Hole types and 3D model

[warren_hawkins57R37]

Would it be possible to add support for countersink, counter bore, and maybe chamfer hole types? I'd need to choose the angle and depth for countersink and diameter and depth for counter board. Plus the side, I assume, could be mirrored to flip.

At the moment I have to do some hacks to generate gerbers that can be counter sunk and I don't have a proper 3D model.

Also I find that I can't do much with 3D PCB's. It would be nice if there was a way to convert them to a regular mechanical model without exporting to step and importing.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @warren_hawkins57R37,

This is an interesting idea, PCBs are so thin that contersinking and counterboring are generally not feasible. That's why I've never seen that feature requirement before.

Could you elaborate on what you are trying to do with your PCBs?

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[warren_hawkins57R37]

We do this all the time. We use 3mm and 6mm or 0.25 inch etc. boards as structural members sometimes. 

By the way Altium has this feature.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @warren_hawkins57R37,

The most common PCBs are 1.6mm thick so 3mm and 6mm are more specialized. In that circumstance, the requirement makes a lot of sense. I'll put in the feature request for you.

P.S Do you have any pictures of the boards with the drills countersunk? It would be interesting to see an example.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[warren_hawkins57R37]

Here is an example.

[baumanntCXKFK]

Hello! I also need countersunk holes in PCBs. For small fasteners there should be no issues in using countersunk holes, even if the PCB is 1.6 mm. I think this is absolutely needed! Is there any progress on this request?

Thanks!

[jorge_garcia]

Hello @baumanntCXKFK ,

I hope you're doing well. Unfortunately, I don't have anything new to report on this front but I have bumped the ticket with your comments.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[warren_hawkins57R37]

The work around I have been using is to add a circle in a user layer for each countersink. Then add to the cam job to make a new gerber for countersinks. You may need two layers one for top and one for bottom. Then I do a CAD drawing to detail the countersink angle and depth etc. If you need a 3D model you'll have to export the PCB to step then import it again. Then you can add a mechanical countersink to it.

[warren_hawkins57R37]

Sometimes I have more than two layers when I need different size countersinks.