PCB Tech - Output files after the design of PCB design is completed

The output file after the design is completed: PCB design and wiring are completed, and the user wants to generate an output file to review, manufacture and assemble the PCB board. These files are usually used to provide board-level manufacturers, because there are a variety of different technologies and methods in PCB manufacturing, Altium Designer has the ability to generate many output files for various purposes.

These uses include:

Assembly output

Assembly drawing-display the position and origin information of the components on each side of the circuit board-representing the position and direction of the board.

Grab selection and placement of files-used for component placement robots to place components on the circuit board-used by smart placement devices to intelligently place components.

File output

File output composite comprehensive drawings -- -Finished board assembly, including components and circuits.

Three-dimensional printing of PCB, using the three-dimensional view of the circuit board from the three-dimensional view.

Schematic Schematic Print Print -- Draw the design-the settings used in the schematic diagram of the schematic drawing.

Production output

Draw a composite drilling diagram, a comprehensive presentation drawing --: Draw a composite drawing of the location and size of the drilling on the circuit board on the location and size of the demo board in a drawing.

Demonstration drawing/guide drilling drawing/guide -- On multiple drawings: Demonstrate the location and size of the drilling plate in different drawings.

The final drawing drawing: -- Combine all the production files into a single drawing output.

Gerber file: -- production information in Gerber format.

NC Drill Files --- Create manufacturing information that can be used by CNC drilling machines.

ODB++ --- Create manufacturing information in ODB++ database format

Power-Plane Prints --- Create multi-layer drawings of internal electric layer and electric layer division drawing department

Solder/Paste Mask Prints --- Create solder mask and paste mask drawings

Test Point Report --- Create output results of test points designed in different modes

Netlist network output

The network list table describes the connection of components and components between logic in the design, which is very helpful for transplanting to the design of other electronic products.

Report output

Bill of Materials --- A list of parts and parts in different formats created for the needs of making boards.

Component Cross Reference Report --- Create a list of components on the basis of the designed original diagram.

Report Project Hierarchy --- Create a list of original documents on the project.

Report Single Pin Nets --- Create a report that lists any network that has only one connection.

Simple BOM --- Create text and CSV (comma-separated variables) files of the BOM.

Most of the output files are used for configuration, setting the output when needed. After you complete more designs, users will find that users often use the same or similar output files for each design.

Altium Designer provides a mechanism called Output Job Files, which uses an interface-Output Job Editor, which can be used to bundle various output files together and send them to various output media (direct printing, PDF and generated files).

Manual output file

In the final stage of the PCB design process, in order to better satisfy the production, we will explain in the guide how to generate Gerber and CNC drilling files, and BOM files. We no longer use Output Job Editor here, but use single-step menu commands-all output files can also be created directly from menu commands. Remember that the configuration output file is stored as part of the project.

Generate Gerber files

Each Gerber file is associated with a layer of the board --- device layer, top signal layer, bottom signal layer, solder masking layer and so on.

It is advisable to consult the circuit board manufacturer to confirm their requirements before providing output files for PCB manufacturing. Create an output file for the PCB in the tutorial:

1. Select File>>Fabrication Outputs>>Gerber Files. The setting dialog box is displayed.

2. Click the Layers tab, then the Plot Layers button, and select Used On. Click OK to accept the other default settings.

3. After the Gerber file is generated, it will be opened and displayed by the CAM editor. The Gerber file is stored in the Project Outputs folder, which is an automatically generated folder. Each file has an extension name that reflects its level, for example: multivibrator.gto is Gerber Top Overlay. These will be added to the Generated CAM Document folder in the Projects panel.

Similarly, select File>>Fabrication Outputs>>NC Drill Files command to open the NC Drill Setup dialog box to create unconnected through-hole data

Create a parts list

Create a bill of materials (BOM) for the PCB in the tutorial.

1. Select Reports>>Bill of Materials to display the Bill of Materials for PCB Document dialog box.

2. Use this dialog box to build your own BOM. Enable the Show option in each column that the user wants to output to the report.

3. Select and drag the column title from the All Columns list to the Grouped Columns list, so that the components can be grouped by this data type in the BOM. For example, to group by package, select Footprint in All Columns and drag it to the list of Grouped Columns. The report will be classified accordingly.

4. Enable the Open Exported option, select CSV as the file format, and then click the Export button to create and immediately open the BOM file in your CSV viewer (such as Microsoft Excel). There are many BOM and other report types to choose from, which provides a high degree of flexibility. Close the dialog.