How to Generate Gerber, Drill Files and Centroid File From Eagle 9.6.2

This tutorial will guide you through the process of generating Gerber files and drill files from Autodesk Eagle 9.6.2, a popular PCB design software. Whether you're an experienced designer or just starting out, this step-by-step guide will help you prepare your board for manufacturing.

Generating Gerber Files, Drill Files, and Centroid Files (PnP File)

• Open the Eagle control panel and navigate to "File" > "Open" > "Board". Select the .brd file you want to work with.

In this example, we'll use the Arduino_MEGA2560_ref.brd file that comes with Eagle as a sample board. This will help you understand the process more clearly.

• Once the board is loaded, you should see the PCB layout displayed in the window, as shown below:

• Click on the CAM Processor icon located on the toolbar (the one without the green arrow), or go to "File" > "CAM Processor" to open it.

Tips: Before exporting your Gerber files, it's highly recommended to run a Design Rule Check (DRC) to ensure there are no errors that could affect the manufacturing process.

• Click on the document icon next to the CAM file name, then select "Load CAM jobs" > "examples". Choose the appropriate CAM job for your board. For a 2-layer board, we'll use "example_2_layer.cam".

• Use the Gerber previewer on the right side to review each layer of your Gerber files. Make sure to uncheck the "Negative image" option, as highlighted in the red box in the image below.

• After confirming everything looks good, check the "Export as ZIP" option and click "Process Job" to generate your Gerber files.

This will create a ZIP folder containing all the required Gerber files for your PCB. You can extract the contents to view individual layers if needed.

The centroid file (also known as the PnP file) is usually found in the "Assembly" folder. This file is essential for automated placement during assembly.

Online Gerber Viewer by PCBWay

Once you've exported your Gerber and drill files, you can use the PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer to preview your board before sending it to the manufacturer. This tool allows you to visualize the layout and ensure everything is correct.

For more information about the PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer, visit their website and explore the detailed features available.