Creating Gerber files from Solidworks 2

[macraiga]

Hi,

Am new to this and am trying to export a design from solidworks to a gerber file that can be read by the fabrication tool? Any ideas?

Cheer,
Aaron.

 

[ShaggyPE]

My understanding is that you need an external application such as "circuit works" to generate PCB output from solidworks. Generating PCB output may not even be possible (again, not sure) but something like circuit works may be able to import PCB info and generate a solid model.

Long story short, do a google search for CircuitWorks and/or follow this link:

http://www.priware.com/common/Circuitworks.aspx

-Shaggy

 

[Timelord]

If you are trying to design circuit cards with Solidworks, you are using the wrong tool. Get some circuit card layout software. PCAD & ORCAD are two examples. If you are not designing circuit cards, what are you doing that requires a gerber file? A gerber file is strictly a 2D file for making the B&W films for exposing the resist on circuit cards.

Timelord

 

[Heckler]

A Gerber File the standard file format used by printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. Are you thinking of CircuitWorks? Which reads IDF files and creates a 3D model of the PCA.

http://www.priware.com/common/Circuitworks.aspx

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 4.0 & Pro/E 2001
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_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

This post contains no political overtones or undertones for that matter and in no way represents the poster's political agenda.

 

[macraiga]

Thanks for the prompt response.

I have a large 3D ceramic header with many layers. It will be fabricated by a photoplotter (I think).

I was given a Solidworks design to make slight alterations to and then output as a Gerber file for the fabrication tool.

If I can make the design to be compatible with circuitworks I could then open it in Expedition PCB (I believe) which could then output a Gerber file. I can envision problems along this path especially since I am a complete novice at PCB design software such as Expedition.

The fabrication tool is capable of making large 3D ceramic boards and the main issue I seem to have here is that Expedition PCB seems to work with 2D layers when I want something well defined in 3 layers.

By PCB standards it is extremely straight forward with just a pathway through a 3D structure for a bunch of connections. I can export drawings, as .dxf files, from Solidworks into Expedition but they just come across as lines and it is quite difficult for me to place these structures into a 3D structure with different materials present.

Many thanks for all the help,
Aaron

 

[ewh]

"A gerber file is strictly a 2D file for making the B&W films for exposing the resist on circuit cards."

Only partially correct. It is a 2D file, but uses are greater than just circuit boards. Composite ply cutting for example.

 

[Timelord]

macraiga,

OK, now we know what you are doing. Check out the following link:

http://www.artwork.com/gerber/index.htm

They have ACAD to Gerber two way translators and Stereolith to Gerber translators.

Timelord

 

[macraiga]

Many thanks for all the replys.

Have been talking to the folks at Artworks and we may have a solution there.

In saying that if anyone knows any freeware or any other method using a combination of the software we currently have (Expedition, OrCAD) that can be used to accomplish this I would be happy to know.

Thanks again
Aaron

 

[ctopher]

Doesn't OrCAD export gerber files? With your current software, you will need to create a DXF from SW and open in OrCAD then create gerber.
Or, see what type of files OrCAD imports and see if SW can export them.
Otherwise, I would go with CircuitWorks. It works well.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

 

[DesignSmith]

One approach is to make a drawing view in SolidWorks and setup proper layers and do some editing using solid hatching to make any missing fills that might be needed in the final phototplot.
You can then make the DXF and run that thru a converter.
A free one is here:

http://www.sonnetsoftware.com/support/downloads/dxftogerber.asp

(haven't tried it)
and a 5 day trial for a commercial one is here:

http://www.linkcad.com/site/download

The linkcad translator works well, and although it does not do all the error checking for you, it does have some good tools for editing. You can also do some tweaking with DWGeditor if you know it well enough.
Work with your vendor and see if they wouldn't run 1-2 test files for you to prove out the process. Errors in the Gerber plot coming from your original view should stand out.

Search on the web and you can find some explanations about Gerber file requirements for solid fills, continuous edges, and other aspects of getting a good photoplot.

DesignSmith

http://www.DesignSmith-Services.com