creating aperture mapping

[mweitzel]

When exporting board layout for the first time, Ultiboard pops up a message to create aperture mapping.  Is this required to correctly produce Gerber, NC drill, etc. files.  If so, do I just assign a D-code to every aperture listed?

[nestor-sg]

It depends on you and your board manufacturer. Almost all users never change it, however, there are cases in which in the last minute you want to change -for e.g.- the width of some traces on a particular layer, instead of going into your design, you just manipulate the aperture.

If you are unsure, you are better off leaving the defaults. Talk to your board manufacturer so they can explain what different changes in aperture will produce as a result on the manufacturing process.

[kittmaster]

aperature mapping is almost obsolete. If you've used parts from the master database or made custom components, that data is automatically generated when you export the files. EWB is supposed to have an option eventually to disable these annoyance screens. Most of the time the aperatures need to be mapped when dealing with legacy pcbs to older board house technologies........almost every board house today will be able to interpret the gerber files without any modification of the aperature data if you use the rs-274x standard.

Chris

Message Edited by kittmaster on 03-02-2007 11:10 PM

Message Edited by kittmaster on 03-02-2007 11:10 PM