Are there many folks that do panelization of gerbers - or do you let the fab vendor panelize as needed?

Personally, I let the Fab Vendor do the work.

The reason I ask - I've been busy playing around with RS-274-X Gerber files, and in particular the ability to add a Step and Repeat code to the Gerber files.

Essentially, it takes the form of...

%SRX1Y1I0J0*%

SR = the Step and Repeat Parameter
X = number of times the data will repeat in the X-axis
Y = number of times the data will repeat in the Y-axis
I = the distance between the X-axis steps
J = the distance between the Y-axis steps

So, for a PCB that was 4" x 6", we could type something like...

%SRX4Y4I4.5J6.5*%

This simple 'SR' command can be inserted in your Gerber file after you have created it, and will generate Step and Repeated data when the Gerbers are loaded into the Photoplotter.

***NOTE:***

To do this requires that you manually edit your Gerber files. Doing so may cause your Gerber files to become corrupt if you make a mistake.

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There are several Gerber Viewers that support this Step and Repeat command and some that do not.

Those that do:

CAM350
GC-PREVUE
CAMCAD

Those that do not:

ViewMate
Gerbtool

Is it useful? Probably not. But it adds another potential tool to the CAD Designer's toolbox. 8-)

James Jackson

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