Elecrow's Gerber files requirements

[Rolo]

I was looking at the Elecrow Gerber files requirements and this is what I have found on the site:
 
1. Gerber Files Required

The following files would be needed for the PCB production:
Top layer: pcbname.GTL
Bottom layer: pcbname.GBL
Solder Stop Mask top: pcbname.GTS
Solder Stop Mask Bottom: pcbname.GBS
Silk Top: pcbname.GTO
Silk Bottom: pcbname.GBO
NC Drill: pcbname.TXT
Mechanical layer : pcbname.GML

Does anyone know how strict this is? I make PCB's in Diptrace and when I export a board the output files look like this :

Through.drl
BoardOutline.gbr
BottomMask.gbr
BottomSilk.gbr
Bottom.gbr
Top.gbr
TopMask.gbr
TopSilk.gbr

For other PCB vendors (AllPCB, Seeed) I have put these files in a zip and that worked, I got perfect boards.
Would like to try Elecrow but if they are strict I have to rename the gerber files. Anyone any experiance with this?
Thanks.

[MarkF]

I gave them what they wanted on my order.  Be friendly. It may get you a better product.   
In DipTrace you can name the gerbers to anything you want during export.  Just go to the FILE tab on the Export pop-up window.

I will say that the drill sizes were a little smaller on the same boards I received from Elecrow than the ones from Silver Circuits.  I'm not saying which is right or wrong.  Just that they were different.  I assumed it was just a rounding difference from the sizes I specified.

[rea5245]

Why not ask Elecrow? They know the answer to your question better than anyone on the EEVblog forum does.

I've used several PCB manufacturers including Elecrow. I've always submitted files with the names that Elecrow asks for (many - perhaps most - companies ask for that same naming scheme). I use DipTrace and it can be configured to output names in that format. Go to File -> Export -> Gerber X2. In the Export dialog, click the Files button. I've attached a screenshot showing how I configured mine. (Note that some file names are still using <layer>; that's because I never export those file types so I just never bothered to change them.)

- Bob

[MarkF]

If I'm not mistaken?  DipTrace saves those filenames for each project. So you only need to change them once.

[rea5245]

If I'm not mistaken?  DipTrace saves those filenames for each project. So you only need to change them once.

You are not mistaken! 

- Bob

[Rolo]

Thanks! Still learning Diptrace. Settting the export filenames is the way to go here. If I may ask, can I configure this in a template?
So I can choose it when starting a new project?

[rea5245]

If I may ask, can I configure this in a template?
So I can choose it when starting a new project?

No need. Set it once and it will apply to all future projects.

- Bob

[ansonbao]

Usually Chinese factory manufacture PCB according to the gerber file. According to my experience,before production engineer will check the file and will know which layer is top,bottom.

[TomS_]

You can also write text on each layer outside of the PCB footprint identifying what each layer is. I do this on all of my designs and have not yet had any issues with elecrow.

[Mattylad]

The reason for this is because they setup thier front end procedures to automatically accept filenames that they specify (usually from old pads etc. software output) and they do not want to have to manually change it as this costs them time and time = money.
So unles you are a really big customer who can demand what they want, you have to do it ther way - which is usually really easy to automate anyway.

[David_elec]

It is no problem for such gerber file name. the gerber file name is to help the PCB engineer to know which layer is which layer to avoid possible problem. Because there are few PCB engineers don't know english.

Through.drl is also ok.

[jmelson]

I was looking at the Elecrow Gerber files requirements and this is what I have found on the site:
 
1. Gerber Files Required

The following files would be needed for the PCB production:
Top layer: pcbname.GTL
Bottom layer: pcbname.GBL
Solder Stop Mask top: pcbname.GTS
Solder Stop Mask Bottom: pcbname.GBS
Silk Top: pcbname.GTO
Silk Bottom: pcbname.GBO
NC Drill: pcbname.TXT
Mechanical layer : pcbname.GML

Does anyone know how strict this is? I make PCB's in Diptrace and when I export a board the output files look like this :

These file names tell me they expect Protel99/Altium Designer, but they should be able to translate the file names.  Just give them a doc file that says what layer  each file name contains.  And, almost everybody wants RS274X format.

Jon

[Rolo]

Thanks, recently I ordered pcb's at allpcb and jlpcb using the gerbers export from diptrace and both came out perfectly. For now jlpcb is my preferred supplier, they have the E-packet shipping option. Affordable for my small batches. Only down side is that I can't find a working track&trace site using the track number they provide.