Gerber files have become the printed circuit board manufacturing industry’s standard design file output for PCB fabrication. When your PCB design is complete and you are ready for manufacturing your circuit boards, the first thing you need to do is to export your design files in Gerber format. But, why not just save the project in your software and provide the Native file? Gerber format makes your design data unequivocal to all fabrication software and systems necessary for PCB fabrication. When exporting your design in this format, Gerber files represent copper layers, solder mask, legend, and drill and route data clearly.

Below is an example of a Gerber file:

Checking for Possible PCB Fabrication Issues

Advanced Circuits has developed a free online tool, FreeDFM, to ensure your PCB’s Geber files are complete and free of manufacturability issues before you send your files to your PCB fabricator. After you have exported your Gerber files from your PCB design software of choice, you will want to make sure the Gerber files are compressed into a .Zip folder before uploading the files to FreeDFM.

First, make sure you are familiar with the common Gerber file extensions. You will need to specify each layer to ensure the check is done correctly. Common Gerber file extensions include:

• pcbname.GTL – Top Copper
• pcbname.GTS – Top Soldermask
• pcbname.GTO – Top Silkscreen
• pcbname.GBL – Bottom Copper
• pcbname.GBS – Bottom Soldermask
• pcbname.GBO – Bottom Silkscreen
• pcbname.TXT – Drills
• pcbname.GML/GKO – Board Outline

Next, FreeDFM will analyze each file to ensure that you are not missing any required files for manufacturing and will also for things that will cause issues in the manufacturing process or overall functionality such as inadequate Soldermask clearance, missing drill hits, line width and other issues.

Once the tool has completed the analysis of your Gerber files, you will receive a comprehensive report of all possible manufacturability issues found within minutes in your email inbox automatically and 100%. Being able to identity these issues prior to sending the files to the manufacturer saves you time by avoiding production holds, and also saves you money by receiving the design as intended on your first run.

Below are each of the items that FreeDFM checks for on each upload:

Complete ZIP Files 

1. Gerber file for each copper layer
2. Gerber file for each soldermask layer
3. Gerber file for each silkscreen layer
4. Excellon or Gerber drill file

Inner Plane Layers 

1. Spacing
2. Trace width
3. Annular ring
4. Inner clearance (drill to feature)
5. Thermal reduction

Outer Layers

1. Spacing
2. Trace width
3. Annular ring

Drill

1. Double hits
2. Missing hits

Inner Signal Layers

1. Spacing
2. Trace width
3. Annular ring
4. Inner clearance (drill to feature)

Soldermask

1. Undersized clearances
2. Missing clearances

Silkscreen

1. Line width

After each file Gerber file check is completed, FreeDFM will also send you a discount code that saves you up to $100 off your next PCB order with Advanced Circuits. To learn more about our FreeDFM software, click here.