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EXPORTING GERBER FILES FROM ALTIUM DESIGNER

V1.1 – 09/2014

DESIGN  RULES  CHECK   1  

GENERATING  GERBER  FILE   1  FIRST  TAB:  “GENERAL”   1  THIRD  TAB:  “DRILL  DRAWING”   2  FOURTH  TAB:  “APERTURES”   3  FIFTH  TAB:  “ADVANCED”   3  

GENERATING  NC  DRILL  FILE   4  

SENDING  GERBER  FILES   5  

KNOWN  ALTIUM  GERBER  FILE  EXTENSIONS   6  

  Exporting Gerber files from Altium Designer

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Design Rules Check

Before proceeding to Gerber and NC Drill files generation, a DRC (Design Rules Check) must be performed in order to check your layout respects all the manufacturing constraints.

In Altium Designer Select : Tools / Design Rule Check and run the DRC. Correct all possible errors before proceeding to the next steps.

Generating Gerber File

In PCB view, select : File / Fabrication Output / Gerber files which will open a popup window.

First Tab: “General”

• Set Units to “Inches” • And Format to “2:5”

  Exporting Gerber files from Altium Designer

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Second Tab: “Layers”

• Select “Used On” in Plot Layers • Select “All Off” in Mirror Layers • Check “include unconnected mid-layer pads” • Uncheck all in Mechanical Layers to Add to All plot

Third Tab: “Drill Drawing”

• Uncheck all boxes. • Select “Graphic Symbols” in Drill Drawing Symbols

  Exporting Gerber files from Altium Designer

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Fourth Tab: “Apertures”

• Select RS274X

Fifth Tab: “Advanced”

• Select “Separate file per layer” for Batch Mode • Select “Suppress leading zeroes” in Leading/Trailing Zeroes • Select “Reference to relative origin” in Position on Film • Select “Unsorted” in Plotter Type • Click “OK”

  Exporting Gerber files from Altium Designer

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Generated Gerber Files are automatically loaded in the Altium cam viewer. This tool allows you to verify that all layers have been generated correctly and that they are all in positive mode.

The CAM view can be closed without being saved.

Generating NC Drill File

Go back to the PCB view, and select : File / Fabrication Outputs / NC Drill Files which will open a popup window.

• Select “Inches” in Units • Select “2:5” in Format • Select “Suppress leading zeroes” in Leading/Trailing Zeros • Select “Reference to relative origin” in Coordinate Positions • Click “OK”

  Exporting Gerber files from Altium Designer

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• Import Drill Data : Click “OK”

• Import Mill/Route Data : Click “OK”

Sending Gerber Files

• Compress all the files in a single .zip file.

Note that all Gerber and NC Drill files generated by Altium Designer are automatically saved in the Project output folder

  Exporting Gerber files from Altium Designer

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Known Altium Gerber File extensions  

File Extension Corresponding Layer .GTL Top layer .GBL Bottom layer .GTO Top overlay .GBO Bottom overlay .GTP Top paste .GBP Bottom paste .GTS Top solder .GBS Bottom solder .G1 Midlayer 1 .G2 Midlayer 2

.GP1 Internal plane 1

.GP2 Internal plane 2 .GM1 Mechanical 1 .GM2 Mechanical 2 .GKO Keepout layer .GG1 Drill guide .GD1 Drill drawing .GTP Top pad master .GPB Bottom pad master