you need to make any changes, you should click the Apply button to see those changes reflected in the thumbnail view of the file. This allows you to verify the accuracy prior to actually importing the file into your database.
Dialect
The format of the file to be imported. Available options are Excellon, Excellon 2, Sieb & Meyer 1000, Sieb & Meyer 3000, and Takeuchi
M.N
The coordinate format. For example, a 2.3 format specifies two decimal digits before an implied decimal point and three following. (12250 represents 12.250 if the coordinate format is 2.3).
Mode
Absolute mode is when all X:Y coordinates are referenced to a common origin. Incremental mode is when each X:Y coordinate is a displacement from the previous coordinate.
Zero Suppression
No zero suppression allows coordinates to have zeroes in front or back of integers. Leading zero suppression shows zeroes only at the end of a number. Trailing zero suppression shows zeroes only at the beginning of a number.
Units
Select if the units of measure are in Inches or Metric.
Character Set
Indicate the character text used in the file.
Plating
Select Plated if the NC data on the layer are plated, Nonplated if the NC data are unplated, or Both if you have a combination of plated and unplated data on the layer. Your tools will be defined accordingly, in the tool table.
Step and Repeat
When stepping and repeating a pattern, Excellon supports repeated placement of the pattern with a fixed offset by using the repeat ("Rn") command in conjunction with the pattern offset command ("M02"). This option is provided because of discrepancies between the Excellon documentation and the behavior of some machine controllers. Selecting this option specifies that the result of "n" in the command "RnM02" would be the total number instances of the pattern (per Excellon documentation). So the result of "R5M02" would be 5 instances of the pattern. If not selected, the command will produce n+1 instances of the pattern; "R5M02" would result in 6 instances of the pattern (the original plus 5).
Apply To
This is the directory path and name of the file you are importing.
Format Sample
This displays the text version of your file. You cannot edit the contents of the file here—this is only for your reference.
If you wish to save the current settings as the defaults for NC files whose format cannot be identified by VisualCAM, click the Set As Default button. If an imported file can be identified, the format settings will be set accordingly (not to the default settings that you save). To apply the saved default settings to imported files, just click the Use Default button and any detected format settings are overridden.
Take note of the thumbnail view prior to completing the import process. If everything looks correct, click the OK button to import the file.
If data are imported with an incorrect format specified, they will be loaded with unpredictable results. If you inadvertently import a file incorrectly, use the Undo command and re-import.
If you import your data to an existing NC layer whose tool table already contains tool definitions, you will be prompted to resolve any conflicts. You are also warned if any items have no associated tool defined. Select the Setup|NC Tools command to view which tools are currently in use, and to add or change tool definitions.