The Gerber format is a computer file format used by PCB software manufacturers to describe the circuit board’s parameters. The RS-274-X format is currently used and contains a complete description of the circuit board. Gerber format files are readable in ASCII format and are the universal standard for the PCB industry.
The Gerber format is a computer file format used by printed circuit board (PCB) software manufacturers. The information contained in a Gerber format file describes the circuit board it is associated with, providing the computer with its parameters, including solder, legend and description. This information is like the design of the circuit board, allowing computer and software designers to know how and where to access the various sections of the board. Of the two general types — RS-274-D and RS-274-X — only the RS-274-X format is currently used.
Files with this format contain commands and coordinate data that allow the computer and the individuals who program for the computer to fully understand the functionality and layout of the circuit in question. Gerber format files are provided in American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format and are readable without the need for a translation program. In other words, the file is written in plain letters and numbers, not in binary or any other form that would be impossible for a human user to understand. Software is available that can display an image of the information contained in a Gerber format file.
The RS-274-X file type contains a complete description of the circuit board itself. No external files are needed to understand or integrate it. It can identify different planes on the blackboard, positive images, and can describe any shape of opening imaginable without deviating from its standard ASCII layout. RS-274-X files are originally created using electronic design programs or computer aided design programs on printed circuit boards.
One disadvantage of Gerber format files is that they do not contain information about the specific layer of the PCB they refer to; this must be inferred from the other data in the file. This usually isn’t a big deal, but it can be an inconvenience as people searching through files will have to go through multiple files before locating the specific layer they’re looking for. Despite this, Gerber format files still remain the nearly universal standard for the printed circuit board industry.
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