Drill File Problem in Gerber Viewer

[Eli Hughes]

Hello:

I have been using the free Pentalogix 9.0.51 Viewmate gerber viewer to
look at my PCB's before they goto the PCB house. When I import the
copper Layers, silscreen gerbers, etc. everything looks fine. When I
try to import the drill file, it looks like it multiplies the relative
coordinates for the drill locations for a factor of 3 or 4.

When The drill file goes to the PCB house, eveything is fine over there.


Is there something in the EAGLE generated NC drill files that mess up
some gerber viewers? Has anyone ewlse had this problem? Its pretty
easy to recreate. The pentalogix viewer is free from:

http://www.pentalogix.com/Products/ViewMate/register.cfm


Any Eagle generated excellon file seems to have this problem.


Thanks in advance,
Eli HUGHES

[Tilmann Reh]

Post by Eli Hughes
I have been using the free Pentalogix 9.0.51 Viewmate gerber viewer to
look at my PCB's before they goto the PCB house. When I import the
copper Layers, silscreen gerbers, etc. everything looks fine. When I
try to import the drill file, it looks like it multiplies the relative
coordinates for the drill locations for a factor of 3 or 4.

It's just a matter of units (metric/imperial) and decimals.

Post by Eli Hughes
When The drill file goes to the PCB house, eveything is fine over there.

Because the board house checks the drill data against the gerber files, and so
detects the proper format.

Post by Eli Hughes
Is there something in the EAGLE generated NC drill files that mess up
some gerber viewers? Has anyone ewlse had this problem? Its pretty
easy to recreate. The pentalogix viewer is free from: ...

I am using GCprevue, and after a short look at Viewmate I still prefer it...

In GCprevue, you can specify the data format during import, for example I select
"3.2/Abs/mm" for a standard SM1000 drill file which is scaled in 1/100 mm. Most
of the times, GCprevue detects the correct format already, so I don't have to
change its suggestion.

You can check if there are such options in Viewmate too, or switch to GCprevue,
or modify the settings in EAGLE.DEF (where units and decimals etc. are exactly
defined for each output device).

[Tom Stretch]

I solved the problem by moving the board up 2 inches from the screen origin.

Post by Tilmann Reh

Post by Eli Hughes
I have been using the free Pentalogix 9.0.51 Viewmate gerber viewer to
look at my PCB's before they goto the PCB house. When I import the
copper Layers, silscreen gerbers, etc. everything looks fine. When I
try to import the drill file, it looks like it multiplies the relative
coordinates for the drill locations for a factor of 3 or 4.

It's just a matter of units (metric/imperial) and decimals.

Post by Eli Hughes
When The drill file goes to the PCB house, eveything is fine over there.

Because the board house checks the drill data against the gerber files, and so
detects the proper format.

Post by Eli Hughes
Is there something in the EAGLE generated NC drill files that mess up
some gerber viewers? Has anyone ewlse had this problem? Its pretty
easy to recreate. The pentalogix viewer is free from: ...

I am using GCprevue, and after a short look at Viewmate I still prefer it...
In GCprevue, you can specify the data format during import, for example I select
"3.2/Abs/mm" for a standard SM1000 drill file which is scaled in 1/100 mm. Most
of the times, GCprevue detects the correct format already, so I don't have to
change its suggestion.
You can check if there are such options in Viewmate too, or switch to GCprevue,
or modify the settings in EAGLE.DEF (where units and decimals etc. are exactly
defined for each output device).
--
Dipl.-Ing. Tilmann Reh
http://www.autometer.de - Elektronik nach Maß

...

[Luke]

I am new to eagle and I am trying to confirm that my files are good by
loading them into ViewMate. When I load them they are offset from the
origion. My Excellon drill file is not offset when I load it in. I am trying
to get the board ready to send off to Sparkfun, but the fact that my Gerber
and Excellon files do not line up has me worried. I have reviewed previous
posts on the subject and the only thing I found was that you could offset
your Gerbers to make them appear right in ViewMate. Does this mean that the
files are fine and there is simply a problem with ViewMate?

Thanks for any help,
Luke

Post by Tom Stretch
I solved the problem by moving the board up 2 inches from the screen origin.

Post by Tilmann Reh

Post by Eli Hughes
I have been using the free Pentalogix 9.0.51 Viewmate gerber viewer to
look at my PCB's before they goto the PCB house. When I import the
copper Layers, silscreen gerbers, etc. everything looks fine. When I
try to import the drill file, it looks like it multiplies the relative
coordinates for the drill locations for a factor of 3 or 4.

It's just a matter of units (metric/imperial) and decimals.

Post by Eli Hughes
When The drill file goes to the PCB house, eveything is fine over there.

Because the board house checks the drill data against the gerber files,

and so

Post by Tilmann Reh
detects the proper format.

Post by Eli Hughes
Is there something in the EAGLE generated NC drill files that mess up
some gerber viewers? Has anyone ewlse had this problem? Its pretty
easy to recreate. The pentalogix viewer is free from: ...

I am using GCprevue, and after a short look at Viewmate I still prefer

it...

Post by Tilmann Reh
In GCprevue, you can specify the data format during import, for example I

select

Post by Tilmann Reh
"3.2/Abs/mm" for a standard SM1000 drill file which is scaled in 1/100
mm.

Most

Post by Tilmann Reh
of the times, GCprevue detects the correct format already, so I don't
have

to

Post by Tilmann Reh
change its suggestion.
You can check if there are such options in Viewmate too, or switch to

GCprevue,

Post by Tilmann Reh
or modify the settings in EAGLE.DEF (where units and decimals etc. are

exactly

Post by Tilmann Reh
defined for each output device).
--
Dipl.-Ing. Tilmann Reh
http://www.autometer.de - Elektronik nach Maß

...

[Rod Martinez]

Eagle seems to use 3 significant digits in it's output. Most viewers
default to 4. The result is usually a drill pattern that appears 10X too
small or sometimes too big. Fiddle with the parameters for the Drill file
importer in the Gerber viewer, and eventually you'll get the right size.
~R

Post by Eli Hughes
I have been using the free Pentalogix 9.0.51 Viewmate gerber viewer to
look at my PCB's before they goto the PCB house. When I import the
copper Layers, silscreen gerbers, etc. everything looks fine. When I
try to import the drill file, it looks like it multiplies the relative
coordinates for the drill locations for a factor of 3 or 4.
When The drill file goes to the PCB house, eveything is fine over there.
Is there something in the EAGLE generated NC drill files that mess up
some gerber viewers? Has anyone ewlse had this problem? Its pretty
http://www.pentalogix.com/Products/ViewMate/register.cfm
Any Eagle generated excellon file seems to have this problem.
Thanks in advance,
Eli HUGHES

...

[Tom Stretch]

Place some text at -2.00x -2.00y in your board's document layer or info
layer.
Viewmate needs to be offset and this is the easiest way to do it.
Tom

Post by Rod Martinez
Eagle seems to use 3 significant digits in it's output. Most viewers
default to 4. The result is usually a drill pattern that appears 10X too
small or sometimes too big. Fiddle with the parameters for the Drill file
importer in the Gerber viewer, and eventually you'll get the right size.
~R

Post by Eli Hughes
I have been using the free Pentalogix 9.0.51 Viewmate gerber viewer to
look at my PCB's before they goto the PCB house. When I import the
copper Layers, silscreen gerbers, etc. everything looks fine. When I
try to import the drill file, it looks like it multiplies the relative
coordinates for the drill locations for a factor of 3 or 4.
When The drill file goes to the PCB house, eveything is fine over there.
Is there something in the EAGLE generated NC drill files that mess up
some gerber viewers? Has anyone ewlse had this problem? Its pretty
http://www.pentalogix.com/Products/ViewMate/register.cfm
Any Eagle generated excellon file seems to have this problem.
Thanks in advance,
Eli HUGHES

...