There are modern software solutions that can help to do that level of checking and bring the creation of useless printed circuit boards to an end. They guarantee your work is heading into production without errors, and they are often called Gerber file viewers.

Should You Run Printed Circuit Board Designs Through a Gerber File Viewer?

Standard PCB design uses Gerber files. Most involved in the industry know all about a Gerber file and how to read one. It enables standardization in design and eliminates glitches caused by any attempts at merging different kinds of files.

Are PCBs so complex? Printed circuit boards are found in and also contain electronic components. They may feature resistors and capacitors and run complex or simple operations. Circuits are mounted to the board, and the various elements within a board communicate through conducting materials like copper lines.

Gerber files detail these connections and components and will show the many layers that printed circuit boards may require to do their job. Gerber files, however, may also be used by PCB printing devices to make the boards. They may guide the production of a PCB directly from the design, depending upon the information within the files.

To date, there have been three generations of Gerber files:

• Standard Gerber, RS-274-D was the first generation
• Extended Gerber, RS0274X was the second generation
• Gerber X2 is the latest generation and also often includes metadata

A single Gerber file corresponds or details a single layer on printed circuit boards, one file for each layer, including inner layers, as well as top or bottom signal layers. Historically, manufacturers would work directly with designers and go over the Gerber files to ensure no issues. Today, things have changed, and a manufacturer may whip up a batch of printed circuit boards without evaluating or scrutinizing the Gerber files.

As many recognize, this can lead to a lot of trouble. Flawed layering, failed communications, and other issues may leave an entire batch of PCBs useless to the buyer. Fortunately, the use of a Gerber file viewer may save the day.

Using the Gerber File Viewer

Gerber file viewers were designed and created to address the issue of flawed PCB design. Today, there are many types of Gerber file viewers on the market that allow PCB designers to see how the various layers will operate as a physical PCB.

While there are many programs, Advanced Circuits makes an entirely free tool of this kind available to its customers. It requires a quick upload of Gerber files into the system and is free whether or not the user is a registered customer of the company.

Known as FreeDFM, it does a comprehensive evaluation of the design. It looks at all of the inner layers and evaluates such issues as spacing, trace width, annular ring, inner clearance, and thermal reduction. It also analyzes the outer layers’ similar areas, checking spacing, trace width, and annular ring. It looks at physical production issues like drilling and evaluates solder mask for undersized or missing clearances. It checks the silkscreen for line width.

After this comprehensive review, it generates an easy-to-understand report in a PDF format. It provides its full findings of the Gerber file review, and while it may make some basic repairs, it also identifies issues that a designer must address. For example, one of the more common design flaws is missing or incomplete data. FreeDFM will ensure that files have the required data.

One of the most significant benefits of the Gerber file viewer is its ability to correct common design issues automatically. It fixes small issues on-the-fly, cutting down on designer’s workloads and delays. The information taken from the evaluation also helps to generate an accurate quote for PCB production.

Additional Benefits

The free Gerber file viewer is an ideal tool for error-free production. Yet Advanced Circuits also offers an array of other services and resources, including:

• Fast service – Speedy turnaround time and fast shipping ensures that customers get their PCBs quickly.
• Custom orders – Custom orders are welcome for PCB prototypes or full batches.
• No tooling charges – When an order features Standard Specifications, tooling charges are waived and similar fees are canceled on reorders of Standard Spec as Custom Spec items.
• No minimum orders – There are no minimum lot requirements, meaning that clients are not forced to invest in huge orders with more PCBs than they might need or used.
• Not a broker – The company never subs out their work, but instead, relies on their top-of-the-line, 62,000-square-foot facility that guarantees the kind of quality and speed most customers want but don’t always get.
• 24-hour support – Customer service around-the-clock is great, but they also feature a live tech support team that allows design teams to speak directly with a CAM engineer at any hour of the day or night.
• Best shipping record – Advance Circuits has the best on-time shipping record in the industry, and they are now shipping 50% of orders early! In fact, they say they “put our money where our mouth is . . . and we ship Standard Spec orders on time, or they’re FREE!”

Whether it is a new company seeking a maker of printed circuit boards or a long-standing firm eager to up the quality and experience with a PCB manufacturer, Advanced Circuits has the resources needed. With free evaluations through the Gerber file viewer, designs will be better than ever, and PCBs can be as innovative or as simple as needed and always reliable.

Writing them without errors, though, is easier than it may seem. Gerber files are digital blueprints for your PCB. They detail each layer and shape the fabrication process that will be used to make even the most innovative designs. Many producers demand Gerber files, even if they are an assembly-only part of the process. This is to ensure clarity on all of the physical attributes of a PCB.

This means that even a single mistake will lead to all kinds of delays, financial issues, production problems, and losses. If you are using a “no-touch” manufacturer or fabricator, it also means it is a “no review” production process. They don’t analyze your Gerber files or PCB design, and it makes it easier than ever for incomplete, flawed, or inaccurate Gerber files to make their way into production, resulting in a PCB that doesn’t work.

Is the Gerber file so wrought with potential disaster as to make it a problem? No, it is simply that there are common glitches that are easily overlooked.

Common Glitches to Consider When Working with Gerber Files

Many are unaware of the most common problems with Gerber files, but it is immensely useful to know about them when entering into the PCB design and production process. These problems include:

• Empty files – Any designer may unintentionally delete or negate file content, leaving a 0-byte file that offers no workable data for the production or fabrication team.
• Flawed file naming protocols – Among the most common concerns with Gerber files is the use of a flawed file naming protocol. Leading to confusion for others involved in the process, this also complicates file checking or troubleshooting.
• Incomplete or missing data – Empty files are one thing, but it is also possible for details or information to be lacking or mismatched against the specifications delivered to a manufacturer. It is crucial for Gerber files to be where they belong, accessible, and complete.
• Conflict between layers – Some software creates multiple Gerber files with design specs at every layer. Should those layers fail to be combined synchronously, it can lead to composite layer design errors outside of individual layer design specs.
• Aperture lists – When Gerber files are in use, it is best to have a single aperture list with details the fabricator or manufacturer will need, as well as specs relating to the tools necessary for each stage. Multiple lists can mean errors, and the format of the lists should be in sync with the Gerber file format, as well.

Those experienced in Gerber file creation may think of such mistakes as avoidable or inexcusable, but they are common events. They doom most projects to huge production costs, lengthy delays, and failure. Avoiding them requires attention to detail, the use of high-definition CAD programs, implementing the best quality assurance practices from start to finish, and using a Gerber file viewer.

Because problems are so common, the best PCB manufacturers and fabricators offer free resources to prevent such issues.

Advanced Circuits Offers Support for Flawless Gerber Files

Advanced Circuits is among the top names in the PCB and prototype assembly industries. With the ability to handle PCB manufacturing (fabrication) and assembly, it provides clients with services that help improve all projects, especially the quality of their Gerber files. This is done by making a range of free resources available that support the creation of projects from first phase to final product.

Advanced Circuits offers the following options:

• The Advanced Circuits website has free PCB file check software for those with complete Gerber files ready to enter production. Known as FreeDFM, it is a program that will rapidly evaluate printed circuit board design files, correct many issues, and send a full report that identifies any other issues that could present problems along the way. Those who use this tool get a discount for simply running the files through the program. It does require an import of Gerber files (via an online upload). However, the software is free to use, and it will utilize the registered email address to send all of the analysis (in a PDF report) as well as the discount code.
• PCB Artist As anyone familiar with PCB design and manufacturing knows, most customers rarely get to tour a fabricator’s facilities or work one-on-one to address issues or avoid common errors. Once a great way to prevent problems, the global nature of PCB production makes this impossible. This is why Advanced Circuits offers another resource – the free PCB Artist program. This has a long list of features that guarantee an error-free design process and includes unrestricted design capabilities with a 28-layer limit, a controlled auto-router function, multi-page schematics, and more. This is not the same as Gerber files but includes a full library of tutorials that help all users to create flawless files.
• Free Gerber file reviews, corrections, and reporting by an engineering expert.

Further Resources to Trust

While this array of design resources proves invaluable to many, Advanced Circuits also dedicates itself to client satisfaction and success in other ways. For example, work is never subcontracted, there are never tooling fees if an order sticks to standard specs, and there is 24-hour tech support provided by a CAM engineer. They make no minimum order requirements and have the best on-time shipping record in the industry, with many orders arriving ahead of schedule. They are so sure they can meet customer needs that Standard Spec orders are FREE if they fail to arrive on time.

Gerber files can be a major hassle, but the tools and services available via Advanced Circuits support only the best results. Avoiding costly errors and long production delays are a thing of the past when your files are created without errors or problems.

It also opens up the door to the risk of losses due to flaws in the PCB design. Even when top-tier PCB design software is used by a skilled expert, there can always be mistakes that a production team can recognize. The “no-touch” approach used by most subcontractors, though, allows for glitches because files are often received and run without evaluation.

The good news is that some domestic PCB manufacturers have the ability to offer one-stop production, including access to free, premium PCB design software, along with expert evaluative services.

PCB Design Software to Ensure Optimal Results

Advanced Circuits provides customers with PCB design software, and rates as one of the most well-known companies in the PCB and prototype assembly industries. We handle PCB manufacturing (fabrication) and assembly, but it is often our PCB design software and expert support that sets us far apart from the crowd.

A one-stop shop with more than two decades in the industry, we provide customers with exclusive services that support, facilitate, and improve any project. The resources available for the PCB design process include the following.

Free PCB Layout Software – PCB Artist – Whether novice or expert designers, customers are often delighted by the entirely complimentary access they receive to this innovative PCB design software. Unrestricted, it is capable of up to 28 layers and includes more than 500k parts, a controlled auto-router function, multi-page schematics, and more. Easy to use, it is a noted printed circuit board design tool throughout the industry.

Free PCB File Check – Whether or not the free PCB Artist software is used, there is also the FreeDFM program that enables clients to run a free and fast design assessment. The software uses PCB design software files uploaded into the system and then evaluates them fully. The program ensures files feature all essential data, automatically corrects some issues, and provides an easy-to-read and use report. Clients using it also enjoy a discount when they run the designs in advance of submitting them to the team.

If a customer is using Gerber format files, the PCB design software and File Check program can still be put to use. There are free uploading tools, and it takes only the submission of a client email to obtain the full evaluative report. It takes only minutes, and a quote, discount code, and link to the PDF of the results will appear.

End Problems Using PCB Design Software

Worried that you are going to have to relearn the use of PCB design software to enjoy the free tools and resources…as well as enjoy all of those benefits? Don’t be! The PCB Artist software comes with printable tutorials and video options that take even the extreme beginner through the complex process of PCB design and manufacturing. And there are experts on-call 24 hours a day to help.

Additionally, on top of the free file review software, every single order receives a free engineering file review before the fabrication process is initiated. What is this? An actual engineer examines the file and guarantees that customers never experience the kind of financially harmful outcomes they might have received via the more common no-touch services from outsourced work. Rather than an easily correctable design flaw allowed to go through and ruin a batch, the trained eye will detect issues and correct them before a project begins.

And, while the free PCB design resources made available on our website is enough to demonstrate why we are a preferred provider, there are many additional reasons to use and order through the PCB design software, including:

• No tooling charges – When an order features Standard Specifications, we’re always glad to eliminate tooling charges and cancel out such fees on reorders of Standard Spec as Custom Spec items.
• We are NOT a broker – Advanced Circuits never subcontracts work. Instead, we rely on our top-of-the-line, 62,000-square-foot facility that guarantees the kind of quality and speed most want but don’t always receive.
• 24-hour support – Customer service around-the-clock is great, but we also feature a live tech support team that allows design teams to speak directly with a CAM engineer at any hour of the day or night and get answers about the free PCB design software or PCBs, in general.
• No minimum orders – There are no minimum lot requirements, meaning that clients are not forced to invest in huge orders with more PCBs than they might need or use.
• Best shipping record – Advanced Circuits has the best on-time shipping record in the industry.

Partner with Advanced Circuits for Error-Free PCB Design

Don’t spend a moment worrying about learning curves and other similar struggles for our free design tools. They are easy to use and include tutorials. Instead, get ready for a far more efficient design process, simple ordering, and discounted pricing. There are so many reasons to choose Advanced Circuits, and as you have seen, we go well beyond the free PCB design software. We ensure that any designs (whether received as Gerber files or another format) are without easily correctable mistakes. This saves time and money while keeping your firm on schedule. The free evaluation resources available include engineering reviews, and we make engineers available around-the-clock to help with any issues or questions.

It is difficult to beat this approach to PCB design and production, and with guarantees that orders arrive when scheduled (or they are free), it makes good sense to get in touch with Advanced Circuits and get your project started today.

There are many tools and resources used in the PCB layout, design, and manufacturing processes, and this leaves a lot of room for error and waste. One small glitch and production delays may occur, or entire batches of PCBs end up tossed into the trash. Thus, it is best to start with the best design and layout, and this is where software and experts can save the day.

Advanced Circuits offers an astonishing range of PCB layout and design tools that can almost guarantee a simple and flawless process. It all starts with the right file types…

Gerber Files and PCB Layout

IX274X files (typically called Gerber files) are the most commonly used for PCB layout and design. They are what we might call the first step in production and are often described as digital or physical blueprints for the printed circuit boards to be manufactured.

Typically, designers or engineers would print layers of transparent films or overlays that were color-coded to show the PCB layout and to support design evaluations. In other words, the layers could be looked at individually or all at once to detect glitches or shortcomings.

The creation of PCB layout software and programs gave designers and manufacturers the ability to eliminate the printed films and to begin to adjust the layers with greater ease. Though they might still be described as blueprints, Gerber files may still have design or function flaws.

Even if an expert uses the best PCB layout tools, there could be problems in the file, and it could cause a production delay or result in a batch of useless PCBs. This is particularly true if the PCBs are being made by a no-touch resource or outsourced producer. For instance, the overall appearance of a Gerber file or PCB layout may look acceptable to the untrained eye. A subcontracted producer may not even review the files but simply use them to make the entire batch of PCBs without any troubleshooting or evaluation. This can easily result in a long list of problems if there is a flaw in the design, including scheduling, production, and financial issues.

Use Optimal PCB Layout and Design Tools

This is why it is so valuable to find producers of PCBs able to offer services and resources that avoid such issues. For example, a tool that can evaluate a Gerber file and detect or even correct errors can be a lifesaver. At Advanced Circuits, clients can count on tools meant to ensure that PCB layout and design are exactly as needed, even correcting some errors, generating reports, and offering discounts along the way.

Here are a few of the tools Advanced Circuits offers to clients.

Free PCB Design Software and Analytics: As one of the most trusted domestic producers of PCBs and prototypes, Advanced Circuits provides full design to shipping services. There are also full assembly services that can all be put to use to ensure clients avoid costly errors. Using free design and evaluative tools, customers (whether using Gerber files or another design program) can export design files into the company’s free PCB file check software known as FreeDFM. They then receive a comprehensive analysis of the layout and design.

Then, the free software quickly evaluates and repairs problematic issues in the PCB layout and design files and generates a report of any questionable issues left uncorrected. Labeling them as problems, it ensures that a customer cannot waste time or resources on flawed or unusable batches of PCBs. And even more exciting is that those who run the Gerber files before submission enjoy a discount on the project.

PCB Artist: This unrestricted version of the leading PCB layout and design software is provided to all clients. It can be used to design PCBs of up to 28 layers and features a library of more than 500k common parts and components. This is in addition to the troubleshooting software and comes with such functions as controlled auto-routing design tools, digital schematics, and much more. It helps reduce risks of a flawed layout or design, and the files from this are also capable of the same evaluation and analysis.

Common PCB Layout and Design Issues

 What types of problems will the software evaluate and/or correct? The most common include:

Empty files: Designers frequently move, erase, or negate data, and this inserts zero data files into the process, which runs the risk of causing issues in the design and fabrication process.

Missing data: While an empty file is bad enough, a file with incomplete data is worse. Using free PCB layout software and checking services indicates when data cannot align with job specifications or when information is mismatched. Gerber files must not be without key data, so any opportunity to eliminate problems of this kind will save a lot of time, money, and headaches

Flawed file name: It is not at all unusual for Gerber files to be created via a flawed naming protocol. This causes confusion within the process and can only be detected by file checking or troubleshooting ahead of the game.

Conflicting layers: Gerber files feature design specifications at every layer. The designer must ensure that the specs function synchronously, or there will be errors at every subsequent layer.

There is no real reason for any glitches to occur in the layout and design processes, but there are many reasons for such mistakes to occur at other times. Accessing free resources like those from Advanced Circuits erases almost all risks and helps customers to ensure that their layout, design, fabrication, and manufacturing processes are moving smoothly and result in the PCBs needed for production.

However, if you do not make use of a quality Gerber file viewer, you may find some issues. Even after you have spent a long time making sure that the board has been designed perfectly, it is still possible for errors to exist in the Gerber files. It is very frustrating to have this happen.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to find and handle these problems before they take control. In addition to having a quality design from the start, using a Gerber file viewer to locate issues is very important. Even if you are creating a relatively simple circuit board, you will find that having a file viewer can help to cut down on errors. Even the best designers and engineers can make mistakes. Viewing the Gerber files can help to ensure those mistakes do not persist and cause further problems.

What Are Gerber Files?

Before delving into how a file viewer can help, it is a good idea to have an understanding of what Gerber files are and why they are important. The files are considered the industry standard for printed circuit boards, which means they are what everyone knows and uses.

It has become the industry standard because Gerber is robust and able to describe a range of different circumstances regarding the board that everyone who is familiar with the file system can understand. It also makes it easier to send files out to a manufacturer because everyone is working from the same base. The Gerber file format should be used to ensure there are guidelines for the manufacturer. It describes the components of the PCB image, communicating the information to the manufacturer in a way they will understand.

Over the years, there have been several generations of Gerber files. These include the first generation, RS-274-D, which is also often called Standard Gerber. Extended Gerber, RS0274X is the second generation. The most recent Gerber file format is called Gerber X2.

Easily Check Your Gerber Files

Creating high-quality designs does not always mean you haven’t made any errors. There could still be issues that a Gerber file viewer can help to find so you can fix them. At Advanced Circuits, we offer a PCB file viewer, which makes it easy for you to add your files and view them. You can quickly and easily find out if there are any problems with the files before you move forward. One of the best features of our file viewer is that it can correct some types of problems automatically. This helps to speed up the process even further.

Our free file viewer software is very simple to use. Once you have exported files from the software program you are using to design the PCB, all you need to do is load them onto our site’s file viewer. It is a free system, and you can get your results very quickly. Just add your email address, so the results of the check can be sent to your email.

If there are issues with the design, you will be alerted in the results that are emailed to you. The report that you receive is graphical and very easy to understand. If there are remaining problems, you will know exactly what you need to address. As mentioned, it is sometimes possible for the software to fix certain issues automatically. In the results, you will find out if any issues were automatically corrected.

One of the other benefits of using Advanced Circuits is that we also provide free PCB Artist software. This is an ideal solution for those who need a quality, reliable program to create their printed circuit boards from the ground up.

If there are issues that were not corrected automatically, you will at least know where they are located. This allows you to go back to the proverbial drawing board, so you can then fix the issue or issues on your own.

Being able to check the files helps to eliminate the risk of trying to send through files for production that have errors in them. For anyone who is working in the field and even those who might be making a few prototypes for personal projects, errors cause delays. When projects are delayed, they can cost money, not to mention a substantial amount of frustration. Using a high-quality Gerber file viewer helps to cut down on these issues substantially.

How Else Will Advanced Circuits Help You?

As mentioned, Advanced Circuits also provides PCB Artist software, which makes it faster and easier to create a high-quality PCB design. It is powerful and easy-to-use software that is entirely free for those who want to use it. There are other benefits to working with us that you will discover.

We can provide a speedy turnaround time for those who are looking to have their PCBs manufactured. Not only are we able to manufacture quickly, but you will find that we are also able to ship quickly. We have been in the field for years and have become not only one of the largest companies in the industry but also one of the most trusted. There are no minimum orders when working with us, either. Whether you need one or two boards or you need 10,000, we can provide you with the help you need throughout the project.

Regardless of where you are in your design for a printed circuit board, it is time to check out all that Advanced Circuits can offer. From design software to a Gerber file viewing, manufacturing, and more, we have what you need. Get in touch and make sure that your board is error-free and ready for printing.

Find the Problems Early

If there are errors in these files – even just a single error – it can cause problems with your production schedule. If you are using a no-touch manufacturer that doesn’t even look at what they are creating, it could cause you to have thousands of useless PCBs delivered to you. You have to know whether your PCB is ready to take to production or not.

If there are errors, you have to take time to find out what is wrong, and you need to fix it. This would be a time-consuming process if it weren’t for the availability of a Gerber file viewer. This can help you find both common and uncommon Gerber file errors, so you don’t end up sending a bad design to be manufactured.

Types of Gerber File Errors

There are many types of Gerber file errors that could cause issues with your PCB. One of the most common is missing drill files. These files are used to determine the location and the size of the holes that need to be drilled. Since many PCBs require that holes are drilled into them, this is important information that will need to be there for the manufacturer.

Sometimes, the files might have missing outlines, or they might have double outlines. There could be issues with a mismatched PCB size, the drill hole placement might cut into the tracing, or the plated and non-plated holes might not be defined clearly. The layer labeling might not be clear, and having naming protocols that are not effective can lead to confusion. It can also cause problems for you when you are trying to check the files and do the troubleshooting for the circuit. It is important that you make sure the labeling system is clear and understandable.

Something else that you will want to keep in mind is that you should have just a single aperture list. There might be a temptation to have different lists, but this can cause confusion with the manufacturer. They might not see the list, or you might have inadvertently put conflicting information on two different lists. Having just a single aperture list is always a good idea.

Common Errors Easily Caught

Even though these mistakes might seem simple, they happen relatively frequently. When they occur, it means that it will take time, energy, and money to find the mistakes and correct the errors. If the PCBs were to go into production at this point, it could mean a massive waste of money on your part. You do not want to go through any of these issues, and you certainly don’t want to make mistakes with your Gerber files.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help relieve these types of issues and catch problems early. This will ensure that you can fix those problems before they affect the actual production.

How a Gerber File Viewer Can Help

One of the best things to do is to use a Gerber file viewer, which will allow you to more quickly and easily find problems with your files. There are Gerber file viewers online that you can use, and one of the best is offered through Advanced Circuits. With our PCB file viewer, FreeDFM, you will be able to add your files to the system and find the potential problems that exist. Unlike some of the other Gerber file viewers, you will find that this software even has the ability to correct certain issues automatically.

The software is easy to use. You will have to export files from the program you are using and then load them online to the site. Best of all, the software from Advanced Circuits is free to use. All you need to do is supply an email address where the results will be sent after the file is checked. You will receive a report that will let you know about any issues that were found with the PCB design, and it can provide details about those problems. It will also let you know what problems were fixed by the software.

If you have been designing your circuits using these files, as many do, it is imperative that you use a Gerber file viewer. It can help you to eliminate headaches down the road that would cause production delays and increased costs.

Other Ways Advanced Circuits Can Help

In addition to the free Gerber file viewer, Advanced Circuits offers free software called PCB Artist. This software provides users with a range of features and benefits, including more than half a million parts and the ability to design PCBs that are up to 28 layers. The software can be downloaded right through the site. It can make the process of designing and getting the circuits ready to prototype and manufacture faster. While the system is easy to use, there are also video tutorials, a user’s guide, and tips and tools on the site that can help you to get started. Through the use of the software, you’ll reduce the risk of errors in your PCB designs.

In addition, Advanced Circuits provides high-quality customer service for clients. There is 24-hour tech support, so you can always get in touch with a CAM engineer if needed. You will be able to order only as many circuit boards as you need, since we don’t require a minimum order. We can provide you with fast turnaround times, fast shipping, and customer service that helps to ensure that you are getting the boards that you need. Get in touch with Advanced Circuits for a quote, and learn more about how we can help with your manufacturing needs.

Fortunately, there are several things that you can do that will help to make the circuit design and manufacturing process faster and easier. When you can streamline these processes, it allows you to be creative and to do the work that you actually want to do, which is the actual circuit design. Your best course of action is to look at everything that Advanced Circuits can offer. You will find quality software along with one of the best PCB manufacturing companies in the country.

Free PCB Artist Design Software

One of the things that tends to slow many down during the circuit design process is the software that they are using. In some cases, the software might not have many capabilities that apply to what they are doing. In other cases, the software might be prohibitively expensive. Some types of software can cost well over $1,000. Some can even cost several thousand dollars.

Perhaps the most impressive benefit of PCB Artist from Advanced Circuits is the fact that it is entirely free to download and use. You won’t have to spend a thing to use the software, and you do not even need to have a powerful computer to run it. However, this is just the start of the benefits that the software can provide. It also includes many features and benefits that higher-priced software does not have.

For example, the software has a design rule and check report, Gerber format files, integrated schematics, and more. There is a library of more than half a million parts, controlled autorouter, multipage schematic, and native Eagle support. Circuit designs of up to 28 layers are possible with the free software.

Even if you already have software that you are using, you might want to download this option and try it for your circuit design. It won’t cost anything, and it is an intuitive software that is easy to work with. In addition, there are video tutorials on the site, and you will find a user’s guide that you can download and read.

Our software helps to make circuit design easier and faster. It also helps to eliminate errors. This means that the design process will be streamlined. You can go from your design into the production phase faster, which can help you to save money.

A Free Viewer is Also Available

Advanced Circuits also features a Gerber file viewer called FreeDFM. If you are using other software, you can still check your files to make sure the design is sound and does not have any problems. You can upload your files to the site, and then receive a report of any errors that were found in the system. This read does more than just check for errors and indicate where they are. It can also correct errors in the file you have submitted.

Reports are provided in an easy to read graphical format. This is also a free service. You can use it unlimited times, and it is available around the clock. In addition to the reporting and correcting of some design issues automatically, you will also receive a PCB quote and a discount.

Again, this helps to ensure that you aren’t wasting money and time on a design that still needs work. It is easy to use and should be the first thing that you do after you have created your circuit design.

When the Circuit Design is Right

Once you have taken the time to create a perfect version of your circuit in the design phase, you will want to move forward toward production. At this stage, you might still want to see exactly how your circuit works before you head into full production, of course. It might be a good idea to order a prototype or just a couple of the circuit boards at this time. Advanced Circuits does not have a minimum order, so you don’t have to worry about meeting those requirements.

When you have your circuit and you have tested it in the real-world environment, you will then be able to order more of the PCBs with confidence. You can order as many or as few as needed. We can handle large orders, and you will find that we have a fast turnaround time no matter the size.

Why Use Advanced Circuits?

Why would you want to use Advanced Circuits as the manufacturing company for your circuit design? We have decades of experience in the field and are the third-largest PCB manufacturer in the United States. We use quality materials, and we do all of the manufacturing work in-house. You do not have to worry about us sending out the work to a low-quality facility. You will also be happy to know that all of the orders that are made through our company will receive a free engineering file review. This occurs before it goes into fabrication and could help to catch any last-minute problems.

It is time that you made circuit design as easy as possible on yourself. Download the software and see how it works. Take some time to get accustomed to it and create designs faster than you might have thought possible. Take those designs and get right into the manufacturing process, so you can get the circuits you need as soon as you can. Advanced Circuits works hard to take out many of the most tedious parts of the process.

These viewers can help to eliminate issues with the manufacturing of the board, as you can get the data and feedback you need. This will ensure that you are not sending out work that is incorrect to the manufacturer. Everyone who is designing a circuit board, regardless of how simple or complicated it might be, will benefit from a Gerber file viewer.

What Are They and How Do They Work?

To understand the benefits of a Gerber file viewer, it is important to understand more about printed circuit boards. PCBs are boards that contain electronic components. These might include capacitors and resistors, for example. The circuits are mounted to the board, and elements of the board are connected through thin strips of conducting material. This is often copper.

The Gerber file format is considered standard in PCB design. This means that most people in the field will know and understand what a Gerber file is and how to read it. It helps to have a standard that can be used throughout the industry rather than having multiple proprietary files.

The Gerber file describes and communicates the components of the PCB image, such as copper layers and other attributes. Gerber files can also be input files for PCB printing devices that can make or compare circuit board images. They are essentially “sketches” that provide information about the makeup of the circuit boards. They help to guide the production of the PCB from the design. There have been three generations of Gerber files.

The Standard Gerber, RS-274-D, was the first generation. Extended Gerber, RS0274X, was the second generation, and Gerber X2 is the latest generation.  Modern Gerber files will also often include metadata.

Each of the Gerber files will equal, or correspond to, a single layer in the physical board. This could be the bottom signal layer, the top signal layer, inner layers, etc. In the past, it would often be necessary to provide the manufacturer with the Gerber files, which they would use to manufacture the PCB. This meant that it was not always possible to catch issues in the design until it was too late.

The Introduction of the Gerber File Viewer

To make the process faster and easier, the Gerber file viewer was created. This is a software that will allow you to check the contents in a Gerber file. It is a fast and easy way to get a better understanding of the design and how it will translate to the actual PCB. There are many tools on the market, including software that can be downloaded and installed on a computer.

However, we’ve opted to make the process even easier for our clients. We at Advanced Circuits provide a free to use tool that is right on our website. You can upload your Gerber files for viewing on your own time. The tool is available around the clock, and it works easily. Anyone who has a Gerber file can use the tool to upload and view. They do not have to be an active customer to use the software.

Our Gerber file viewer, called FreeDFM, can look at the inner plane layers for spacing, trace width, annular ring, inner clearance, and thermal reduction. It can check the outer layers for spacing, trace width, and annular ring. It can check drilling for double hits and missing hits. It also checks the solder mask for undersized clearances and missing clearances. It checks the silkscreen for line width. The inner signal layers can be checked for spacing, trace width, annular ring, and inner clearance.

Our system will provide you with an easy to read graphical report. This can make it much easier to understand the findings from the Gerber file viewer, so you can easily see if there are problems you will need to address. We can ensure that the files contain all the needed data, and one of the most significant benefits of our viewer is that it can automatically correct some design issues. This means that if you have some small issues, they could be fixed for you automatically, which can help to reduce your workload.

Besides the information that can be gleaned from the Gerber file viewer, we can also provide you with a detailed PCB quote.

We make the system as easy to use as possible. You will first want to export your Gerber files from the design software and then upload a zip folder to the online tool. You can then provide your email address, where the results will be sent in a matter of minutes.

Why Choose Advanced Circuits?

In addition to our free Gerber file viewer, we can provide you with a wealth of other benefits when you work with us. We’re known for our speedy turnaround time and rapid shipping, which ensures that you get your PCBs quickly. We are one of the largest companies in this field, and we can provide you with reliable service, manufacturing, and assembly. If you have custom orders in mind, we can help with those. Also, there are no minimum order requirements for PCB orders.

Those who need a company that can reliably manufacture their PCBs will want to check out everything that Advanced Circuits has to offer. We can provide you with the services you need and using the Gerber file viewer helps to ensure that you are getting a great board that works the way it should.

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.

In this post, we discuss the basics of printed circuit board Gerber files.  For more detailed information about Gerber file generations and our requirements, click here.  For more PCB design and manufacturing resources, visit our PCB Engineering & CAM Resources page.

What are PCB Gerber Files

A Gerber file is basically an image of a PCB. It showcases each individual layer as it appears throughout your circuit design.  Gerber files represent copper layers images, solder mask, legend, and drill and route data helping to simplify the process of seeing how the circuit board should be fabricated.  The Gerber files also contain attributes that provide meta-information about these images, such as whether a graphics object is and SMD pad, a via pad,  a fiducial, or any other type of element.

Multiple programs have the ability to read a Gerber file format due to its simplicity, yet detailed descriptions of its contents. They additionally assist in locating potential issues and debugging of the circuit design when uploaded to our FreeDFM file check tool. When submitting a Gerber file, it is wise to send a straightforward text (.txt) file with the explanation of the requirements that may not appear in the file as a note to the PCB manufacturer.

What’s Included in PCB Gerber Files

When exporting the set of Gerber files for your PCB design, you will notice there is a set of individual files with different extensions which should be saved as a zipped folder to send over to the PCB manufacturer.  These files are the following elements of your circuit board design:

• Top Silkscreen
• Top Soldermask
• Top Copper
• Top Solderpaste
• Inner Copper
• Bottom Copper
• Bottom Soldermask
• Bottom Silkscreen
• Bottom Solderpaste
• NC Drill
• Non Plated Drill
• Slots
• Drawing/Other

When submitting your files for PCB fabrication, you will need to map your files (match) to the elements mentioned above.  Common file name extensions are listed in the image below.