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Circuit board Viewer/Editor
2

Circuit board Viewer/Editor

Circuit board Viewer/Editor

(OP)
Hello, does anyone know of a (Free) program that can view gerber files or .gdo files?  I am looking at project example files from Texas Instruments and they have the extensions .gdo in a folder named gerber.  I would really like to modify their board to fit my needs exactly rather than starting from scratch on a board design!

RE: Circuit board Viewer/Editor

(OP)
Thanks for the response, I cannot dl the diptrace due to a firewall filter (I will dl it when I get home), the PREVUE is dling now!  Thanks guys.  Funny how both names are Mc/Macgyver....lol.  I need to send some cash eng-tips way, this site has been useful so many times~~!   

RE: Circuit board Viewer/Editor

I just downloaded your file and Diptrace imports them just fine.

RE: Circuit board Viewer/Editor

(OP)
Well, I can't wait to get home and download Diptrace! thanks!

RE: Circuit board Viewer/Editor

(OP)
Do any of those programs allow an edit on the files?

RE: Circuit board Viewer/Editor

Viewmate is just a viewer. Sorry, I didn't notice that you mentioned modifying the files in your original post. I don't know of any free Gerber editors.

Glenn

RE: Circuit board Viewer/Editor

Gerber files are text based.  So if your changes are minor you can use a text editor.  I often do that along with Viewmate; just not often enough to justify buying a tool that can do it better.  

- Select an element in Viewmate
- get the properties (mainly to locate the coordinates)
- Search for the coordinates in the Gerber file
- change as necessary
- Repeat  

You can find good links on the web that define the basic constructs of Gerber files.  

If the changes are larger and the design isn't too sophisticated, it doesn't take long to recreate a layout in one of the free layout programs, such as ExpressPCB (or others).  


John D
 

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