sachin Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 Hello Everyone, i want to do PCB design. how can i draw and create gerber file from autocad? Quote
ReMark Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 What file type are we talking about? AutoCAD produces DWG and DXF file type and can also export to other file types such as SAT, EPS, IGS, STL and DGN to name a few. Quote
sachin Posted February 9, 2012 Author Posted February 9, 2012 gerber itself is file formate. RS-274x, RS-278X Quote
ReMark Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) To my knowledge AutoCAD cannot export to those file types. Can you utilize a DXF file? RobDraw: I did get your subtle hint and in fact checked that very website before asking my question. I wanted to find out just how much the OP knew about the Gerber file formats. Thanks just the same. Edited February 9, 2012 by ReMark Quote
ReMark Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 Check out this book. http://www.amazon.com/PCB-Design-Using-AutoCAD-Engineers/dp/0750698349 It includes this bonus.... "In addition to the tips and techniques, the author has provided a copy of AutoPADS, a proprietary toolkit for PCB designers using AutoCAD. The disk includes the AutoPADS conversion utilities, sample files for the book exercises, and AutoCAD libraries for schematic drafting and PCB design. The AutoPADS utilities allow bidirectional transfer of Gerber format photophlotter data and Excellon format numerical control (NC) drill data from AutoCAD." Quote
Jack_O'neill Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 you can get a free pcb package here: http://www.freepcb.com/ or here: http://www.expresspcb.com/ among others. Then of course there is Altium and other packages you have to pay for. Most of those will export dxf files so you can do things in autocad or other cad packages if you need to. Autocad won't make a gerber file, but you can use the dxf from these packages to make 3d models or develop enclosures or cabling or whatever. You probably wouldnt want to draw anything but the most simple circuits in Autocad anyway. Most of the pcb packages will route the traces for you so that they don't intersect where they shouldn't. They already have the various size pads and keepouts and all that, and have a good library of common parts. Autocad will do all that if you draw them ahead of time and insert them as blocks. It would be a real pain to draw circuit board layouts in Autocad. --edit--that package Remark found holds a lot of promise. I've never used it but if it works like is says it might be a good deal. Quote
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