Need help finding Gerber files (for Analog Devices ADL9006) contained in zip

[wb0gaz]

I wish to get a few copies of the eval board for the Analog Devices ADL9006 microwave wideband LNA IC.

From a discussion on engineering zone at analog devices (discussion URL below)

https://ez.analog.com/rf/f/q-a/545717/rf-receiver

the ADI rep stated the following, which includes a link (copied below):

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I would suggest downloading the Gerber files (link below) and converting them to an ODB++ file using an online tool.

https://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/evaluation-documentation/gerber-files/adl9006_20-046180-01a.zip
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The ZIP file above is about 4 megabytes, and my only experience with Gerber files are the typical "GBL, GTO, GTB" etc. file types.

Any suggestions as to how to extract from the file above gerber files I can then send for PCB fabrication?

Thanks

[FrankBuss]

I pasted the file names of the zip file to Claude AI, and its answer, which should help you to import it in your PCB program:

Looking at the file structure provided, I can see this appears to be a Cadence Allegro/OrCAD project directory. The Gerber files should be in the artwork/fabrication directories. Based on the file listing, the Gerber files appear to be located in:
./worklib/02_046180a_top/physical/art/fab/
The relevant files appear to be:

- l1_primary.art (Layer 1/Top layer Gerber)
- l2_secondary.art (Layer 2/Bottom layer Gerber)
- mask_prm.art (Solder mask Gerber)
- silk_prm.art (Silkscreen Gerber)
- paste_prm.art (Paste mask Gerber)
- ncdrill-1-2.drl (NC Drill file)

[wb0gaz]

Thanks very much! I did see the references to Cadence so with the files you've identified I'll see if they are accepted by the PC fab house

Dave

[FrankBuss]

My pleasure. I tried to rename the files:

l1_primary.art -> 08_046180a.GTL
l2_secondary.art -> 08_046180a.GBL
mask_prm.art -> 08_046180a.GTS
silk_prm.art -> 08_046180a.GTO
paste_prm.art -> 08_046180a.GTP
fab1.art -> 08_046180a.GML
ncdrill-1-2.drl -> 08_046180a.TXT

and then uploaded it to JLCPCB, and at least in the preview it looks good.

[wb0gaz]

Thanks, Frank, for cracking the code!

I'll report back on how I fare on this...

Dave

[wb0gaz]

So far no complaint from the PC Fab; I'm on slow turnaround and *very* slow-boat shipping, so if it ships, that's a good confirmation that the Gerbers were acceptable.

Assuming shipment, once PCB arrives I'll know that the gerbers produced a potentially usable board.

(For anyone watching at home, ADL9006 is a microwave amplifier device and the file set are from the device's evaluation module that uses 10 mil (0.3mm) Rogers 4350B laminate. I'm having these boards made on no-name 20 mil (0.6mm) FR4 just to see whether there's enough gain/output remaining after PCB losses to help a HP 8971C noise figure analyzer converter lacking option 001 (LO Preamp) work at 24 GHz.)

[wb0gaz]

FrankBuss - I had assumed (incorrectly!) that there would be consistency in toolchain for these ADI gerber file sets; that's not the case (as I tried to follow your lead on a different part of interest)...

If you've got time/interest, would you be able look at this one (for ADPA9002) to see how it could be mapped into a "typical" Gerber file set?

https://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/evaluation-documentation/gerber-files/ADPA9002_Gerber-Files.zip

It appears to have come from a different authoring software (or was exported anticipating some other Gerber file organization.)

Thanks!

Dave

[FrankBuss]

Doesn't look like Gerber. Claude AI thinks it might be from Protel or Altium Designer, and then exported to some old format not used anymore. Showing it the file sizes and the contents of a file and other infos, it thinks it was produced by a tool called GerbTool. Maybe this helps, see also screenshot.

[wb0gaz]

Thanks again for the quick reply

I tried sending the files (in a ZIP file) to the gerber viewer at www.aiema.com (it seems many of the online gerber viewers are basically the same tool, but this one and a few others are not.)

Anyway, aiema's viewer digested the files without error messages and provided a plausible image. For a few $ it's worth seeing what comes back from the PC Fab, if they accept it as well.

I appreciate your sleuthing abilities with this stuff!

Dave

[wb0gaz]

Hello Frank,

PCBs have been received (one set from Elecrow, one set from JLCPCB), made from the Gerber files we discussed previously. Your translation worked as expected - I now have PCBs that are based on the same artwork, except that they are made with FR4 and are 0.6mm thickness (so they won't meet original electrical spec at microwave frequencies, but do provide a low-cost vehicle to experiment with the sample chip.)

... now to get the arc welder and blow torch out and get to work ...

Thanks again,

Dave

[FrankBuss]

Cool. BTW, JLCPCB has also controlled impedance, without paying a ton for Rogers substrate: https://jlcpcb.com/blog/comprehensive-layer-stack-up-design-for-high-speed-controlled-impedance-pcbs At work, we are designing a board with microwave traces for a LTE module, and the PCB designer tried to explain it to me how he incorporated the JLCPCB specifications into the PCB with Altium, but this is all black magic to me, I'm just a firmware programmer, but might be interesting for you if you plan to use it for production with less loss or noise etc.

[wb0gaz]

That (4-layer with controlled Z on the top layer, 1.6mm total thickness) is in the cards for another part (CMX90B701). Fortunately the Gerber file types match the expected intake from JLCPCB; just need to ensure I get the controlled-Z laminate (so your link is timely and helpful!)

Dave