Second Generation Boolean

Artwork has developed a second generation boolean - one that uses as input composite curves instead of polygons. The resulting output is also composite curves. What is a composite curve?

A composite curve is a collection of continuously connected lines and arcs. It may be open or closed. If open, it may have a width. The end cap is determined by the type of "aperture" used to draw the composite curve.

The second generation boolean (or circular boolean as we prefer to call it) uses composite curves as input instead of polygons. It also outputs composite curves.

Input: At left, a typical Gerber draw command (using a round aperture) connecting two round flashed pads. Circuit boards will have hundreds or thousands of geometries like this one.

Internal: Prior to the boolean operations to unionize the flashes and the trace, all elements are now converted to composite closed curves. The arcs are preserved unlike in the first generation boolean.

Output: The output from the second generation boolean is a closed composite curve with arcs preserved. Not only is the database smaller, the output contour is identical to the input contour because the input arcs were not fractured.