🚀 go-pugleaf

> Gerber files only specify the copper patterns that are to appear on
> the board.  Any other construction details, including copper weight,
> and the order of layers on a multi-layer board, must be specified
> separately.  I have a standard format for a text file that includes
> such information.
>
> When laying out a multi-layer board, you should put a wide track at
> the edges of the board on the power or ground plane layers to keep the
> copper on those layers away from the edge of the board.  (Anything you
> place on a plane layer will end up as "no copper" on the finished
> board.)
> >
I think I'm missing something: should I leave some space between the
edge of the board and power plane (which will be internal plane)?


> Discuss the matter with your board shop.  If I have two or more boards
> that I want built on a common panel, I'll usually produce separate
> gerbers for each board, then ask the board maker to combine them on a
> single panel.  However, a co-worker places multiple boards on a panel
> himself, and sends gerbers for the full panel to the board shop.
> Either way, the board shop will separate the individual boards if
> asked.  If you panelize the boards yourself, you should first ask the
> board shop what separation they want between boards - they need some
> unused space to leave room for the router bit to go between boards.
>
OK, I will look into panelizing the boards myself (also I would like to
panelize different designs (same # of layers though) on the same
board). If you can suggest a program that can take two gerber files and
create one board will be great (I'll check if this can be done in
OrCAD).


PS. I will respond to other suggestions a bit later on today.

Thanks a lot,
Vitaliy