I use steel templates (called etchplates) with a hole pattern etched into it (see attached photo). These steel templates are used to hold steel pins in position inside a casting mold (see attached photo). Each casting mold only has one type, same size, pins inserted. The steel templates comes in different sizes, as well as the holes/pins come in different sizes and shapes. Also the pins sit either parrallel to each or are angled towards a focal line or point. Attached is a drawing of the variables involved in designing the Grid Templates. I currently have a program that is able to calculate the pin position for hexagonal type pins, for both parrallel as well as focusing geometry, where the hole/pin size and spacing is uniform across the plane. This program generates a gerber code, which can be translated into a DXF (CAD) code. I either need this program extended or rewritten to include square and rectangular shaped pins, as well as different type hole spacing/patterrns, like the steel template picture attached, where there are different spacings between the holes/pins, but still in a uniform pattern. I also want the program to generate DXF code, instead of first Gerber code and than converting it to DXF code.
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