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January 1998

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Subject:
From:
Jerry Cupples <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
TechNet Mail Forum.
Date:
Thu, 8 Jan 1998 14:46:13 -0600
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Richard MacCutcheon <[log in to unmask]>

>I am writing a layout house deliverable. Can any one suggest what is the
>best format I should receive the gerber data from our layout house. Or let
>me put this way - what fab house normally wants to do better, faster and
>error free job in terms of gerber and associated stuff if any?

RS-274X is the latest format which includes an embedded aperture list.
Gerber files are essentially only plot files. There is a nice explanation
of Gerber data formats on the Artwork Conversion Software, Inc. webpage at
http://www.artwork.com/gerber/appl2.htm

>When we say gerber does that include drill file, aperture list, etc? Is is
>gerber carry everything?

I don't think it includes a drill file (you want ASCII format, leading
zeroes, format 2.4 EOB LF/CR), and neither is the Gerber file the entire
"deliverable" package to build a board. I'd also request:

to include with your Gerber data:
"pastemask" layer with only the pad locations which will require solder (to
make your stencil)

- fab drawing in HPGL or PostScript format
- netlist in IPC-D-356 format (used for test fixtures in both fab and ICT)
- schematic diagram in PostScript format (troubleshooting)
- coordinate X-Y centroid locations of all SMT placements (for machine
programming)

>Is there any real importance to specify to use certain cad package like
>allegro, etc? or this what we have to decide to standardize the gerber?

Only if you ever intend to have the board revised or changed. Some of the
low end CAD systems are crude compared to the Cadence and Mentor packages.
I would request a .brd file from them (if they use Allegro), or the native
output file of whatever CAD system is used. You may need to have some other
design people look at it later, and most CAD systems cannot backload from
Gerber.

regards,


Jerry Cupples
Interphase Corporation
Dallas, TX USA
http://www.iphase.com

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