gerberRead

R2026b

Create PCBReader object with specified Gerber files and drill files

Syntax

P = gerberRead(T)

P = gerberRead([],B)

P = gerberRead(T,B)

P = gerberRead(T,B,D)

P = gerberRead({M1,...,MN})

P = gerberRead({M1,...,MN},{D1,[fromLayer1,toLayer1];...;DN,[fromLayerN,toLayerN]})

Description

P = gerberRead(T) creates a PCBReader object with the top layer Gerber file specified in T.

Note

The PCBReader object reads RS-274X Gerber files. It does not support RS-274D Gerber files.

P = gerberRead([],B) creates a PCBReader object with the bottom layer Gerber file specified in B.

P = gerberRead(T,B) creates a PCBReader object with the specified top and bottom layer Gerber file names.

P = gerberRead(T,B,D) creates a PCBReader object with the specified top and bottom layer Gerber files and the drill file specified in D.

P = gerberRead({M1,...,MN}) creates a PCBReader object with N metal layers. Each MN specifies a Gerber file for a metal layer with layers ordered based on their position in the cell array.

P = gerberRead({M1,...,MN},{D1,[fromLayer1,toLayer1];...;DN,[fromLayerN,toLayerN]}) creates a PCBReader object with metal layers and drill files. Each DN specifies a drill file (.drl or.txt). [fromLayer, toLayer] defines the connectivity of each drill. This syntax supports multiple vias and layer connectivity definitions.

Examples

Import and View Top Layer Gerber File

Use the gerberRead function to import a top layer Gerber file.

P = gerberRead('interdigital_Capacitor.gtl');

Extract the metal layer from the file using the shapes function.

s = shapes(P);

View the top metal layer.

show(s)

Input Arguments

T — Top layer Gerber file

string scalar | character vector

Top layer Gerber file, specified as a character vector or string scalar. The file must be saved as a GTL file.

Example: gerberRead('Filetop.gtl');

B — Bottom layer Gerber file

string scalar | character vector

Bottom layer Gerber file, specified as a character vector or string scalar. The file must be saved as a GBL file.

Example: gerberRead([],'FileBottom.gbl');

D — Drill file

string scalar | character vector

Drill file, specified a character vector or string scalar. You can specify either a DRL or a TXT file.

Example: gerberRead('Filetop.gtl','FileBottom.gbl','FileDrill.txt');

{M1,...,MN} — Gerber files for metal layers

cell array of strings

Gerber files for metal layers, specified as a cell array.

Example: {"Layer1.gbr","Layer2.gbr","Layer3.gbr"}

Data Types: cell

{D1,[fromLayer1,toLayer1];...;DN,[fromLayerN,toLayerN]} — Drill files and their corresponding layer connections

cell array of string and 2-element vector pair

Drill files and their corresponding layer connections, specified as a cell array. Each [fromLayer,toLayer] pair specifies the metal layers the drill connects, using metal-layer indices.

Example: {"through_hole.drl",[1,6];...;"blind_via.drl",[2,3]}

Data Types: cell

Output Arguments

P — Files read

PCBReader object

Gerber and drill files read, returned as a PCBReader object.

Limitations

Limitations of the gerberRead function while reading a .gtl or .gbl file are:

Command	Description	Comments
TF	File Attributes	Command is ignored and no error is thrown
TA	Aperture Attributes	Command is ignored and no error is thrown
TO	Object Attributes	Command is ignored and no error is thrown
TD	Delete Attributes	Command is ignored and no error is thrown

Cut-ins are not supported.

Version History

Introduced in R2021b

R2026b: Import Gerber files for multi-layered PCBs

Import multilayer PCB designs containing more than two metal layers and multiple drill files.