Tutorials:
CAD/CAM formats

1. Once you are happy with your PCB design there is the option to output it into a range of CAD/CAM formats for use with CNC software. The formats available are Gerber, NC Drill and HP-GL Pen-Plot.

2. You can output into the Gerber format by going to Tools > CAD/CAM Outputs > Output Gerber… . This will bring up the 'Output Gerber' dialog box, where you can choose which layers to include. Click OK to produce the gerber files. The Gerber output format uses a separate filename for each layer exported. These separate files are generated automatically and saved in the same location as your design. After the output is complete click on 'View Report' to check these filenames. An intermediate piece of software must then be used to take the Gerber files from our application and turn them into cutting paths for a milling machine. Any software which imports Gerber files should be able to use the files real-PCB outputs. One piece of software we have specifically tested works with real-PCB is the 'Kay-Lancelot-Percival' module from the suite of software called 'Galaad' (www.galaad.net), for details of the milling machines this software can be used with please see: www.galaad.net/machines-eng.html.

3. You can Output into the NC Drill format by going to Tools > CAD/CAM Outputs > Output NC Drill… . Click OK to produce the NC Drill files, which will be automatically saved to the same location as your design. There is no need to do a separate NC drill output if you have already done a Gerber output with the 'NC Drill Data' option checked.

4. You can export into the HP-GL Pen-Plot format by going to Tools > CAD/CAM Outputs > Output HP-GL Pen-Plot… . This will bring up the 'Output HP-GL Pen-Plot' dialog box, where you can choose which layers to include. Click OK to produce the HP-GL Pen Plot files which will be automatically saved to the same location as your design.

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