CAM Setup
We manufacture your designs from Gerber & NC data that has been exported from a PCB design package. At the end of the day, the only data that matters is the Gerber data. This is why we prefer designs to be submitted in Gerber 274-X format, 2:4 trailing, Imperial with metric NC Drill files.
As a consideration to our customers, we also will accept certain design files that export Gerber & NC data: Protel 2.8 for Windows, Protel 98, Protel 99SE, Protel DXP, Altium & Eagle PCB. We cannot use DXF files, PDFs, JPEGs or any other picture file as these do not produce gerber data.
Our CAM service is Plot & Go only. We do not check your design file for manufacturability aside from checking certain minimums, nor run DRCs, we simply extract Gerbers if required, step & repeat, plot artwork and generate NC machine files. Panelisation is also available but since assemblers use different machines and prefer different setups, this should be pre-supplied. Since every job is unique, from different designers, using different software, for different purposes, we can not check for fit for purpose or verify any other circuit or electrical properties of your design.
Typically, the CAM procedure is:
- Extract Gerber data from supplied design file, import into CAM software, verify data and match drill file information to pads.
- Check the following minimums: drill & pad size, track & space size, legend text height & line width, internal drill to copper clearance and mask clearance
- Determine physical requirements such as soldermask, legend, board shape, cutouts, slots or special requirements
- Identify any obvious conflicts in data supplied with supporting documentation
- Perform data rotations, duplication or assembly panelisation if required
- Perform step-and-repeat
- Apply our standard tooling holes, borders, handling areas etc for manufacture
- Generate applicable machine files such as drill, rout, legend print as well as physical artwork plots
- Complete all paperwork including transfer of customer requirements to internal specification sheets
- Submit completed package to production for review and issue to factory
This process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the complexity of the job at hand.
