3 Types Of PCB Manufacturing Output Files You Need To Know

Join Zach Peterson as he dives deep into the three common types of PCB manufacturing output files. From Gerbers' vector format to the intricate details of ODB++ and the streamlined convenience of IPC-2581, explore the unique structures and data each format holds.
Follow along as Zach navigates Altium Designer and an external IPC viewer, showcasing examples and comparisons. Elevate your PCB design knowledge and stay ahead of the game!
0:00 Intro
0:29 Gerbers
2:02 ODB++
3:50 IPC-2581
4:56 Advantages of IPC-2581
5:57 Why Aren't More People Using IPC-2581?
7:00 Looking at Gerber
9:24 Looking at ODB++
11:17 Looking at IPC-2581
For more PCB Manufacturing videos, click here: • PCB Manufacturing
For more PCB Design for Intermediate Users videos, click here: • PCB Design for Interme...
For more Tech Consultant Zach Peterson videos, click here: • Technical Consultant Z...
👉 Overview of PCB Design Outputs and Manufacturing Files: resources.altium.com/p/overvi...
👉 IPC-2581 Viewer: www.zofzpcb.com/IPC2581-Viewer
👉 What's In PCB Fabrication Notes?: • What's In PCB Fabricat...
👉 15 Days Free Altium Designer Access: www.altium.com/promotions/alt...
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: / altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: / altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: / altiumofficial
👉 Ready to try the industry's best-in-class design experience yourself? Download it today and get started! www.altium.com/downloads?utm_...
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBdesign #ElectronicsDesign

[@frank-christiankruegel2199]

You missed Gerber X2 - a quite significant improvement over the original Gerber.

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

That's fair, but I intentionally glossed over the differences because most manufacturers just ask for "Gerbers" without stating a specific version.

[@GeorgeFoot]

Thanks for the overview and comparisons. If manufacturers ask for gerbers, that's what I send them - I wouldn't use another format unless they asked for it.

[@nibinonekomata]

So in all cases we should know fabrication specifications) I prefer to use gerbers, but I remember that I should create correct layer stackup and impedance profile. In case of factory can handle Gerber this way looks good enough to produce PCBs. But if company needs release database (not Altium release system) ODB looks good.
Thanks for this video - its great to know something more about other ways to do somethig other than I used to)

[@wtfucrazy]

Great video. Not related to this video but could you do a video about IPC 4761 from a designer's perspective?

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

Good question, looks like I'll have to plan for this one next

[@chandranpp544]

வாழ்த்துக்கள்...

[@nikunjsolanki5861]

Make a video on FCC and CE certificate.

[@user-cm9yf8jb5n]

I love your TH-cam channel and follow everything. How do I convert a drawing into a special SMP machine? What file should I choose?

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

I am not familiar with an SMP machine

[@user-cm9yf8jb5n]

I need to know a plugin in Altium that can run

[@vicvolk013]

Es menos adoptado por el nivel de especialización que conlleva, la mayoría de trabajos que eh visto no necesitan un análisis de reactancia, impedancia, ni de frecuencia, aunque es bueno conocer estos formatos

[@stian4277]

Is there a way to exclude BOM from IPC-2581 as I dont want to share this info with the PCB manufacturer, only the assembly shop?

[@robertbox5399]

Good idea. You send off the data and 3 weeks later your design has been copied!

[@rafalzasada8826]

Are drill files always separate?

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

For gerbers yes, for ODB++ my understanding is that it has the capability to include drill data and I think can be exported as NC drill

[@vasiliynkudryavtsev]

There is an option to include drill symbols into gerber. But I never used that.
Separate drill files is a must, especially for blind and half-open vias.

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

@@vasiliynkudryavtsev Yes you can include symbols with a drill drawing option in the exports, but not the NC drill data

[@jimjjewett]

When you talk about "Gerbers" are you talking about the 1980s definition? Because I think the current standard (for several years back) does define pads ... but maybe you're talking about defining them in a different way than I would.

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

I only lumped them together because I have never seen a manufacturer specify whether they will only accept X2 versus the older version, from all I have noticed they will just take whatever you give them. As I recall when I last did a recreation of a PCB from Gerbers, I used the old version of the Gerber files and it was able to extract most of the pads anyways, so I suspect this has become be a non-issue for CAM software.

[@gregfeneis609]

IPC-2581 has been around for roughly 20 years. Why is @Altium Academy demonstrating how to view it outside of Altium?

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

Because there is not a viewer for IPC 2581 built into Altium

[@gregfeneis609]

Obviously