Open Pcb File In Altium

I want to copy the PCB of Experimenters Kits. But i don't open the PCB's file with the Altium Designer, the pcb's file name is USB-DockingStnR3.pcb. Which is in the folder: D: Program Files Texas Instruments controlSUITE developmentkits ExperimentersKits ExperimentersKit-HWdevPkg. Can you tell me what software is used to open the file. The Gerber format, RS-274-D, for printed circuit board specification was originally introduced in 1980. Since, there have been two major revisions, X1 and X2. The currently used formats are open ASCII formats for 2-D binary images and serve as the unofficial industry standard for PCB design files.

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Files for Manufacture

Our project is now complete. The schematic is drawn, the list of components is complete and verified, the PCB is composed and has been checked for errors, and the assembly drawing is ready. The next step is to upload all the required files in order for the PCB manufacturer and assembler to get the final (and already working) device. At the very least, the manufacturer should get information about the PCB materials and layers set, NCDrill files, and Gerber or OBD++ files to create a conductive pattern on the layers of the designed PCB. These files can be uploaded individually, but it is much easier and faster to use the OutJob file to output all the necessary files at once. Each output is configured with its own settings output format. OutJobs are very flexible – they can include as many or as few outputs as required and any number of OutJobs can be included in a project. The best approach is to use one OutJob to configure all outputs required for each specific type of output being generated from the project. Let’s create the OutJob file for exporting all output files of our drone PCB.

Make sure that project Kame_FMU.PrjPCB is active. Select File > New > Output Job File from the main menus to create a new OutJob file related to the project. A new OutJob editor will open in the design space with the settings of output files. In this editor, you can specify all the necessary documents for export and upload them at the same time. Simultaneously, the new.OutJob document will appear in the project tree.

The main section of this editor is Outputs and it is divided into groups depending on the type of documentation: Assembly, Fabrication, Report, etc. To manufacture and assemble the drone PCB, we need to get the following set of files:

Schematic Drawing
Assembly Drawing
Pick and Place file for automatic component placement
Bill of Materials report
Board Stackup Information
Gerber/ODB++ files to replicate the conductive copper pattern on a real PCB
NC Drill files for PCB drilling
3D model of our PCB

Once the OutJob file is configured, all these files can be uploaded with a few mouse clicks even after changes in the project. Also, the number of OutJob files in the project is unlimited, so in your projects, you can separate them by functionality outputs or by PCB variants. In the following guides, all the necessary documents and files will be configured and generated depending on their type

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Creating PCB Assemblies from your Altium PCB Project

If you use the EDA Tool Altium to design your PCB Assemblies, the best method to upload your design files to MacroFab is to create the following manufacturing package to upload to the MacroFab platform.

ODB++ Manufacturing Packet
Bill of Materials from a .XLSX spreadsheet

Once you have created these items you will be able to easily upload your PCB Assembly to the MacroFab platform.

In the PCB tab, simply drag-and-drop your Altium manufacturing package into the file upload target. Alternatively, you can click the Upload Files button on the right side of the screen. More information about uploading files to the platform can be found on the knowledge base article Creating a PCB and Uploading Design Files. The Bill of Materials .XLSX format upload procedure can be found here.

Altium ODB++ File Generation

ODB++ files are exported directly from your PCB and include the PCB layers and placement data needed to build your design. Open your design in Altium and navigate to the PCB view.

To open the ODB++ export window click File -> Fabrication Outputs -> ODB++ Files.

Selecting ODB++ from the fabrication output menu will bring up the following window showing the output options.

Make sure all of the boxes in the Layers to Plot section of this window are checked and press OK. Altium will now automatically generate all of the necessary manufacturing files. This may take a few moments. Once the file generation is complete Altium will generate a new folder called odb in the directory where the PCB file is saved.

Pcb File Viewer

Bill of Materials Generation

For the Bill of Materials Auto Fill to work on the MacroFab Platform, Manufacture Part Numbers (MPNs) must be supplied for the components. MacroFab currently does not support MPNs in the ODB++ file so a .XLSX spreadsheet will have to be made to associate MPNs with component designators. The spreadsheet only needs to contain designators and the corresponding MPN. For more information on making a .XLSX formated spreadsheet and uploading it see the knowledge base article, Importing a Bill of Materials Spreadsheet.

Generating this Bill of Materials .XLSX file is optional for Altium PCBs. You will be able to fill out the Bill of Materials without MPNs. The platform will use the footprint and value provided by the ODB++ file to suggest parts. See the Bill of Materials Management article for more information.

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