Eagle for MSP430

From Texas Instruments Embedded Processors Wiki

Generating Gerber Files from an Eagle Design

What is needed by the PCB vendor?

1. Gerber files (layout data)
2. Excellon files (drill data)

(Download CAM & ULP Files for CAM and ulp files)

Step 1: Gerber Files – How To

• Generate a copy of the silk screen (layer 21 tPlace) by running the user-language program “_silk AD.ulp” from the board editor. This will create two new layers (layer 121 _tplace, layer 122 _bplace). These layers can be fully edited for example to make sure that there the SMD pads are not covered, etc.
• Now start the CAM processor to generate the Gerber files. Go to File->Open->Job to open the “_gerb274x AD.cam” (for 2-layer PCB) or “_gerb274x AD 4-Layer.cam” (for 4-layer PCB) CAM job file. Inspect all the dialog tabs to see which Eagle layers will go into which Gerber output files, make changes if needed. Note how the custom silk screen layer from step a) is used for the final Gerber silk screen. Then, click “Process Job” to generate the Gerber output files. One file will be generated for each layer. In addition, a “*.gpi” information file is generated which is not needed by the PCB vendor.

Step 2: Excellon Files – How To

• Generate a “Drill Configuration File” (rack file) by running the user-language program “drillcfg.ulp”. Select “inch” as the unit for the output file in the next dialog. Then, save the “.drl” file to the project folder.
• Now start the CAM processor to generate the Excellon drill data. Go to File->Open->Job to open the “_excellon AD.cam” CAM job file. This step needs the previously generated rack file “*.drl” for it to work. Click “Process Job” to generate the “*.drd” drill output file. In addition, a “*.dri” information file is generated which is not needed by the PCB vendor.

Leave a Comment