Why use Gerber? Gerber, also known as image files, is a standard file format. Gerber consists of two important parts, the Gerber image file is used to describe the content of a certain layer (somewhat similar to film), and the NC drilling file.
PCB manufacturers can directly produce the final PCB through Gerber, and the commonly used format is RS-274X. Most board manufacturers also support the latest Gerber X2 format (which includes more board stacking information and attributes). Many engineers like to directly send PCB design files to the board factory, but this "lazy" approach is actually risky because the board factory still needs to convert the PCB file into Gerber before production, so there are many potential problems in the process from PCB to Gerber.
Due to issues with the EDA tool version, the PCB files opened by the board factory may have been altered.
Due to a lack of communication, some parameters that do not need to be displayed on the PCB remain on the finished product.
In short, the process of converting PCB to Gerber may not be the same as copying, and designers should be responsible for this process. So most experienced engineers manually convert PCBs into Gerber, and then use software such as CAM350 to check if there are any issues with the Gerber before sending it to the board factory for processing. In addition, whether you use Altium, Allegro, or Expedition, as long as you convert to Gerber, the board factory can recognize it correctly. Another point is that Gerber finds it difficult to generate PCBs in reverse, and for safety reasons, companies are also unwilling to directly send the design source files to the board factory.
PCB gerber files typically include outlines, CNC (electroplated and non electroplated), screen printed layers, solder mask layers, copper layers, and solder paste layers.
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