pucho812
Well-known member
The fab 3000 stuff. Trying it tonight
Gerber editor
- Thread starter pucho812
- Start date
Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:
Ricardus
WILL SOLDER FOR FOOD
If you get good at it maybe you can fix a silkscreen for me.
pucho812
Well-known member
Test run, I was able to move things around, fix a spelling mistake and export it back out. Let’s see if the board house takes it.
I would recommend getting a trial license. This has potential for nice correction.
Edit the board house took the file. They will review it and then confirm before production. Will update as needed
I would recommend getting a trial license. This has potential for nice correction.
Edit the board house took the file. They will review it and then confirm before production. Will update as needed
Last edited:
Ricardus
WILL SOLDER FOR FOOD
The silkscreen I need fixed needs a thick line drawn for the power transistor orientation, and I need a circle removed, and drawn over the other hole for proper diode orientation.
MidnightArrakis
Well-known member
I would like to add-in a couple of comments here, but since I do not know what you know about PCB designs and GERBER files and whatnot, I apologize if what I mention is actually - trite - information to you. Here goes: When you are outputting GERBER files from either a PCB CAD-program or from FAB3000 or other similar software.....select the output in "RS-274X / 2.3" format. The "RS-274X" format file will automatically contain all of the aperture information needed by the board fabrication shop to make your PCB's. Selecting - 2.3 - gives the amount of resolution of the GERBER data, as in: 2 = places to the LEFT of the decimal (how BIG the PCB could be, up to 99") and 3 = number of places to the RIGHT of the decimal (how accurate the data image will be down to 0.001" in resolution). Anything other than - 2.3 - could possibly cost you extra needless money in your fabrication costs as the PCB fabricator will assume that you actually need the extra resolution, i.e. 2.4 or 2.5 or 3.5, etc. and you're going to pay for that.
In today's new world, instead of outputting both a set of GERBER files and then an EXCELLON N/C Drill data file, you should opt for what is called an "ODB++" file output from your PCB CAD system. The "ODB++" file contains - absolutely everything - necessary to not only fabricate your PCB, but also to perform any electrical testing functions - AND - even program and setup the "Pick & Place" machines used during the PCB assembly phase.
Unlike the "un-intelligent" GERBER files, an "ODB++" data file is chock-full of intelligent data about your PCB layout including your net names, which side of the PCB your components are on, how much and in which direction they are rotated, the components' "centroid" point and so much more. I have been using the "ODB++" data output format for well over 10-years now and the questions and such from PCB fabricators has essentially dropped to zero!!! Everything that is needed is right there in the "ODB++" file, so unless you created a major "phoo-pah" in your PCB layout and have accepted it enough to include it into your output file, then your "ODB++" data file accurately represents - HOW - you want your PCB to be!!! It's as simple as that!!!
This concludes today's class. THANK YOU!!!
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MidnightArrakis
Well-known member
I have a full-blown, NON-trial period, and fully-licensed GERBER and N/C Drill editing program that I always use before I send out any of my PCB designs to be fabricated. If you carefully detail what it is that you would like done to your GERBER files and send your files over to me, I will be more than happy to help you out with whatever issue(s) you need to be corrected. It's no big deal for me to help you out!!!
However, and just so you know.....I was recently reported to "The Authorities" here by another member of this thread for me extending my help to another member who appeared as though they could use some assistance with their mechanical and PCB designs. I was told that my "offering assistance" amounts to "Self Promotion", which was - NOT - my intent!!! I was just trying to help someone out!!! Apparently, bantering around ideas of which values a capacitor or resistor should be or how to bias some transistors or vacuum tubes is OK in this forum, but saying to someone, "HEY!!! I will be happy to design that circuit for you" is - NOT OK - to do on this forum!!! Who knew??? I just thought that my experiences with designing electronic equipment for defense contractors, medical electronics firms and R&D laboratories would be useful to those here that are trying to build various audio gadgets and chassis.
In any case.....if you or anyone has some GERBERs and/or EXCELLON N/C Drill data files for PCB's that need some work done on them before you ship them out for fabrication, let me know. I've even re-routed tracks and have moved components in GERBER files for both broadcast electronics and military-related companies before. It ain't easy!!! But, it is doable!!!
Let me know, OK???
JBW
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Ricardus
WILL SOLDER FOR FOOD
Cool. Thank you!
pucho812
Well-known member
the edited gerber file boards arrived today from JLPCB. they are exactly as edited and test out. luckily this was just a simple edit of the silk screen layer.
MidnightArrakis
Well-known member
[The fab 3000 stuff] -- As a Christmas gift to myself this past season, I went ahead and paid for an actual FAB-3000 license and I now have it installed on my home CAD-workstation here. So, this means that I have both the CAM350 and the FAB-3000 GERBER editing programs installed. In addition, I also have a license for the "ACE-3000" CAD-file translation program, which will allow me to translate the various CAD-program files as shown below back-and-forth:
How did your FAB-3000 session go 4-years ago? Were you able to accomplish what you needed to have done?
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pucho812
Well-known member
it had issues, but that was 4 years ago, as it didn't exactly do as needed back then, I abandon it. Perhaps 4 years later it does what I need, or perhaps if Went beyond a trial, it would have done what I was trying to do.
