What is Gerber File Format
Gerber PCB File Format Description
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The Gerber file format is the de facto standard for representing printed circuit board (PCB) designs. It is used to describe the layout and characteristics of a PCB, including component placement, traces, vias, and other physical features, for the purpose of manufacturing. Developed in the 1980s by Gerber Systems Corporation, the format is now maintained and standardized by Ucamco, a Belgian company, and has undergone several iterations to meet modern manufacturing requirements. The continued development and standardization of the format by Ucamco ensures compatibility and future-proofing. Gerber files provide a detailed description of PCB layers—copper layers, solder masks, silkscreen layers, and more. They are sent to PCB manufacturers for the fabrication of printed circuit boards. Each Gerber file typically corresponds to a single layer of the PCB. A complete PCB design might consist of several Gerber files, one for each layer and board feature. Gerber is universally accepted by PCB manufacturers, making it the most reliable way to communicate PCB designs for production. As an ASCII-based format, it can be opened, read, and even edited in a simple text editor. |
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RS-274D - Legacy GerberThe original Gerber format, RS-274D, was an early vector-based format. It was fairly simple but had limitations. For example, it required separate "aperture" files that defined the shapes (like pads and traces), making it prone to errors if these aperture definitions were missing or mismatched. RS-274X - Extended GerberRS-274X (Extended Gerber) was introduced in 1998 and became the modern standard. It integrated the aperture definitions directly into the Gerber file, eliminating the need for separate aperture lists. RS-274X also added support for polygons, flashes, and more complex shapes, greatly enhancing the capability of the format. It also supported attributes to specify things like whether a layer is a signal or a mask layer. Gerber X2The Gerber X2 format, introduced in 2014, extended the functionality of RS-274X. It added metadata or attributes that describe the purpose of each file, such as whether a layer is a copper layer, a solder mask, or a drill file. Gerber X3Gerber X3 is the next evolution of the Gerber file format, designed to further streamline the manufacturing process of printed circuit boards (PCBs) by adding support for component layer data. This enhancement provides a significant leap forward in the way data is exchanged between PCB designers and manufacturers, focusing on integrating information related to components, such as their placement, orientation, and identification. |
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Our Software
All our software can view and convert the Gerber file format. |
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