FAQ Data Formats

Formats

With our CAM Systems we are able to handle all current Data formats. Additional we have some CAD Tools in use to work with the data directly from your systems.

CAD Tools

Eagle (up to version 9.6.0)
TARGET 3001! (www.ibfriedrich.com)
GC PrevuePlus (www.graphicode.com)
Altium Designer (up to version 20) (www.altium.com)
Design Spark (www.DesignSpark.com)

Viewsysteme

GC Prevue

PCB Data

ODB++ Version 6.1
Gerber 274
Gerber 274x

To avoid further inquiries it is necessary that we receive complete and well defined data.

Altium Designer (up to version 20)

We will use the following layer allocation list. Please send us together with your data an information if there are differences.

Layer Name Extension	Description	WEdirekt Name
G1, G2, etc.	Mid-Layer 1, 2 , etc.	L2, L3, etc.
GBL	Bottom Layer	RS
GBO	Bottom Overlay	SERS
GBP	Bottom Paste-Mask	PASTE-RS
GBS	Bottom Solder Mask	LSMRS
GD1, GD2, etc.	Drill-Drawing (Bohrplan)	PLAN1, PLAN2, etc.
GG1, GG2, etc	Drill Guide (DK/NDK-Bohrungen and DK Slots)	BOHR1 BOHR2
GKO	Keep Out Layer
GM1, GM2, etc	Mechanical Layer 1, 2, etc. (incl. cut-outs and slots)	KONTUR INFO2, INFO3, etc.
GP1, GP2, etc.	Internal Plane Layer 1, 2, etc.	L2, L3, etc
GPB	Pad Master Bottom
GPT	Pad Master Top
GTL	Top Layer	VS
GTO	Top Overlay	SEVS
GTP	Top Paste Mask	PASTE-VS
GTS	Top Solder Mask	LSMVS
P01, P02, etc	Gerber Panels
APR	Aperture-File	Aperturetable (RS274X)
APT	Aperture-File	Aperturetable (RS274D)

EAGLE(up to version 9.6.0)

The Eagle CAD Software has a modul to export PCB datas. There is a configuration for the export of different design- and mechanical layers.

We provide various DRU files for EAGLE for you to download.

If we don’t get any further information with your order we use the following settings.

EAGLE No.	EAGLE Name	Description	WEdirekt Name
1 17 18	Top Pads Vias	Top-Layer	VS
16 17 18	Bottom Pads Vias	Bottom-Layer	RS
29	tStop	Soldermask Top	LSMVS
30	bStop	Soldermask Bottom	LSMRS
21	tPlace	Servicedruck Top	SEVS
22	bPlace	Silkscreen Bottom	SERS
25	tNames	Silkscreen Top	SEVS
26	bNames	Silkscreen Bottom	SERS
31	tCream	Pastemask Top	PASTE-VS
32	bCream	Pastemask Bottom	PASTE-RS
44	Drills	PTH-Drills	BOHR1
45	Holes	NPTH-Drills	BOHR2
46	Milling	DK-Slots/ cutout	Milling
47	Measures	dimensioning	Plan
48	Document	Information, scoring lines	Info Lage
2	GND/PWR	Innerlayer 2 (neg)	L2A01
2 17 18	Route2 Pads Vias	Innerlayer 2	L2A01
3	GND/PWR	Innerlayer 3 (neg)	L3A01
3 17 18	Route3 Pads Vias	Innerlayer 3	L3A01
4	GND/PWR	Innerlayer 4 (neg)	L4A02
4 17 18	Route4 Pads Vias	Innerlayer 4	L4A02
5	GND/PWR	Innerlayer 5 (neg)	L5A02
5 17 18	Route5 Pads Vias	Innerlayer 5	L5A02
6	GND/PWR	Innenlage 6 (neg)	L6A03
6 17 18	Rout6 Pads Vias	Innerlayer 6	L6A03
7	GND/PWR	Innerlayer 7 (neg)	L7A03
7 17 18	Route7 Pads Vias	Innerlayer 7	L7A03
20	Dimension	PCB-Contour, cutouts, scoring lines	KONTUR

In the standard settings, Eagle is using octogonal pads which can lead to a false interpretation in other systems. To avoid such difficulties we use round pads instead.

Please always activate the vector font in your Eagle settings. This is necessary to make sure that your script is shown correctly. Please find more information’s about the script in your Eagle Help with the keyword “vector font”.

Gerber RS274

The Gerber format was originally used for the control of photo plotters. Such systems had a light source with a shutter over a so called aperture wheel, a disk with different openings in form and size. While moving the plotter table the shutter was open or closed, the light through the aperture wheel opening exposed the film.Today the photo plotters are replaced by laser plotters.

According to this kind of usage the Gerber format is a list of coordinates together with the information for the shutter mode and the position on the aperture wheel, the d-codes. There is no description for the form or size of the openings in the aperture wheel. Therefore a separate aperture file is needed, where the openings are described (see example).

Example for an aperture file	Example for a Gerber file
D11 round 4	G54D10*
D12 round 8	X0000Y0000D01*
D13 square 4	X0000Y1000D02*
D14 square 8	X1000Y1000D02*
	X0000Y1000D02*
	X0000Y0000D02*

Datatype	Description
Design layers	One file per layer
Contour	Different files for the single PCB and the delivery panel if there is one format it should be gerber
Drill data	Different files for PTH/NPTH/sequential PTH drill diameter defined in the file header format should be Excellon or Sieb&Meyer
Aperture description	Please add the aperture file to the data set
Compression	All data specified above should be compressed in a ZIP File. It’ s helpful if the Zip file name corresponds to the project name.

Gerber RS274x

The launch of the extended Gerber format (RS274x) was a big step forward for the whole industry. All the aperture wheel information is part of the layer file and new aperture forms and sizes are possible.Positive and negative elements can be handled within one file. Example for an Extended Gerber-File

%ADDD11,C0.004%*
%ADDD12,C0.008%*
%ADDD13,S0.004%*
%ADDD14,S0.008%*
G54D10*
X0000Y0000D02*
X0000Y1000D02*
X1000Y1000D02*
X0000Y1000D02*
X0000Y0000D02*

Data type	Description
Design layers	One file per layer
Contour	Different files for the single PCB and the delivery panel if there is one format it should be gerber
Drill data	Different files for PTH/NPTH/sequential PTH drill diameter defined in the file header format should be Excellon or Sieb&Meyer
Compression	All data specified above should be compressed in a ZIP File. It’ s helpful if the Zip file name corresponds to the project name

ODB++

The format allows an optimized data exchange between design and manufacturing.

No delays in the pre production/engineering because of a well aligned data set for printed circuit board manufacturing within ODB++.

Improved quality hence there is no room for misinterpretations in the data set. Data formats like RS274X where various dialects are possible, can cause different results on different CAM systems.

The output of the layout data in ODB++ will reduce the amount of data while extensive filling of surfaces with vectors can be avoided in this format.

ODB++ is a fully expandable ASCII data format with the following advantages:

All datas are included in one file.
There is a exact description of the graphical data. No unnecessary filling of copper areas or pads with special forms which have to be modified/optimized by the pcb manufacturer.
To describe elements attributes may be assigned.
It is possible to forward the CAD netlist for usage in the Printed circuit board manufacturing process.
The format contains a description for the naming convention and the board built up.
ODB++ can handle in the drill and rout layers the information for plated/unplated elements as well as the depth together with the layer connection.
Notes can be attached to layers or elements like a digital usage of post it.

TARGET 3001!