CAM350 .GAP SOFTWARE

Every photoplotter manufacturer supports the basic Gerber commands Further, the temptation to create non-standard extensions This missing data is handed from the designer to the plotter operator separately,ДЄnd is often the source of errors. The Gerber file lacks essential information necessary to Space is measured in hundreds of megabytes instead of hundreds of bytes.Д«ut simplicity exacts its own price. Into as few bytes as possible explains many of the 'problems' we encounter today when storage The need to compress as much information as possible The database had to be simple and compact because the first machines wereДriven by a fragile punched paper tape. There are only four essential commands plusД¬oordinate data. The beauty of the Gerber database is its simplicity. Given the proper commands for table motion, aperture selection and shutter operations, one can construct When the table simultaneously moves while the shutter is open, a line or stripe is imaged onto the film. When the shutter is open light shines through the aperture exposing the aperture's image onto the film. A controller converts Gerber commands into the appropriate table movements, wheel rotation and shutter opening. A bright light source is directed through a shutter, through an aperture wheel and focused onto the film. Early photoplotters consisted of a precision servo controlled X-Y table to which a piece of high contrast film is attached. MisunderstandingsД«etween the PCB designer and photoplot operator account for a large percent ofД«efore diving into the details of the photoplot file a short discussion of photoplotters will make the following material easier to digest. Aggravation can be reducedД«y better understanding what is contained in a photoplot file.

CAM350 .GAP SOFTWARE

No matter how powerful your design software may be, you must eventually createДЄ photoplot file in Gerber format to create film.

Cam350 .gap