Eagle cad issue with board manufacturer

[Enzy]

I tried this side called seeedstudio but I have an issue. I used Eagle to design the board but they are saying there is no outline, when I checked the Gerber file I don't see any outline either but in the drawing there is a border so I don't understand.

I have only seen that I should check layer 20 and I selected it as the only layer and there was a border, so unless there is something else I don't know about could someone tell me how to add a border.

 

[mtwieg]

The dimension must not have been exported into a gerber file. In you job file for exporting gerbers, add the dimension layer to one of the silkscreen layers, or create a new layer for the dimension drawing.

 

[KlausST]

Hi,

The problem is not made by EAGLE.
Either you didn't generate the gerber file with the outline, or you forgot to send it to the board manufacturer.

Discuss with the manufacturer how he wants the data, in wich file.

Klaus

 

[FvM]

I prefer to generate a separate "outline" gerber file. Positive copper artwork layers shouldn't contain board contours, they need to be removed by a CAD operator manually.

 

[Enzy]

OK thanks.

I realize u can even select layer 20(dimension) in anyone of the layers, I don't know of that can work. But I added a new layer but what I realize is that each section of the board has a different file format I don't know what the format for the board is.

 

[SLK001]

Layer 20 is the dimension layer for the outline of the board. With the board outline being the ONLY thing on layer 20, generate a GERBER plot and call it what ever the site says to call outlines. Use a GERBER viewing program to make sure everything is created as you intended - this is a necessary pre-release to fabrication step.

 

[Enzy]

Ok I fixed that issue.

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Has any of you ever made a 2 sided pcb board and etched it yourself?

Why i ask is because I wanted to try, i read that a layyer should be inverted I dont remember if its the top or bottom layer but I normally realize that using eagle that the bottom layer seems to already be inverted.

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To me it would seem like the top layer is the one that should be inverted and the bottom layer stay as is since its already inverted in eagle.

 

[SLK001]

Why i ask is because I wanted to try, i read that a layyer should be inverted I dont remember if its the top or bottom layer but I normally realize that using eagle that the bottom layer seems to already be inverted.

All layers in Eagle are "as viewed from the top". If you have a bottom layer, it will have to be mirrored so as to be viewed from the bottom. The best way to get it correct is to put fiducials on three corners of the board and then make sure they line up when you are putting the resist down.

 

[Enzy]

I make single sided boards all the time the bottom layer is normally always mirrored, when its printed on paper it looks just as how it looks in eagle but you know putting it on the board it will invert again to be placed the way it should be, in other words even writings are inverted when placed on the bottom layer but after putting it on a board its alwasy the correct way around, so I dont see why it should be the bottom layer which I invert if I am doing a 2 layer board.

The top layer shows up the correct way in eagle so Ill assume that when you print it then add it to a board it will be inverted which would be opposite to what you want.

 

[SLK001]

Maybe when you printed your boards, the MIRROR option was selected. Otherwise, the bottom layer would be WYSIWYG, or reversed. When you process the resist prints, everything should be CORRECT READING - meaning all text is readable.

 

[Enzy]

I think we are saying the same thing.....

When I print my boards the mirror option isnt selected, text isnt readable when circuit is on paper but it is readble once transferred to board....

I have only ever printed bottom layers.

So what I am saying now is if I am to try 2 sided circuits I am assuming I would leave the bottom layer as is and then invert mirror the top layer.
IS that the correct way?

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I think we are saying the same thing.....

When I print my boards the mirror option isnt selected, text isnt readable when circuit is on paper but it is readble once transferred to board....

I have only ever printed bottom layers.

So what I am saying now is if I am to try 2 sided circuits I am assuming I would leave the bottom layer as is and then invert mirror the top layer.
IS that the correct way?

 

[KlausST]

Hi,

Maybe you mirror it when you transfer it to the board.....we don't know

Klaus

 

[Enzy]

that would be natural for it to be flipped when its transferred to the board.... im ok with 1 layer boards.

Was just querying the top layer and if it should be mirrored

 

[FvM]

It's somehow confusing to start a discussion of homemade PCB problems inside a thread about gerber file requirements for professional PCB makers.

The clear convention is to plot all gerber files non-mirrored, as viewn from the PCB top side. Presumed the films produced from the gerber files are contact copied to the board, the data for all layers with copper side up (top, each topside of multilayer substrates) have to be mirrored before being send to the photo plotter. The PCB manufacturer does this for you, don't need to care for.

Similar mirror actions have to be performed in DIY PCB processes, depending on the used technique. Basic point is to do all copy actions with direct layer contact. Respectively the top print has to be mirrored in direct photo or thermo transfer.