Gerber Files

The list of files for a board design will include:

silkscreen

component placements

solder screen paste files for surface mount applications

drill drawings

solder mask files

panel drawings

pad master, etc.

 

The newer Gerber format RS-274X, also known as X-Gerber or Extended Gerber, includes the aperture information into the file headers. With embedded apertures, this makes every X-Gerber file complete as to how each PCB layer should look. However, there are still problems with the interpretation of these files, such as on polygons, or the question of which file to use for which layer. Gerber file extensions are often .GBR, .GBX, .PHD, .SPL or .ART. Sometimes extensions such as .TOP and .BOT are used instead.

 

Some common XGerber extensions are:

 

    * .GBL - Gerber Bottom Layer
    * .GTL - Gerber Top Layer
    * .GBS - Gerber Bottom Solder Resist
    * .GTS - Gerber Top Solder Resist
    * .GBO - Gerber Bottom Overlay
    * .GTO - Gerber Top Overlay
    * .GBP - Gerber Bottom Paste
    * .GTP - Gerber Top Paste
    * .GKO - Gerber Keep-Out Layer
    * .GM1 - Gerber Mechanical 1
    * .GM2 - Gerber Mechanical 2
    * .GPT - Gerber Top Pad Master
    * .GPB - Gerber Bottom Pad Master