Gerber files
Title
Question
Q1) What is Gerber files? Why do we need the circuit in the gerber files format? How we will use it later, yes you did etching on FR$ Copper cladded sheet but how using Gerber files?
Q2)What is ground plane? Why it's placed outside the board outline? What's the role of it in the circuit?
Q3)What do we mean by f.silks or say silk layer why we need the in the circuit?
Q4)Do we mean f.cu will place the tracks on front side and b.cu on the bottom side of the pcb? Why we need either of them to be distinguished based on the role? Many times I have seen the tracks on front side and many times on the bottom side. Do we differentiate their need based on the space requirement of components to be placed on the pcb?
Q5)Why we left the ground terminals without any tracks, how they will get the ground supply from the outside/external ckt.?
eSim Laying-Tracks-on-PCB 10-11 min 50-60 sec
Answers:
1) Gerber files contain the information about the PCB. It is used by the manufacturer to manufacture the PCB. Please refer:
<a href="https://www.pcbway.com/helpcenter/technical_support/Generate_Gerber_file_from_Kicad.html">Technical Support - Generate Gerber file from Kicad (pcbway.com)</a>
2) Ground plane is a large area of copper which as a return path (ground) for the circuit, signal, etc. It is used to protect the PCB from noises, RF interferences, etc. Grounding can be of two types-digital and analog depending upon the requirement.
3) Silk layer is a ink used on the component side of the PCB. It is used to print the component names, tracks, company name, etc on the PCB. The PCB is in green or blue color and the names are written in white color. It is easily seen on development boards like Arduino, Raspberry Pi etc.
4) Yes, f.cu and b.cu mean front copper layer and bottom copper layer respectively. Please refer:
<a href="https://forum.kicad.info/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-layers-in-pcb-new-and-in-the-footprint-editor-kicad-5-and-earlier/9688">What is the meaning of the layers in pcb_new and in the footprint editor? (KiCad 5 and earlier) - FAQ - KiCad.info Forums</a>
These layers are not needed in single layer PCB but in multi layer/2 layer PCB where components cannot be connect in single side copper paths. For example: In Astable multivibrator using 555 timer, it is not possible to short pin 6 and pin2 of IC 555 using single layer PCB(a jumper need to be used which is undesirable). So in such cases 2layer/Multilayer PCBs are needed.
5) The ground terminals are covered/directly connected to the ground plane which in turn is connected to the external supply trough connector. Hence, we do not need to build a track for ground terminal,
Please let me know, if any more doubts.
Thank You.
Regards,
Sumanto Kar
Okay. We have noted your points and will try to create some additional materials for the same.
Thank you.
Regards,
Sumanto Kar
eSim Team
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