ODB++ has been around for decades, but the IPC-2581 standard is supported by a number of the major PCB industry designers and manufacturers, and is intended to integrate PCB design and manufacturing seamlessly into a single process. Popular CAD formats are ODB++ and the IPC-2581 standard (an open source CAD to CAM format) both contain all the information necessary to fabricate your board. Thus, having your board fabricated may require extensive back-and-forth with the manufacturer or even redesign and regeneration of your Gerber PCB design files. Includes electrical connecticity information so no separate netlist is requiredĪlthough Gerber files are widely used, they lack the comprehensiveness and accuracy of CAD files.Includes DFM data used by the design program.Only one file needed that includes fabrication, component and assembly information.More complex (due to detail of information) than Gerbers.Reduces turnaround time for fabricationĭisadvantages of CAD Files versus Gerber Files for PCB Fabrication:.Only one file contains design information.This was demonstrated as far back as 2012, when the first board design using the IPC-2581 standard was delivered for fabrication: it experienced a 30% decrease in the overall design-fabrication process time.Ĭompared to Gerber files, CAD files have the following strengths and shortcomings for PCB fabrication: Advantages of CAD Files versus Gerber Files for PCB Fabrication: As these files are all-inclusive in terms of PCB design information, discrepancies or errors are virtually nonexistent and the design-fabrication process is therefore faster than when using other traditional PCB design formats, such as Gerbers. For a PCB, one file holds all of the information necessary for a manufacturer to fabricate the board. To minimize this source of errors, some manufacturers prefer (or require) a single CAD file as an alternative to Gerber files for PCB fabrication.ĬAD files are typically formatted files generated by specific PCB design software programs. Therefore, every file must be individually examined and compared with other associated files to ensure proper alignment. Using so many files introduces opportunities for errors or discrepancies. However, this convenience comes at a price. Having a generic format for PCB design files that virtually anyone can read can be convenient. Eventually, you will get your design fabricated, but there is a better and faster alternative. If discrepancies are found, it can take many back-and-forths with the manufacturer, or even a redesign and generation of new Gerber files prior to PCB fabrication. For example, the design may be broken up into individual files for each of the following:Įach of these files has to be inspected and debugged to ensure they align with the other files for a successful and accurate build. In many cases, this format results in the distribution of the PCB design over several different files, with each containing a portion of the overall design. Gerber files are 2-D ASCII files that are widely used by PCB designers most PCB design software programs are capable of generating them. Gerbers consist of multiple files containing the complex information from your PCB CAD design Generic PCB Fabrication Files: Gerbers Let’s examine the usage of Gerber files for PCB fabrication and discuss whether there may be a better alternative path to having your board built accurately and faster. It is not atypical to have to make corrections to Gerbers, which increases the time required to have your board fabricated. However, this flexibility doesn’t always equate to smooth sailing. Gerber files are generic design files accepted by many manufacturers and are a popular choice among PCB designers. You can avoid these delays by ensuring that your design files contain all of the information necessary to accurately produce your board. Any errors or missing data can prolong the time needed to build your board. The accuracy of your PCB’s fabrication begins with your design files. If you stray from the best path, you may experience PCB fabrication issues and extended turnaround time for your PCB. Creating PCBs also requires precision, as there is a “best path” that takes your design through fabrication to an accurately constructed board. I always enjoyed archery because determining the best path to the bullseye involves a high degree of precision. At camp, we could participate in all kinds of activities like hiking, swimming and archery. Back when I was a Boy Scout, the best time of the year was going to camp.
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