Once you have your Gerber and NCDrill files from your CAD or from the person that designed your pcb you have to compress them in ZIP format. If you don't know how to do it, please, read our file compression guide

Please, always prefer Imperial (english, Inches) units to generate your Gerber and NCDRill files and use always RS274X (and not RS274D) Gerber file format.

When you use your Electronic CAD you design your tracks and the pcb outline using different LAYERS. When you generate your GERBER files every layer is exported using a single GERBER file.

Working with Windows OS, we are used to have the 3 letter extension (filename.ext) to identify the type of file: for example, we have .exe for executables, .doc for Word documents or .txt for text files that can be opened using notepad. In Gerber file format is the same, but, there are NO STANDARD EXTENSIONS: for example your TOP copper layer (the image of the copper traces on the top of your pcb) can be named, depending on the Electronic CAD that generated it, .TOP, .GTL, .CMP, G01, G29 and many other.

That's why we are not able to tell you wich file we need using the 3 letter extension: it depends on the type of cad you are using.

Usually the Gerber export utility in every cad software is designed to let the CAD generate every Gerber file needed for manufacturing, you should only pay attention that you have also generated NCDRill files in Excellon or Sieb & Meyer format.

When you have generated all the Gerber and NCDRill files, compress them in a single ZIP file and upload them during your order procedure.

For your reference here is a list of files needed to process your PCBs:

• COPPER TOP LAYER Is the image of your copper on the TOP layer of your PCB
• COPPER BOTTOM LAYER Is the image of your copper on the BOTTOM layer of your PCB (for single sided board we only require one file Top or Bottom).
• TOP SOLDER LAYER Is the image of the areas you don't want the green solder on (tipically PADS). It is ONLY required for "PLUS" pcbs.
• BOTTOM SOLDER LAYER Is the image of the areas you don't want the green solder on (tipically PADS). It is ONLY required for "PLUS" pcbs.
• SILKSCREEN Is the image of the white marking ink to identify components during later assembly. It is ONLY required for "PLUS" pcbs. If omitted we will process your pcb without white marking ink.
• MECHANICAL this file should contain the board shape and every mechanical work we have to do on your pcb (like internal cutouts). This file is OPTIONAL.
• NCDRILL in Excellon or Sieb & Meyer format it contains all the Tools diameter and the coordinates of the holes in your pcb. This is not a Gerber File (please refer to our CHECKLIST in the section NCDRILL FILE for further informations)
• APERTURES This is the information mapping the shapes and dimensions of all pads, traces and thermals. Is only required for GERBER RS274D format. Please do all effort to avoid using RS274D format. Use instead Gerber RS274X with embedded apertures.