Gerber/ Excellon/ DXF/HPGL Viewer

This application allows to Import and view the Gerber/ Excellon/ DXF/HPGL files. It may be invoked from the menu File | Gerber/ Excellon/ DXF/HPGL Viewer or directly from Project Explorer. It is now more convenient to examine GERBER artwork images in separate window when comparing with artwork images displayed by Fabrication Manager.

It is no more needed to preprocess any files. If a file selected for import is in any of supported formats, it will be automatically detected. Nevertheless, it is necessary to enter formatting parameters for files in obsolete formats like Gerber files in RS-274-D and Excellon One.

Special function incorporated in the new viewer converts imported data to import categories that may be edited in Fabrication Manager prior to reconstruction of projects from graphics. The viewer has the capability for automatic distribution of imported data to most suitable category.

Import of Files in Gerber Viewer

Right click PCB Layout and select Gerber/Excellon/DXF/HPGL Viewer from the list. OR Select Gerber/Excellon/DXF/HPGL Viewer from the task toolbar. OR Right click PCB Layout and select Gerber/Excellon/DXF/HPGL Viewer.
Select File for import window provides option to select the type of files from:

Gerber ASCII files (*.GBR),(*.GBL),(*.GTL),(*.TOP)(*.BOT)
Excellon ASCII Files (*.DRL),(*.NCD)
HPGL ASCII files (*.PLT)(*.HGL)
AutoCAD Drawing Interchange files(*.DXF)

From Select File for Import Select the type of file required from the dropdown menu.

Open the PROJECT_MAINHEIR_XX.GBR file to be viewed.

Import Parameters window pops up.

Select the layer to which the file is to be imported from Import to layer drop down menu.

Click the Close button for the window to exit.
Select and view the various layers of the PCB. Items placed on different layers have different colors to differentiate each layer.

Silkscreen Top Side
Silkscreen Top to import graphics element constituting silkscreen (Top) side of the PCB.
Mask Top Layer
Mask Top Layer to import graphics element constituting Mask (Top) layer of the PCB.
Artwork Top Layer
Artwork Top Layer to import graphics element constituting Artwork (Top) layer of the PCB.
Artwork Bottom Layer
Artwork Bottom Layer to import graphics element constituting Artwork (Bottom) layer of the PCB.
Mask Bottom Layer
Mask Bottom Layer to import graphics element constituting Mask (Bottom) layer of the PCB.
Silkscreen Bottom
Silkscreen Bottom to import graphics element constituting silkscreen (bottom) side of the board.
Board outline/Cut-outs
Board outline/Cut-outs to import graphics element constituting outline of the board (cut-outs) side of the board.
Drill Template
Drill Template to import graphics element constituting drill termplate of the board.

View Gerber Data

Select Gerber ASCII files (*.GBR) from Select File for import window.
Open the PROJECT.GBR file to be viewed.
Select the layer to which the file is to be imported from Import to layer drop down menu.
Select and view the various layers of the PCB. Items placed on different layers have different colors to differentiate each layer.

Silkscreen Top
Artwork Top
Artwork Bottom

Note:

The imported layers are viewed as superimposed images.
There are options to view these layers seperately by changing the scale factor along x-axis and y-axis in the Import parameters window after each layer selection.

All in One Layer Viewer

Click to dropdown New Artwork Inner Layer window to add and view Inner Layers
Select and view the required Inner layer from the dropdown PCB layer list .
This menu list is also placed as a toolbar for easy access to add or remove inner layers.