Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (PREPARE MANUFACTURE FILES FOR PCB HOUSE)  

    III. PREPARE MANUFACTURE FILES FOR PCB HOUSE

    The most common problem when generate gerber files is that our customer did not include all necessary files. For 2 layers you should include : Top copper layers, Bot copper layer, Top Silk Screen, Bot Silk Screen(if you have), Top Solder Mask, Bot Solder Mask. And NC drill files. If the board is multi-layers, you also need to include inner layers in the gerber file. Each layer will be one file, so for 2 layers you will have 5-6 files plus NC drill. If you define the border of the board use mechanical layers please also include ship layer in the gerber file. Each layer should have a unique extension, below give some example.

•              TopCopper - ".gtl" , ".cmp", ".top" 

•              BottomCopper - ".gbl", ".sol", ".bot"  

•              TopSolderMask - ".gts", ".stc", ".smt", ".stoptop", ".tsm" 

•              BottomSolderMask - ".gbs", ".sts", ".smb", ".stopbot", ".bsm" 

•             TopSilk - ".gto", ".plc", ".sst", ".positop", ".leg", ".slk" 

•             BottomSilk - ".gbo", ".pls", ".ssb", ".posibot", ".bsk" 

•              Drill - ".drl", ".txt", ".tap", ".drill", ".gdd", ".drd", ".cnc", ".exl"  

•              KeepOut - ".gko" 

•             MiddleCopper1 - ".g2" 

•              MiddleCopper2 - ".g3" 

•              BottomStencil - ".gbp" 

•              TopStencil - ".gtp" 

•              Outline - ".outline", ".oln" 

    For Gold Phoenix we need gerber files in 27 4X format. After you generate the gerber files use a free gerber view to check the file, make sure the file looks right. Keep in mind gerber files sometimes does not look the same as your PCB files, so it is 100% necessary to check the files before you send the files to the board house to place order.

    After the gerber files and NC drill is done, put zip the all files into one ZIP file, and name the file use the same name as your project name. We suggest do not name the file name as gerber or panel, those files are too common. If th ere is any version change also change the file name and add the version to the file name. In this way it will make it a lot easier when you want order the same board again, otherwise after a few months if you have too many version everything will mass up.

    Different PCB software will have different steps to generate gerber files, what you really need to keep in mind is that: IN INCLUDE ALL LAYERS YOU WANT, SELECT 274X FORMAT, INCLUDE NC DRILL FILE. Finally we would hope this tutorial is helpful for you. If you have any questions please email us

    Gold Phoenix Technology Ltd

    Email: [email protected]

    Web: https://www.goldphoenixpcb.com

    Direct:905-339-2881

    Fax :905-339-3162

Printed Circuit Design Tutorial

Section

1. Basic rules in PCB Design : The size and shape of the PCB

2. Basic rules in PCB Design : Define the design rules for the PCB

3. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (A. V Score)

4. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (B. Tab-routing)

5. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (C. Define Non-plated holes - NPTH)

6. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (D. PCB finishing)

7. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (E. Solder mask)

8. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (F. Silk Screen)

9. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (G. Copper thickness and Via current handling capacity)

10. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (H. Via)

11. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (I. Slot)

12. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (J. Voltage break points)

13. Printed Circuit Design Tutorial (K. Half hole design)

14. PREPARE MANUFACTURE FILES FOR PCB HOUSE