Gerber output - how can I retin the 'la yer's

On 1/27/2012 9:44 AM, Robert Smith wrote:

It seems that when I use Eagle to export to gerber (using the std cam

gerber274x ...or any other gerber cam listed there), that all the eagle

layers get 'flattened' into one ...this is real a hassle for me.

 

I like to mill my pcb...so I use the gerbers as import files into another

cam program

 

>

The cam program I use (cambam) can create seperate 'drawing layers' for

each gerber layer....but becuase eagle flattens the layers when

exporting,everything inn the gerber therefore gets imported into one

layer.... I then have to spend ages reconstructing all the drawing objects

into layers again within cambam.

 

Are there any gerber cam experts that can advise how I can get Eagle to

export to gerber but retaining the layers so that cambam will accept.

 

I've attached a (non Eagle produced) gerber file in the format that cambam

reads the seperate layers.

Hi Robert,

You need to use a cam job. If the board is a simple two layer board you

can use the gerb274x.cam job that's included with EAGLE. Here's the

procedure.

1. In your board editor click the CAM processor icon.

2. Left-click on the File menu(not the file button that is near the

middle of the CAM dialog) -> Open -> Job.

3. Select the gerb274x.cam file and open it.

4. You'll now see tabs along the top edge of the CAM processor under the

Pull down menus. Each tab is a seperate gerber file, so this CAM job

will generate 5 useful files and one summary file(gpi extension).

5. Left-Click on Process Job to generate the gerbers. The gerbers will

be in the same folder your board file is in.

6. You may also need to generate a drill file. Left-click File-> Open->

Job. This time select excellon.cam and open it.

7. This one is also ready to go, left click the Process job button.

For more info on how this all works see chapter 9 of the EAGLE manual.

hth,

Jorge Garcia

On 01/27/2012 09:44 AM, Robert Smith wrote:

It seems that when I use Eagle to export to gerber (using the std cam

gerber274x ...or any other gerber cam listed there), that all the eagle

layers get 'flattened' into one ...this is real a hassle for me.

 

I like to mill my pcb...so I use the gerbers as import files into another

cam program

 

>

The cam program I use (cambam) can create seperate 'drawing layers' for

each gerber layer....but becuase eagle flattens the layers when

exporting,everything inn the gerber therefore gets imported into one

layer.... I then have to spend ages reconstructing all the drawing objects

into layers again within cambam.

 

Are there any gerber cam experts that can advise how I can get Eagle to

export to gerber but retaining the layers so that cambam will accept.

 

I've attached a (non Eagle produced) gerber file in the format that cambam

reads the seperate layers.

I am not sure of how you need the data. You can go to the job tabs in

the cam process and only include layer 1 for the traces. Duplicate that

tab and put pads on it and so forth.

Have you looked at the ULP's for milling machines? I think it generates

the contours that mill away the copper.

Paul R.

hi paul/jorge,

yes thanks...i found the sparkfun cam job & worked out how to extract all

thE eagle layers as individual gerber files - but that's not really want i

seek (becuase that would then need me to import each gerber file into

camba,m one at a time)

What I'm after is a way of exporting to ONE gerber all the eagle layers I

highlight in the layer selection window ....but for eagle to export in a

way that allows another 3rd party gerber file reader or CAM program to then

extract each gerber layer out to an individual drawing layer.

--

Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.

On 1/27/2012 3:42 PM, Robert Smith wrote:

hi paul/jorge,

 

yes thanks...i found the sparkfun cam job&  worked out how to extract all

thE eagle layers as individual gerber files - but that's not really want i

seek (becuase that would then need me to import each gerber file into

camba,m one at a time)

 

What I'm after is a way of exporting to ONE gerber all the eagle layers I

highlight in the layer selection window ....but for eagle to export in a

way that allows another 3rd party gerber file reader or CAM program to then

extract each gerber layer out to an individual drawing layer.

Hi Robert,

To the best of my knowledge that's not possible in EAGLE. What you could

do is zip all of the gerber files together and possibly give that zip

file to your cambam software.

hth,

Jorge Garcia