Gerber Creation

Preamble

This guide will walk you through how to create gerber files in Altium. Gerber files consist of all the different layers in your PCB, and are sent to PCB manufacturers so that they can actually build your circuit board.

Step 1

Click on Gerber Files to open the gerber file wizard.

Step 2

Make your settings match the settings in the image and then move to the next tab.

Step 3

Select the layers you used in your PCB file. You need to select the layers you used, the solder mask for the layers you used, and the silkscreen for the layers you used. Once you have done that, move to the next tab.

Step 4

Make your settings match the settings in the image and then move to the next tab.

Step 5

Make your settings match the settings in the image and then move to the next tab.

Step 6

Make your settings match the settings in the image. You will need to use the correct Film Size values for your board. The X and Y coordinates is the upper most right of your PCB. The boarder size is the thickness of the boarder you places surrounding your PCB in the top layer. Once you have finished, click OK. You have now successfully created your gerber files!

There are more stuff to do though, so don't stop here.

Step 7

Click on NC Drill Files to open the drill file wizard.

Step 8

Make your settings match the settings in the image and then click OK

Step 9

Click OK

Step 10

Navigate into the project output folder, which is created in the same directory where you have saved the project file. You will need to select the gerber files you made plus the NC Drill file you made, as well as a text file similar to the one indicated. This text file holds coordinates for drilling holes in the board and is important to include in the items to be sent to the manufacturers. Then add these items to an archive.

Or alternatively, you could do this:

Step 11

You should name the archive the same name that you have silkscreened onto your PCB. It will need to be a zip file with normal compression.

Step 12

You will then need to upload your completed zip file into the Gerber Files folder in Google Docs.

Remarks

If you have followed the steps correctly, you would have created the proper files for Priority Circuits. The whole process should be about 20 minutes, but you can reduce that time with practice.

In general, all PCBs made for Midnight Sun should have the following silkscreened on them:

Project Title

Name of person who made the PCB

Date that it was made

Revision number

The below image is an example of how it should look:

The information is important to allow future team members to identify the PCB.