All content Copyright 2022 Parallel Systems Ltd.
1. Check that the release.brd from the previous lab is still open
2. Select Check>Design Status from the top menu to check for DRCs.
Check to ensure the status is Up to Date.
3. Select Export>Gerber Parameters from the top menu.
4. You might get a message about the Vector vs. Raster settings while creating your dynamic shapes. We will take care of that. Left-click>OK.
5. You might get a message about the resolution of the database vs. artwork output. We will take care of that too. Left-click>OK.
The Artwork Control form opens.
6. Artwork, Gerber, files will be created in the RS274X format. Update the format parameters as follows:
Device Type: Gerber RS274X
You might get a message about the raster output formats and how it needs to have the artwork accuracy set to be one place greater than the database accuracy. Left-click>OK.
7. Since the database accuracy is set to 3, change the Format to:
Integer Places: 3
Decimal Places: 4
This should take care of the accuracy.
8. Left-click>OK to close the form.
When you close the Artwork Control form, the parameter settings will be written to a file called art_param.txt in the working directory.
9. Choose Export>Gerber from the top menu to open the Artwork Control Form, if it isn’t already open.
10. Select the plus + sign to the left of the BOTTOM entry in the Available Films window of the Artwork Control form.
The BOTTOM film control record expands to display the class/subclass entries that will be included in the manufacturing file for this artwork film. By default, PCB Editor includes the ETCH, PIN, and VIA objects for each of the etch subclasses.
11. Select the BOTTOM film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form (select on the word BOTTOM).
The Film Options section on the right side of the Artwork Control form displays the current options set for the selected film control record.
12. Set the Undefined Line Width field to 0.25 in the Film Options section of the Artwork Control form.
13. Select the GND1 film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form (select on the word GND1).
The Film Options section of the Artwork Control form now shows the film options for the GND1 film record.
14. Set the Undefined Line Width field to 0.25 in the Film Options section of the Artwork Control form.
15. Select the TOP film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form (select on the word TOP).
The Film Options section of the Artwork Control form now shows the film options for the TOP film record.
16. Set the Undefined Line Width field to 0.25 in the Film Options section of the Artwork Control form.
17. Select the VCC1 film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form (select on the word VCC1).
The Film Options section of the Artwork Control form now shows the film options for the VCC1 film record.
18. Set the Undefined Line Width field to 0.25 in the Film Options section of the Artwork Control form.
The previous steps could be repeated for the GND2 and VCC2 layers, this would be essential for a “real” design but, since this board isn’t going to be manufactured, these layers could be left without Undefined Line Widths being specified.
Important!! Keep the Artwork Control Form open until the instruction to close it.
19. Choose Setup>Colors from the top menu.
20. Select the Global Visibility Off button field to make invisible all classes and subclasses.
21. Select the Manufacturing folder.
22. Turn on the AUTOSILK_TOP colour settings and leave the Colour and Visibility form open.
23. In the Artwork Control form, use right-click to select a film name control record, like VCC1, in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form, choose Add from the pop up menu.
24. A text form opens, asking for the name of the new film, set SILK_TOP for name and left-click>OK
A new film control record is added.
25. Select the SILK_TOP film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form (select on the word SILK_TOP).
The Film Options section of the Artwork Control form now shows the film options for the SILK_TOP film record.
26. Set the Undefined Line Width field to 0.25 in the Film Options section of the Artwork Control form.
27. Choose Setup>Colors from the top menu if the Colour form is not already open.
28. Select the Global Visibility Off button field to make invisible all classes and subclasses.
29. Select the Stack-Up folder.
30. Turn on PIN/SOLDERMASK_TOP and VIA/SOLDERMASK_TOP and leave the Colour and Visibility form open.
31. In the Artwork Control form, use right-click to select the SILK_TOP film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form, choose Add from the pop up menu.
32. A text form opens, asking for the name of the new film, set SOLDER_TOP for the name and left-click>OK.
A new film control record is added.
33. Select the SOLDER_TOP film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form (select on the word SOLDER_TOP).
The Film Options section of the Artwork Control form now shows the film options for the SOLDER_TOP film record.
34. Set the Undefined Line Width field to 0.25 in the Film Options section of the Artwork Control form.
35. Choose Setup>Colors from the top menu if the Colour form is not already open.
36. Select the Global Visibility Off button field to make invisible all classes and
subclasses.
37. Select the Stack-Up folder.
38. Turn on PIN/SOLDERMASK_BOTTOM and VIA/SOLDERMASK_BOTTOM and leave the Colour and Visibility form open.
39. In the Artwork Control form, use right-click to select the SOLDER_TOP film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form, choose Add from the pop up menu.
40. A text form opens, asking for the name of the new film, set SOLDER_BOT for the name and left-click>OK
A new film control record is added.
41. Select the SOLDER_BOT film control record in the Available Films section of the Artwork Control form (select on the work SOLDER_BOT).
The Film Options section of the Artwork Control form now shows the film options for the SOLDER_BOT film record.
42. Set the Undefined Line Width field to 0.25 in the Film Options section of the Artwork Control form.
43. Left-click>OK to close the Artwork Control form
44. Left-click>OK to close the Color / Visibility form as it is no longer needed.
45. Select Check>Design Status from the top menu.
The Status window appears. In the window, the DRC errors might display an “Out Of Date” message. The colour box will be red. If that is the case, perform the following step.
46. Left-click>Update DRC.
The Editor message area reports:
Performing DRC. Please wait…
47. When the DRC check is completed, the colour box will turn yellow or green, depending on whether or not you have DRCs to report. Left-click>OK to close the Status form.
48. If any DRCs are created, they should be corrected before creating artwork. In the Colour and Visibility form, turn all of the DRC class ON (under the Stack-Up folder) to locate the DRCs.
49. Select Export>Reports and double-click the Design Rules Check Report to create a DRC check report that will give you information on where to look to clean up the design rule violations made on the board.
50. Select File>Save from the top menu.
A window appears and warns you that the release.brd file already exists. It asks if you want to overwrite the file.
51. Left-click>Yes to confirm the overwrite.
The file release.brd is written to disk.
52. Choose Export>Gerber from the top menu.
The Artwork Control form opens.
53. The check box to the left of each film control record controls whether a manufacturing file will be created for that record. Since you want to generate all artwork files, select the Select All button below the Available Films window.
54. Select the Create Artwork button in the Artwork Control form.
At the bottom of the Artwork Control form a message will be displayed:
Plot generated
55. Choose File>Viewlog from the top menu to see the photoplot.log file to check that all artwork files have been created successfully.
The log file will display automatically if there are any errors.
There will be warnings in the log file about “no photoplot outline” and “using the undefined line width”
56. Left-click>Close to exit the log file.
57. Left-click>OK in the Artwork Control form to close the form.
End of Lab
All content Copyright 2022 Parallel Systems Ltd.