Hello,
I am re-posting this reply as the start of another discussion because I did not get any reply to it in the previous thread. I guess I don't know if there is a 'correct' procedure for this scenario. Rachaelp was replying last so it addresses her.
Hi Rachael,
I know it has been several days since my last reply but it has taken me a while to get back to this project. I did find the file you mentioned called 'excellon.cam' and ran it. I thought it curious that it did not create a file with a .txt extension as indicated by the book I have as well as a youtube video tutorial that I watched. Anyway, I zipped up the gerber files and submitted them to a manufacturer. When attempting to do this, I got the following failure messages:
Your project doesn't contain a bottom copper file.
Your project doesn't contain a bottom solder mask.
We couldn't find a drill file.
We couldn't find a board outline file.
So, based on this, I think it's fair to conclude that all the pads (copper), etc. are rendered only on the top layer. When I created the package for the edge connector (fingers), I put 8 on the top layer and 8 on the bottom layer. My first question to you, then, is how to switch the layer from top to bottom for 8 of the pads of this device on the board layout?
The next question is how to go about creating a bottom solder mask once I have a distinct set of copper pads on that layer?
And finally, from what I have read, it sounds like the geometry for the board outline needs to be created on layer 20 (Dimension). Is this true or is there some other explicit procedure for creating the board outline?
Thank you very much in advance!
Troy.