How to Export Gerber Files from Altium Designer and KiCad

Gerber files are essential for manufacturing printed circuit boards. They provide manufacturers with the necessary information for creating the PCBs accurately. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of exporting Gerber files from two popular design software tools: Altium Designer and KiCad.

Exporting Gerber Files from Altium Designer

Step 1: Open Your PCB Project

Before you can export Gerber files in Altium Designer, ensure your PCB project is open and ready for export.

Step 2: Generate the Gerber Files

1. In Altium Designer, navigate to File > Fabrication Outputs > Gerber Files.
2. The "Gerber Setup" window will appear. Here, you can configure various Gerber file settings. Make sure to review and adjust settings like the units, resolution, and file naming conventions according to your manufacturing requirements.
3. Click on the "Advanced" button to access additional options, such as adding drill files and layer selection.
4. Once you've configured all settings to your satisfaction, click the "OK" button.

Step 3: Review and Generate the Files

1. Altium Designer will generate Gerber files based on your project settings.
2. After generation, you'll be presented with the "Gerber Batch Processor" dialog. This dialog lists all the files that will be generated.
3. Review the list of files to ensure they match your requirements.
4. Click the "Run" button to create the Gerber files in the specified output directory.

Step 4: Verify the Gerber Files

1. Before sending the Gerber files to your manufacturer, it's crucial to verify their accuracy. You can use a Gerber viewer or online Gerber file verification tools to ensure everything is in order.
2. Once verified, you can compress the Gerber files into a ZIP archive and share them with your PCB manufacturer.

Exporting Gerber Files from KiCad

Step 1: Open Your KiCad PCB Project

Make sure you have your PCB project open and ready for Gerber file export in KiCad.

Step 2: Generate the Gerber Files

1. In KiCad, navigate to File > Plot.
2. The "Plot" dialog box will appear. Here, you can configure your Gerber file settings. Pay attention to options like layers, resolution, and output directory.
3. Click on the "Plot" button to generate the Gerber files.

Step 3: Review and Generate the Files

1. KiCad will create the Gerber files based on your settings.
2. After generation, you can close the "Plot" dialog.

Step 4: Generate the Drill Files

1. To create the drill files (Excellon format), go back to the "Plot" dialog.
2. Select "Drill File" in the "Plot format" section.
3. Configure the drill file settings as needed.
4. Click on the "Plot" button to generate the drill files.

Step 5: Verify and Archive the Gerber Files

1. Like with Altium Designer, it's essential to verify the Gerber and drill files using a Gerber viewer or verification tool.
2. Once verified, compress the Gerber and drill files into a ZIP archive.
3. Share the ZIP archive with your chosen PCB manufacturer.

Exporting Gerber files is a crucial step in the PCB manufacturing process. Whether you are using Altium Designer or KiCad, both tools provide user-friendly interfaces to generate Gerber files accurately. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your designs are ready for fabrication, meeting the standards and specifications required by your manufacturer.