Electronics > Beginners
Understanding gerber files - simple question
FriedMule:
Hi I need someone to look at these gerber files, to tell me what the 4 layers is containing.
I know the top layer and bottom layer but what about the two middle layers?
https://github.com/dkramnik/Eagle-Public/raw/master/instrumentation-active-probe-makemit-2014/MakeMIT%202014%20Wk1/Active%20Probe%20Proto2.zip
chrisl:
Looks like it is a 2 layer board as I only see 2 layers; top and bottom.
Other layers in the zip file are:
- assy dwg
- solder mask top
- solder mask bottom
- NC drill
Ysjoelfir:
The file endings of gerber files aren't fixed in any way, but I struggle a bit to make a sense of those you linked to. From looking at it it seems like the following:
.plc: Silkscreen layer, plc = "placement"?
.sol: bottom layer, sol = "solder"?
.cmp: top layer, cmp = "component"?
.stc: Solder Mask Top
.sts: Solder Mask Bottom
.drd: NC Drill
I'm not sure about .stc and .sts. It definitely looks like the soldermask layer, but I wouldnt name it ".stx", since I would read it like "stencil component/solder", which could be the paste mask.
Siwastaja:
Yes, the naming can be anything. If the file names are not clear enough as they are, the contents must be specified separately, like using a human-readable text file.
Lacking that, you need to reverse-engineer. Just look at the content with any gerber viewer:
Has traces and pads in it -> is a copper layer
Only has SMD pads in it, pads are slightly larger than the same pads in the copper layer -> is a solder mask layer
Only has SMD pads in it, pads are slightly smaller than in the copper layer -> is a paste layer
Isn't a gerber file at all, but includes X...Y... coordinates: is an Excellon drill file.
Ysjoelfir:
--- Quote from: Siwastaja on August 12, 2019, 06:26:03 am ---Just look at the content with any gerber viewer:
Has traces and pads in it -> is a copper layer
Only has SMD pads in it, pads are slightly larger than the same pads in the copper layer -> is a solder mask layer
Only has SMD pads in it, pads are slightly smaller than in the copper layer -> is a paste layer
Isn't a gerber file at all, but includes X...Y... coordinates: is an Excellon drill file.
--- End quote ---
That is pretty much what I did, thanks for writing down the little "tutorial" :)
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