File menu of Minimal Board Editor

File menu of Minimal Board Editor

New Create a new document window You can get back operations by using Undo until file io.

Open Open a document

Save Save the document

Save as Save the document with a new file name

Setup Page Setup printing page Detail

Print preview Print preview

Print Print

Export Image Export a BMP/PNG. Detail

Export CAM data Export Gerber/Excellon data, Component position data Refer to the following table "Sub menu of Export CAM data"

Export Netlist Export the Telesis format netlist Detail

DRC Design Rule Chack Detail

Exit Exit from this program

Sub menu of Export CAM data

Gerver Detail

Component Position list Detail

Setup page

Setup printing page

You can set the left margin and the bottom margin.

Header - If this option is checked on, MBE prints out a text written to the right text box as a header.
The following variables can be used in the text.

$DocName$	Fileame of the document(without extension)
$DocPath$	File path of the document.
$LayerNote$	The note of each layer written in the Set Print Layer Dialog.
$Layer$	Print layer names jointed with '+'.
$SaveTime$	Last save date and time
$Time$	The print start date and time.
$Page$	Page number
$Pages$	All page count

The variable is started with '$' and is ended '$'.
To print '$' itself, write '$$'B
The variables are not case sensitive.

Example) Condition: Filename is "MyBoard.mb3". The note of the 4th layer is "Component".

Text	$DocName$ ($LayerNote$) -$Page$/$Pages$- Printed@$Time$
Actual header	MyBoard (Component) -4/7- Printed@2010/04/30 7:03:26

Text	$DocName$ ($Layer$) -$Page$/$Pages$- Saved@ $SaveTime$
Actual header	MyBoard (PTH+CMP+DIM+DRL) -4/7- Saved@ 2009/12/28 21:31:30

x2 mode - If it is checked on, you get double size print.
Center punch mode - If it is checked on, drill holes are printed as up to 0.4mm dia.

Left : Normal
Right : Center punch mode

Tool mark mode - If this option is checked, when the DRL layer is printed without PTH, CMP, SOL, PLC, PLS, L2, L3, STC, STS, MMC and MMS, drill mark is printed using the pattern defined in "toolmark.mb3".
If the toolmark file is not found or if diameter of a hole is not defined in the toolmark file, a drill hole is printed as diameter number with a circle.
For example, the figure left above is normal mode, the right is the toolmark mode.
You can change the designs of the marks by editing the "toolmark.mb3".
Layer
- Current view - If this option is checked on, Minimal Board editor prints layers of the current view setting..
  If checked it off, setteings of "Set print layer" is used.
- Set print layer - Print layer setting.
  
  By default, this setteing is void. Right click on this grid to insert or add the page.
Color mode
- Black and White
- Color Vector - To print out with vector mode. It is suitable for a generic color printer.
- Color Bitmap - To print out with bitmap mode. In this mode, Minimal Board Editor generates a bitmap image at the resolution of 600dpi, and transfer it to the printer. If you want to create a color PDF file by using a printer-driver-type PDF writer (such as Bullzip PDF, Primo PDF ...), you had better select this mode. (If you use a PostScript printer, maybe you had better select this mode to print in color.)
Color mode setting vs result of the PDF output.

Screenshot Color Vector Color Bitmap

I used Bullzip PDF Printer 6.0.0.766 for this test. I tested by using Acrobat 9 evaluation version too, but I got a similar result.
Minimal Board Editor uses alpha blending colors to draw objects, but I heard that the PostScript which is the base of the PDF does not support alpha blending.
In the result of Color Vector mode, it seems that the PDF writer generates small dots to try to emulate alpha blending color.

To create a color PDF with Color Bitmap mode, the following settings are recommended.
- Resolution : 600dpi
- Compress mode of the color image : ZIPor FLATE.
- Downsampling of color image : OFF

Export Image

Export image file

As shown in the setting of view.
You can set the output area.
The setting higher the resolution brings the smoother image, but the file size becomes larger.
By default, file type is PNG.
If the extension of the output file is changed to BMP, it exports the image file as Windows Bitmap File with compression.
In sub cases the [ Internal Error ] occurs. Please reduce the output area size or set resolution lower.

Export Gerber

Generates data for oredering PCB.

Pattern data is RS-274X. Drill data is Excellon format.
Unit is inch.
Even if you get an unexpected PCB, I do not assume any responsibility. I recommend you to verify the CAM data before ordering the PCB.
There are excellent free gerber viewes in Internet. (I am using PentaLogix's ViewMate)

When execute this command, it exports many files. The extensions of these files are changed to the layer names.

Extension	content
MMC	Mask of solder paste for the component side.
PLC	Silkscreen for the component side.
STC	Solder Resist for the component side.
CMP	Component side copper. It includes PTH of the working window layer.
L2	Inner copper. It is positive pattern as well as CMP, SOL.
L3	Inner copper. It is positive pattern as well as CMP, SOL.
SOL	Solder side copper. It includes PTH of the working window layer.
STS	Solder Resist for the solder side.
PLS	Silkscreen for the solder side.
MMS	Mask of solder paste for the solder side.
DIM	Tooling outline.
DRI	Drill tool information.
DRD	Excellon drill data.

Do not send the unnecessary data to the PCB factory. For example, if you order a double side PCB, L2 and L3 are not needed.

Component Position List

Export position information of components for a mounter.

The view of the exported list opened with Excel.

Ref Reference number

X(mm), Y(mm) Posiotion of the componet's origin. Please note the origin point when you make component.

Rotation(CCW) Rotation of component. The angle is expressed CounterClockWise.
"#####" means the current angle property of component is not defined.
Just behind componenting, the Current angle is "Undefined". Set it after Unlocking.

Side Component(top) or Solder(bottom)

Name Name property of Compnent

Export Netlist

It generates a Telesis format netlist based on the drawing guideline. It is possible to confirm connection of net with Connection check tool while drawing.
Only pins of components are listed.
This netlist can be compared with the netlist generated by NL3W, using yfNetDiff (y's Factory ). The WEB site of y's Factory is written in Japanese language only. But the user interface of yfNetDiff is written in English.
Netlist does not check the unexpected touch of patterns. You have to execute DRC.

DRC

It checks gaps of pattern only.
If you want to turn off displaying DRC mark, use View-DRC mark.

New	Create a new document window	You can get back operations by using Undo until file io.
Open	Open a document
Save	Save the document
Save as	Save the document with a new file name
Setup Page	Setup printing page	Detail
Print preview	Print preview
Print	Print
Export Image	Export a BMP/PNG.	Detail
Export CAM data	Export Gerber/Excellon data, Component position data	Refer to the following table "Sub menu of Export CAM data"
Export Netlist	Export the Telesis format netlist	Detail
DRC	Design Rule Chack	Detail
Exit	Exit from this program

Ref	Reference number
X(mm), Y(mm)	Posiotion of the componet's origin. Please note the origin point when you make component.
Rotation(CCW)	Rotation of component. The angle is expressed CounterClockWise. "#####" means the current angle property of component is not defined. Just behind componenting, the Current angle is "Undefined". Set it after Unlocking.
Side	Component(top) or Solder(bottom)
Name	Name property of Compnent

Screenshot	Color Vector	Color Bitmap