On Tue, Mar 03, 2009 at 11:37:35AM +0300, Ineiev wrote: > On 3/2/09, David SMITH <dave.sm...@st.com> wrote: > > If I may make a suggestion - "solve" the layer handling problem which > > prevents PCB's data files from being taken directly by companies like > > www.pcb-pool.com. (I think it's something to do with the fact that > > the file doesn't contain any info to define the meaning of each layer > > (e.g. top copper, bottom copper, etc.) > > What layer handling problem do you speak of? > > The top and bottom copper layers _are_ marked in PCB files; and other > copper layers are ordered as well. > > As I understand, PCB files are not taken directly because PCB users > send to the manufacturers Gerber files rather than force them to > install the program on their machines.
I'm afraid that I don't remember much more than I've already told you. Some PCB manufacturers (e.g. pcb-pool) will take native files as well as just Gerbers. I guess that the manufacturer either has a copy of that tool installed locally, or they've developed an automated conversion script. >From a user's point-of-view, it makes life much easier because they no longer have the hassle of generating Gerbers (e.g. getting the correct version of RS274, putting in the right number of decimal places, including a readme file to indicate which layer is which, etc...) In my case, I just send them my application's native file. For someone who makes one PCB every year or so, it means that I don't have to worry about making sure that the Gerber generation settings are correct, and if there's a problem (e.g. layers are in the wrong order, etc.) it's definitely their mistake, not mine :-). I guess it's one way in which manufacturers can gain competitive advantage by making their customers' lives easier. I remember at some point suggesting that pcb-pool should support 'pcb' files natively, and they said that it wasn't currently possible because some necessary information was missing from the file format. I thought that they said it was the layer definition information, but ICBW. This was a few years ago, so things might have changed since. <rant> If only the PCB manufacturing industry could standardise on a new, open format that solves Gerber's shortcomings. It does seem to be rather silly that we're still using a file format that was defined in the days when memory was so expensive that they did away with the decimal points... </rant> -- David Smith Work Email: dave.sm...@st.com STMicroelectronics Home Email: david.sm...@ds-electronics.co.uk Bristol, England GPG Key: 0xF13192F2 _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user