Summary： In this tutorial, we are going to show you how to export gerber files from your eagle .brd file.
Generally it doesn't work to use the Eagle files for PCB manufacturing , so the situation will be better if you can send the Gerber files directly to a PCB fab. In this tutorial, we are going to show you how to export Gerber files from your eagle .brd file, then you can upload it to PCBWay online system for fabrication.
*If you are using the lastest version of Eagle software ( Eagle 9.20 or higher ), please take a reference of THIS POST.*
Before generating Gerber files from Eagle, firstly you need to confirm the silkscreen is on single side or double sides, because only the top silkscreen layer (tPlace and tNames) would be generated by default in Eagle software. When your PCB has double sides silkscreen, you need to add the bottom layer as well (Dimension, bPlace and bName). If there is any milling design in your brd file, please add extra outline layer and check the"Dimension"> "Milling". After following the 4 steps you will have all the necessary files needed for PCB manufacturing.
Step 1. Generating Drill Files
To create a Gerber file from Eagle file, you should run the drillcfg command first:
File -->Run ULP --> the pop-up "Drill Configuration" dialog box and click the "OK" button to generate the corresponding drill configuration file.
Open the .brd file, and then click the "File" menu to open the "CAM Processor" dialog box.
In the "CAM Processor" dialog box, select "File" -> "Open" -> "Job ..." command, open the "Open CAM Job" dialog box, select the "excellentone.cam" and click "Open" button.
After loading it, click the "Process Job" command to generate the corresponding drill file:
Step 2. Generating Gerber Files
In the "CAM Processor" dialog box, select "File" -> "Open" -> "Job ..." command, open the "Open CAM Job" dialog box, select one of the "gerb274x.cam" and click "Open" After it is loaded, click the "Process Job" command to generate the corresponding Gerber file:
After completing the above steps, in your. brd file where the directory will generate some other documents --- Gerber files ,which can be sent to the PCB manufacturers to produce.
But before you upload the Gerber files to PCBWay online system or other manufacturing fab, you should always check all the layers and look at them using a Gerber viewer to make sure everything is ok.
The following files that you should now have in your Gerber file :
*.cmp (Copper, component side)
*.drd (Drill file)
*.dri (Drill Station Info File) – Usually not needed
*.gpi (Photoplotter Info File) – Usually not needed
*.plc (Silk screen, component side)
*.pls (Silk screen, solder side)
*.sol (Copper, solder side)
*.stc (Solder stop mask, component side)
*.sts (Solder stop mask, solder side)
Step 3. Compress all the files in a single .zip file
The final step is to Compress all the files in a single .zip file, then you can fill out the form about your PCB parameters ( size, quantity , layers , thickness , etc ) on our “PCB Instant quote” page and upload your .zip ( Gerber ) file to PCBWay online system, our engineers will check it again and feedback to you if any problems happen before it can be fabricated. Here we go!
You can also download our CAM file to export Gerber files directly in Eagle software and avoid any problem :
Milling and Dimension are both alright. If the milled cutout is inside a pad or a (ground) plane, after you upload the file, please check that with your sales rep. Regards.
Hi PCBway support can you give me 2000 beans in my account as I make a costly project.
I'm working with an older version of Eagle (7.7.0), so the cam files don't want to work with that. But if I have milling information (such as a slotted pad) should I include that in the silkscreen layer (where the dimensions layer is normally located) or should I put the milling layer (usually 46 in Eagle) in a separate file (such as *.mil)?
there doesn't seem to be anything on the web page?
https://member.pcbway.com/BrdToGerber/Index
Updated.