Exporting Gerber and Production Files in Altium Designer: A Guide
Exporting Files in Altium Designer: A Comprehensive Guide
Altium Designer offers a range of options for exporting files, catering to various manufacturing and documentation requirements. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up advanced options for exporting Gerber, NC drill, BOM, PDF, and ODB++ files.
Exporting Gerber Files with Advanced Options
- Open your PCB project in Altium Designer.
- Go to File > Fabrication Outputs > Gerber Files.
- In the Gerber Setup dialog, you can select layers to export (copper, soldermask, silkscreen, etc.), adjust apertures and format (e.g., RS-274X), set advanced parameters such as coordinate format, zero suppression, mirror, rotate, configure drill crosshairs and outline layers.
- Optionally, use the Advanced Settings tab to specify aperture macros, layer order, and output folder structure.
- Generate the Gerber files.
Exporting NC Drill Files
- Navigate to File > Fabrication Outputs > NC Drill Files.
- Configure drill parameters such as drill tool diameter precision, drill format (Excellon 1 or 2), options for plating and tool marks, and whether to separate files by drill layer or combine them.
- Preview the drill hits and save the files.
Exporting Bill of Materials (BOM)
- Go to Reports > Bill of Materials.
- Choose the template or customize columns, including part parameters, quantity, and descriptions.
- In advanced settings, you can filter components by designator or other attributes, group and sort the BOM entries.
- Export to formats like Excel, CSV, or PDF.
Exporting PDF Documentation
- Select File > Smart PDF Export or Fabrication Outputs > PDF.
- Choose what to include in the PDF: PCB layers, schematic sheets, assembly drawings.
- Set options like resolution, color mode, and layer visibility.
- Advanced options might include adding a title block, selecting specific sheets, or embedding metadata.
Exporting ODB++ Files
- Use File > Fabrication Outputs > ODB .
- In the ODB++ setup window, specify the output directory, which layers and data to include (layers, drills, netlists), options for compression and folder structure.
- Since ODB++ encapsulates fabrication and assembly data, ensure all required constraints and component info are properly defined beforehand.
Additional Tips
- Advanced export setups often allow saving your export configurations as presets for reuse.
- Verify your exported files with internal viewers or external tools before sending to manufacturers.
- Altium Designer’s latest versions continue to improve output options and manufacturing data compatibility.
If you require guidance on precise menus or using scripts for batch export, please specify your Altium version or export target to tailor instructions further.
[1] Altium Documentation - Exporting Gerber Files [2] Altium Documentation - Exporting ODB++ Files
Controlled impedance can be maintained during the export of Gerber files by specifying the appropriate layers in the advanced settings and configuring the correct aperture settings. Additionally, modern gadgets like smartphones and tablets rely on the precision and accuracy provided by technology such as that employed in Altium Designer during the exporting process.
