Electronic – How to convert a RS-274D gerber to RS-274X

gerbergerbvkicad

I got from a website some gerber files, I tried to have them printed, but they told me that the format is not supported and I need to convert to RS-274X.

I've tried using gerbv to open the gerbers and export to the 274x format, but after opening it still complains about some being 274d.

So I've tried a commercial application (gerbview), but which managed to convert them but totally screwed up the scaling and ended up with a 1mm wide PCB.

On last resort, I've manually edited the files with a text editor and manually changed the scale of every piece and I've to say KiCAD renders it correctly, but any other viewer (gerbv and the one used by the pcb printing website) does not and still show the scaled down layout.

EDIT: as suggested, here is the link to the origianl files I want to convert

Best Answer

I'm not certain that the issue from the manufacturer is one of file version. That said, you can open the gerber files in KiCad's gerbview and export to pcbnew.

From there, you can plot the files as 274X.

This doesn't get the drill hits but those are in Excellon format and shouldn't change.

Related Solutions

Electronic – Is it possible to modify a Gerber silkscreen before production

The correct way to modify Gerber files is normally go back to the original CAD files that generated the Gerber files in the first place. Then use that software to modify the design to your requirements and re-generate the outputs. This process does require that you also have access to both the original CAD data files and the use of the CAD program itself.

If the originator did not release the original CAD files this may have been done for proprietary reasons.

So there are a number of other possibilities for you to directly modify the Gerber files. Keep in mind that these procedures are highly discouraged because of the confusion that can occur in environments where both the CAD files in various versions coexist with the Gerber files.

One method is to use a Gerber Editor tool. These are tools that can take in the existing Gerber file data and allow small changes to be made to the gerber design. Typically these tools are extensions of the various free Gerber Viewer tools that you can download off the web (such as ViewMate and GC-Prevu). Unfortunately as you have already found these upgraded tool versions are not free.

The other method is to directly edit the Gerber data files. If you open the Gerber file, for example the SilkScreen layer, in a text editor you will notice that it is a regular text file with a format that you can quickly deduce by inspection. You can add additional lines to this file to make more draw, flash and move commands. If you do this it is very important to make sure to follow the proper syntax and to use one of the free viewers to review the work that you do.

I would discourage this direct edit technique though and propose another approach instead. First study the existing Gerber file format with a viewer. Note the coordinate system origin and figure out an area of coordinates within which you want to add your additional details. Then download and install one of the free PCB layout CAD software packages that are able to produce Gerber output. Two examples of CAD programs that can do this are DesignSpark and Eagle. Then use the program that you select to design the items (logo, texts and lines) that you wish to add. Add them the in the add-on CAD layout at coordinates that match to what you learned from the study of the original Gerber files. Once they are designed, use the free CAD program to plot out Gerber data for the layer(s) that contain the data that you wish to add. Now using a text editor open both this interim add-on Gerber and the original Gerber file. Block copy the new data and paste it on at the end of the original Gerber file. Make sure that the data formats are exactly the same and if not go adjust the plot settings in the free CAD package and replot the add-on Gerber data. Once again test the results of your work with one of the free Gerber viewer tools.

Electronic – GerbV (Gerber Viewer): How to do PNG export of only area within board outline

Since image processing using GIMP is an option for you, I am posting this as an answer.

From the comments:

PNG format is capable of non-rectangular graphics (i.e., for example a circular image with a transparent/non-existent background)

This is not exactly true. PNG supports only rectangular graphics. There is no non-existing background concept. PNG uses alpha-transparency, which essentially allows to set the transparency for each pixel.

"flooding/subtracting the surroundings programmatically would be OK for me, except how would I choose exactly that area?"

Using GIMP, its easy to get this result in a matter of seconds.

To select the area around the PCB border you want to make transparent, I used the Magic Wand / Fuzzy selection tool. Go to "Tools" > "Selection Tools" > "Fuzzy Selection" (keyboard shortcut "U"). Then click on the respective area. Use the "Threshold" setting to set the range of color variations that are included in the selection.
In the Layer window, select Layer - Transparency - Add Alpha Channel. If this is blanked out then your image is already set to store transparency data.
Select Edit - Clear. This makes the previous selection transparent.
When you save the file, make sure `Save colour values from transparent pixels' is selected.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Electronic – Is it possible to modify a Gerber silkscreen before production

Electronic – GerbV (Gerber Viewer): How to do PNG export of only area within board outline

Related Topic