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This dialog provides tools to completely configure your Gerber file output options. Each Gerber file corresponds to one layer in the physical board – the component overlay, top signal layer, bottom signal layer, the solder masking layers, etc. It is advisable to consult with your board fabricator to confirm their requirements before supplying the output documentation required to fabricate your design.
The Gerber Setup dialog is accessed in the following ways:
The General tab of the Gerber Setup dialog
The Layers tab of the Gerber Setup dialog
This region is a list of layers that can be plotted as part of Gerber generation.
Check the box next to each mechanical layer(s) you want added to all plots.
Use the drop-down to access a menu of commands that allow the Plot field for all layers in the Layers to Plot region to be enabled or disabled:
Use the drop-down to access a menu of commands that allow the Mirror field for all layers in the Layers to Plot region to be enabled or disabled:
The Plot Layers and Mirror Layers commands also can be accessed by right-clicking the layer name in the list region. The following are additional commands included on the right-click menu:
Check this box to allow unconnected pads in the mid-layer on Gerber plots.
The Drill Drawing tab of the Gerber Setup dialog
Use this tab to specify that a drill drawing is required. Mirrored plots can also be specified.
The Apertures tab of the Gerber Setup dialog
Use this tab to set up the required aperture information for the design.
Unless your PCB manufacturer does not support embedded apertures, it is highly recommended that you use the Embedded apertures (RS274X) option. Most modern photoplotters are raster plotters that can accept any size aperture. Generally, they also accept Gerber files with embedded apertures.
If your manufacturer does not use embedded apertures, a separate aperture file (*.apt) must be included with the Gerber files. If you use an existing aperture file rather than a generated one, the PCB Editor scans the primitives (tracks, pads, etc.,) in the PCB document and matches these with aperture descriptions in the loaded *.apt file. If there is no exact match of aperture to primitive, the PCB Editor will automatically paint the primitive with a suitable smaller aperture. If there is no aperture suitable with which to paint, a *.MAT (match) file will be generated listing the missing apertures and Gerber file generation will be aborted.
The Advanced tab of the Gerber Setup dialog
Use this tab to specify options such as film size, position on film, and plotter type to be used during Gerber generation.
Use the following options to choose the position on the film:
The following file extensions are used to identify each Gerber file. The filename for each Gerber file is the PCB filename when the Gerbers are generated via File » Fabrication Outputs » Gerber Files. For Gerbers generated through an OutputJob, the default is to use the PCB filename, however, this can be overridden if required. To override the default, click the Change link in the Output Containers region of the OutJob file to open the Folder Structure settings dialog. In the Output Options region in the Advanced section, enable the Use the Output Name as the file name instead of the default option.
Gerber Extension |
Description |
---|---|
G1, G2, etc. |
Mid-layer 1, 2, etc. |
GBL |
Bottom Layer |
GBO |
Bottom Overlay |
GBP |
Bottom Paste Mask |
GBS |
Bottom Solder Mask |
GD1, GD2, etc. |
Drill Drawing |
GG1, GG2, etc. |
Drill Guide |
GKO |
Keep Out Layer |
GM1, GM2, etc. |
Mechanical Layer 1, 2, etc. |
GP1, GP2, etc. |
Internal Plane Layer 1, 2, etc. |
GPB |
Pad Master Bottom |
GPT |
Pad Master Top |
GTL |
Top Layer |
GTO |
Top Overlay |
GTP |
Top Paste Mask |
GTS |
Top Solder Mask |
P01, P02, etc. |
Gerber Panels |
APR |
Aperture File (generated when Embedded apertures (RS274X) on the Apertures tab is enabled) |
APT |
Aperture File (generated when Embedded apertures (RS274X) on the Apertures tab is not enabled) |
The output path for generated files depends on how the output was generated:
When generating Gerber output, you can specify that the output be opened automatically in a new CAM document. The way in which this is accomplished depends on how you are generating the output:
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