Editing Gerber files for a PCB Stencil

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djoshi
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Posted by djoshi: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 10:40 AM
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Hi All

 

I got some old PCB's that i still have in stock but do not have a stencil for them. 

 

The original gerber file was for 1 PCB but the PCB company generated a panel with multiple PCB and also sent me the updated panel gerber files. 

 

Is it possible to edit the panel gerber files using any tool to 

1. Reduce the aperture size of the panels 

2. Reduce aperture size on GND pads on the QFN components.

 

We aim to use a company called pcbway to make the cheap stencils, but they do not provide an editing service.

 

 

 

Thanks

Regards

DJ

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Learning and Information, General Electronics
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N.Winterbottom
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Posted by N.Winterbottom: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 11:06 AM
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Gerber Editing Programs are generally aimed at Fab Houses and cost ££££ or more usually $$$$

 

Stencils are not stupidly expensive, so my recommendation is to use a proper company, pay the extra £50 or so and get the job done right

 

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Moe123
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Posted by Moe123: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 11:11 AM
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Well, Eurocircuits provide a way also to edit the PCB online via there PCB checker...you will find a lot of options, I'd suggest that you edit the PCB online using their tool and afterwards generate a stencil for it based on the edited PCB. finally, delete the PCB and just order the stencil.

 

hope it works out for you.

 

Regards,

Moe

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ron_sutherland
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Posted by ron_sutherland: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 06:53 PM
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CAMtastic use to be a standalone program and could do all sorts of penalization tricks. Maybe the Free Trial of Altium would be enough to try it out.

 

https://techdocs.altium.com/display/ADRR/CAMtastic

my projects: https://github.com/epccs

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djoshi
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Posted by djoshi: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 07:18 PM (Reply to #4)
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ron_sutherland wrote:

CAMtastic use to be a standalone program and could do all sorts of penalization tricks. Maybe the Free Trial of Altium would be enough to try it out.

 

https://techdocs.altium.com/display/ADRR/CAMtastic

 

Thanks i will give that ago.

Thanks

Regards

DJ

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avrcandies
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Posted by avrcandies: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 07:44 PM
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I just read this old article about a week ao...not sure if it is of use

 

https://learn.adafruit.com/smt-m... ....using viewmate to "automatically" edit the aperature size

 

https://learn.adafruit.com/smt-m...

When in the dark remember-the future looks brighter than ever.   I look forward to being able to predict the future!

Last Edited: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 08:18 PM
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djoshi
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Posted by djoshi: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 07:49 PM
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Maybe there is way to reduce it as percentage.

Thanks

Regards

DJ

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andrewm1973
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Posted by andrewm1973: Thu. Oct 22, 2020 - 08:01 PM
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notepad will work

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