The FAB 3000 Import Matrix File permits external tools (like PCB Design software) to predefine layers and jobs for intelligent loading into FAB 3000 for instant Gerber Viewing & Verification. This prevents the monotonous steps of loading Gerber & Drill files, assigning layer colors, assigning layer types, defining layer stack ups, defining blind/buried drill layers (if required), etc.; allowing pcb designers to easily use Gerber/CAM software for its primary purpose... to quickly verify their gerbers & drills are correct and ready for manufacturing.
The FAB 3000 Import Matrix file also supports PANEL arrays which allow the merging of several PCB jobs together so they can be manufactured simultaneously - saving $$$ on fabrication costs. In addition, FAB 3000 will automatically performs all necessary object transformations, dcode & drill tool transcoding.
Note: Simply call FAB 3000 and pass the matrix file as the first argument.
Note: All FAB 3000 Import Matrix Files must end with *.fm6.
RULE #1: LAYER arrays are Always defined first.
RULE #2: JOB arrays are defined after LAYER arrays
Describes the purpose of the layer and must be one of these defined Layer Types
NAME
The name of the layer. This will be directly referenced in the JOB array.
START_DRILL
END_DRILL
These fields are only used for drill layers. They specify the span of the drill, in case it is a blind or buried via layers. Each field must be a valid layer name. When the fields are empty, the drill is assumed to be thru hole (i.e START_DRILL is assumed to be the first board layer and END_DRILL is assumed to be the last board layer).
DRAW_COLOR
The RGB representation of the draw color for display of the layer. Note: RGB values are separated by commas.
FLASH_COLOR
The RGB representation of the flash color for display of the layer. Note: RGB values are separated by commas.
Fields in the JOB array
NAME
The name of the job. This will be directly referenced in the PANEL array.
LAYER
This field contains the layer name and Gerber file location, separated by a comma.
Note: The Gerber file location must be an actual location on your system and not localized path (i.e .../gerbers/top.gbr)
Note: For DRILL and ROUT layer types, the file location must point to a NC file (not Gerber). The NC file must contain tool number, sizes in the header. If not, we recommend that you define a NCTOOLS array in the FAB 3000 Import Matrix before the JOB array.
Fields in the PANEL array
NAME
The name of the panel. This will be the name FAB 3000 uses when it creates the panel.
UNITS
Units to use for this panel array. Must be either: INCH or MM
WIDTH
Panel Width. Note: The value is defined in the panel units.
HEIGHT
Panel Height. Note: The value is defined in the panel units.
STEPREPEAT
This field contains the Job Name, X and Y Origin, X and Y Spacing, X and Y Count, Job Angle (must be 0, 90, 180, 270), Mirror (must be either: YES or NO), and the optional Job Orientation to use (Lower-Left, Center, Origin) all separated by a commas.
Note: Origin and Spacing values are defined in the panel units.
Note: If you only require a 1 up (no array) assign X and Y Spacing to 0; X and Y Count to 1.
Note: By default FAB 3000 will use the Lower-Left of each Job as the insert point. If you wish to use the Insert Point to be the Job Center use Center. If you wish to insert by the actual 0,0 origin of the Job use Origin.
Note: Jobs must be referenced before Panel
Fields in the NCTOOLS array
UNITS
Units to use for this nctools array. Must be either: INCH or MM
INTEGER
DECIMAL
Integer digits for drill or rout file between (0-6).
Decimal digits for drill or rout file between (0-6).
TYPE
Drill or rout file type.
ABSOLUTE -- Use Absolute coordinates during NC Import
INCREMENTAL -- Use Incremental coordinates during NC Import
SUPPRESSION
Drill or rout file zero suppression.
LEADING -- Suppress Leading Zeros during NC Import
TRAILING -- Suppress Trailing Zeros during NC Import
NONE -- No Zero Suppression during NC Import
TOOL
This field contains the Tool # (between 1 to 1000), Diameter (in Tool Units), and Plated (either: YES or NO); all separated by a commas.
Note: NCTOOLS array is optional. It is only intended for NC files that don't include tool definitions in the header. Must be called before Job
# - Comment Line (Ignored by FAB 3000). Any line that begins with the pound character (#) will be ignored by FAB 3000.
Numerical Support Team
The FAB 3000 Import Matrix File permits external tools (like PCB Design software) to predefine layers and jobs for intelligent loading into FAB 3000 for instant Gerber Viewing & Verification. This prevents the monotonous steps of loading Gerber & Drill files, assigning layer colors, assigning layer types, defining layer stack ups, defining blind/buried drill layers (if required), etc.; allowing pcb designers to easily use Gerber/CAM software for its primary purpose... to quickly verify their gerbers & drills are correct and ready for manufacturing.
The FAB 3000 Import Matrix file also supports PANEL arrays which allow the merging of several PCB jobs together so they can be manufactured simultaneously - saving $$$ on fabrication costs. In addition, FAB 3000 will automatically performs all necessary object transformations, dcode & drill tool transcoding.
Note: Simply call FAB 3000 and pass the matrix file as the first argument.
Note: All FAB 3000 Import Matrix Files must end with *.fm6.
RULE #1: LAYER arrays are Always defined first.
RULE #2: JOB arrays are defined after LAYER arrays
RULE #3: PANEL arrays are defined Last
LAYER {
TYPE=MASK_TOP
NAME=smt
START_DRILL=
END_DRILL=
DRAW_COLOR=223,100,100
FLASH_COLOR=223,100,100
}
LAYER {
TYPE=TOP
NAME=layer_1
START_DRILL=
END_DRILL=
DRAW_COLOR=100,223,0
FLASH_COLOR=100,223,0
}
...
JOB {
NAME=test-odb++-gerber
LAYER=layer_1,C:\temp\examples\274X\Art0121.pho
LAYER=layer_2,C:\temp\examples\274X\Art02.pho
LAYER=layer_4,C:\temp\examples\274X\Pgp2529.pho
LAYER=layer_3,C:\temp\examples\274X\gnd2530.pho
LAYER=sst,C:\temp\examples\274X\Sst0126.pho
LAYER=spt,C:\temp\examples\274X\Sp0128.pho
LAYER=smb,C:\temp\examples\274X\Sm0227.pho
LAYER=smt,C:\temp\examples\274X\Sm0128.pho
LAYER=d_1_2,C:\temp\examples\274X\Drill.drl
}
JOB {
NAME=board1
LAYER=smb,C:\temp\examples\Board1\Bottom Mask.gbr
LAYER=layer_4,C:\temp\examples\Board1\Bottom.gbr
LAYER=smt,C:\temp\examples\Board1\Top Mask.gbr
LAYER=layer_1,C:\temp\examples\Board1\Top.gbr
LAYER=sst,C:\temp\examples\Board1\Top Silk.gbr
LAYER=d_1_2,C:\temp\examples\Board1\drill.drl
}
...
PANEL {
NAME=mypanel
UNITS=INCH
WIDTH=18
HEIGHT=18.5
STEPREPEAT=board4,17.5,0,0,2.5,1,7,90,No
STEPREPEAT=board1,17.0,4,3.8,3.4,2,5,90,No
STEPREPEAT=testgerber,17.85,11.5,7,6,1,3,90,No,Lower-Left
}
...
Fields in the LAYER array
TYPE
Describes the purpose of the layer and must be one of these defined Layer Types
NAME
The name of the layer. This will be directly referenced in the JOB array.
START_DRILL
END_DRILL
These fields are only used for drill layers. They specify the span of the drill, in case it is a blind or buried via layers. Each field must be a valid layer name. When the fields are empty, the drill is assumed to be thru hole (i.e START_DRILL is assumed to be the first board layer and END_DRILL is assumed to be the last board layer).
DRAW_COLOR
The RGB representation of the draw color for display of the layer. Note: RGB values are separated by commas.
FLASH_COLOR
The RGB representation of the flash color for display of the layer. Note: RGB values are separated by commas.
Fields in the JOB array
NAME
The name of the job. This will be directly referenced in the PANEL array.
LAYER
This field contains the layer name and Gerber file location, separated by a comma.
Note: The Gerber file location must be an actual location on your system and not localized path (i.e .../gerbers/top.gbr)
Note: For DRILL and ROUT layer types, the file location must point to a NC file (not Gerber). The NC file must contain tool number, sizes in the header. If not, we recommend that you define a NCTOOLS array in the FAB 3000 Import Matrix before the JOB array.
Fields in the PANEL array
NAME
The name of the panel. This will be the name FAB 3000 uses when it creates the panel.
UNITS
Units to use for this panel array. Must be either: INCH or MM
WIDTH
Panel Width. Note: The value is defined in the panel units.
HEIGHT
Panel Height. Note: The value is defined in the panel units.
STEPREPEAT
This field contains the Job Name, X and Y Origin, X and Y Spacing, X and Y Count, Job Angle (must be 0, 90, 180, 270), Mirror (must be either: YES or NO), and the optional Job Orientation to use (Lower-Left, Center, Origin) all separated by a commas.
Note: Origin and Spacing values are defined in the panel units.
Note: If you only require a 1 up (no array) assign X and Y Spacing to 0; X and Y Count to 1.
Note: By default FAB 3000 will use the Lower-Left of each Job as the insert point. If you wish to use the Insert Point to be the Job Center use Center. If you wish to insert by the actual 0,0 origin of the Job use Origin.
Note: Jobs must be referenced before Panel
Fields in the NCTOOLS array
UNITS
Units to use for this nctools array. Must be either: INCH or MM
INTEGER
DECIMAL
Integer digits for drill or rout file between (0-6).
Decimal digits for drill or rout file between (0-6).
TYPE
Drill or rout file type.
ABSOLUTE -- Use Absolute coordinates during NC Import
INCREMENTAL -- Use Incremental coordinates during NC Import
SUPPRESSION
Drill or rout file zero suppression.
LEADING -- Suppress Leading Zeros during NC Import
TRAILING -- Suppress Trailing Zeros during NC Import
NONE -- No Zero Suppression during NC Import
TOOL
This field contains the Tool # (between 1 to 1000), Diameter (in Tool Units), and Plated (either: YES or NO); all separated by a commas.
Note: NCTOOLS array is optional. It is only intended for NC files that don't include tool definitions in the header. Must be called before Job
# - Comment Line (Ignored by FAB 3000). Any line that begins with the pound character (#) will be ignored by FAB 3000.