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Forum Index : Electronics : File conversion to RS-274x gerber, Help!
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Clockmanfr Guru  Joined: 23/10/2015 Location: FrancePosts: 429 |
Hi. I have been doing the OzInverter New 6kW-15kW Power Board. For my use and individual masks for this large A4 size board, I have CAD software TCW Pro14, it does the boards and the separate layer masks, no probs. Now it seems that to get these Power Boards made, (seems other folk would like them ready made), at PCB manufactures ShenZhen2u or other PCB folk. They request RS-274X gerber files. Here below is what my CAD files can be exported as...... 
I see that there is reasonable cost software on the market that can do conversions, like GerberView etc, but I am not sure it this software will work.? My PDF files of the layers/masks comes out real nice, and at real size. I really do not want to spend monies on PCB software and start again. Any help or advice would be appreaciated. Thanks. Everything is possible, just give me time. 3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v. |
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| isochronic Guru Joined: 21/01/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 689 |
I think Eagle can import some files, you could then create the gerbers from eagle. The process uses command/scripts, I can't remember the exact details. At worst it will import a bitmap, not optimum I know but worth a try maybe. Perhaps someone with a recent version (?) |
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| Clockmanfr Guru Joined: 23/10/2015 Location: FrancePosts: 429 |
Thanks chronic, I have looked at Eagle, but the board I am doing is 282mm x 174mm double side. So the Eagle low cost option is out. I looked at PADS, very costly. I looked at Autotrax but again no particular mention of importing DXF etc. Sprint layout 6, at least says it can import a file and use as background and you can build the PCB board over it. All the file conversion software mentions PDF, DXF to gerber, but only under circumstances when the PDF DXF is a created file. So it seems that even Auto CAD to gerber needs modifying as the track size and other vectors disappear when gerber, so you need a gerber view to modify the gerber. So if I get this right.....? Ordinary DXF, PDF files can not be converted to gerber unless modified, and the PCB software folk have limited mentions of functions. To see the gerber you need a gerber viewer. To get the PCB to suit the manufacturers, I disregard CAD, and I need to start again and buy some PCB software, and learn. Once the PCB is created, the particular PCB software companies files need converting to RS-247X. Personally I have not done a PCB since the 1980's, and it seems that in the last 30 years the PCB brigade have not moved forward very much. Everything is possible, just give me time. 3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v. |
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yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
http://bayareacircuits.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DXFtoGerberConversionGuide_rev2_12-10-13.pdf according to this what you are doing now is a valid option. I guess you could email a DFX file to someone with a cad program that outputs RS-274X, you would still need a viewer. Perhaps repost in the micro-controller section, a fair few of those guys get PCB's manufactured. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| Clockmanfr Guru Joined: 23/10/2015 Location: FrancePosts: 429 |
Thanks yahoo2, I have re-posted. Regards the Ace Translator 3000 v7, yes looks very promising, but a single user licence is $700 Crikey...... Everything is possible, just give me time. 3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v. |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
 I wasn't suggesting you buy anything, just that your DFX file is not a waste of time.I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
on the other hand PCB manufacture not sure how I missed this when I searched the 4M I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
Hi Clockman I use a free PCB program called express PCB. While trying to download a newer version I came across this site: express to gerber conversion I have no idea about gerber files but perhaps this article is helpful. Tinker Klaus |
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| Clockmanfr Guru Joined: 23/10/2015 Location: FrancePosts: 429 |
Thanks Tinker very helpful. Thanks yahoo2. I have asked a question about the actual Gerber file creation process. Everything is possible, just give me time. 3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v. |
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Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Hi Tinker, That is a excellent find and a great link, thanks. It is the missing link for ExpressPCB to be able to send a design off to production for a PCB. I intend to put it to test and will report back after a production run of PCB's. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| LulaNord Newbie  Joined: 07/04/2017 Location: United StatesPosts: 1 |
Hi...as per my knowledge Eagle can import some files, you could then create the gerbers from eagle. The process uses command/scripts, I can't remember the exact details. At worst it will import a bitmap, not optimum I know but worth a try maybe. Perhaps someone with a recent version |
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| Clockmanfr Guru Joined: 23/10/2015 Location: FrancePosts: 429 |
Hi LulaNord, Thanks for your posting and information. I should have wound this topic up some time ago.! DXF file to PCB layout to Gerber files. I purchased AutotraxDEX and Sprintlayout6, both of these were limited for my use. However, .... I purchased the TARGET V18 PCB software, and this was spot on, thanks to FranknFurter for his info and help. It imported my DXF cad file and incorporated it into a TARGET file with all the incorporated layers and text. I had to outline draw some parts as TARGET wants closed borders on entities. I personally do not like delete files running with the normal files, so I redrew in a few places to remove copper around heatsink holes etc. I found most of TARGET creation was very CAD orientated, but still with some PCB DOS type chunkiness here and there, but I have got used to that now. Printing out actual real size A4 size masks with my little laser printer is also spot on. Producing from a TARGET file to Gerber is very easy, and saving and changing the file name to match what the PCB manufactures want is also very easy. So Yes, I like TARGET, yes a few hundred Euros, but it does the job for me with out busting the Bank. I am producing all the OzInverter boards to go with the "How to Make......" book. Everything is possible, just give me time. 3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v. |
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| isochronic Guru Joined: 21/01/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 689 |
Hmm. I wrote.. LulaNord wrote ... For the record, I am not LulaNord (and do not use any other login). Don't..... |
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| Clockmanfr Guru Joined: 23/10/2015 Location: FrancePosts: 429 |
whoooopps! Sorry chronic, I should have re-read the post. Getting a bit Twighlite Zone ish...... Everything is possible, just give me time. 3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v. |
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| Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
It seems that in Australia for many years past, people were using Autotrax and Protel PCB, and the Express PCB free software, and all of the Australian based PCB board manufacturers would happily accept those files without any problems. None of those programs were able to generate Gerber files directly. Once the Chinese PCB manufacturing industry became highly automated, their low prices rapidly drove most of the Australian PCB companies out of business. Express PCB are still operating here in Australia but their prices for getting boards made are now at least double what the Chinese can do identical boards for. So using free software is nice, but getting the boards made here in Oz will now cost you about double. If you are making boards fairly regularly, it starts to become cost effective to buy low end purchased professional PCB software that does generate proper Gerbers. Gerbers are now pretty much the world standard for PCB manufacturing everywhere, except here in Australia. I am getting tired of being stung an extra $100 to $150 every time I order boards locally. So my next step will be to purchase some proper software. Probably either Eagle or Proteus, I have not yet decided. A few hundred dollars in one hit is painful, but If I had purchased proper software a few years ago, I would now be a long way in front. Cheers, Tony. |
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