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What format should we use for ordering PCBs from Fabricators?

PCBTech

The first IPC2581 board was fabricated in 2013; the odb format is popular among DFM Engineers; and Gerber has been familiar to PCB Fabricators since the 1980s.

So have we moved on? 
Let's poll to examine what percentage of us are still using the older format or whether the industry has moved on in 2025.

 

And why? What are the major reasons for using this format:

  1. It is preferred by your PCB Fabricator or Assembler?
  2. Past experiences with other formats affected this decision?
  3. The availability of viewers or other software?
  4. Data security reasons / information content?
  5. Other?

Please feel free to add any further thoughts or insights into the comments below. Those new to the industry can benefit from these discussions. 

  • We go with Gerber (+ excellon drill file + routing cutout file + master drawing: without them, no pcb):

    - Robust and universally accepted so no need to change.

    - Viewers show EXACLTY what we will get. A never met someone having problem with gerber viewers

    - We try ODB++ long time ago: have problem with it and stop using it (rotation of a bga was wrong: pcb directly in trash can). Viewers do not show what we exactly really get. Furthermore it transfer too much information and is an open door for retro engineering.

    - IPC2581: some manufacture's still not accept  it and contain too much information (retroeng....). Still prefer a neutral format. Gerber is perfect for this

  • in reply to JCTEYSSIER0

    Good points - Thanks for your input! 

    Hopefully we can get more votes to reach a consensus. Is gerber here to stay?

  • We use Gerbers because we create different document packages for fabrication, assembly, Panel array, and paste stencils.

    We create ODB++ and IPC-2581 files, but they are not used at this time.

    For all that is holy, please create a detailed and complete fabrication drawing.

    We get files from customers that only contain Gerbers and a drill file. We have no clue (neither does the customer) about material, and other specs.

  • We use for PCB manufacture.

    Gerber (RS274X) all layers including detailed Fab Drawing to physically make the board.
    Excellon Drill / Route
    IPC-D-356 - Bare board test file if needed by manufacturer.

    Gerber is the industry standard for PCB Manufacture, wide choice of Gerber Editors & Viewers. In addition there are machines, Gerber Photo-Plotters
    and the newer Gerber Laser photo Plotters used in the production of PCB's.

    On the Mechanical side our designers still like DXF or ODB or IDF or Step to verify mechanical and run thermal simulation.

    For the Assembly house we send out, pick and place file & PDF check plots & also the gerber files for top/Bottom assembly and solder paste masks.
    We had used ODB in the past, very much depends on the Assembly House. Most modern Assembly houses have vision equipment that can import gerber
    files so as to use these as a basis to program the P&P machines and also use for AOI.

    Best Regards.

  • Is the past dependency on ODB a limitation? What are the chances of this changing?

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