Skip to content
AMPLETRON

CAM Prep

Gerber & ODB++ CAM Processing

Like getting a rough manuscript print-ready, we take a designer's raw board files and tidy them up so a factory can actually build the circuit board.

1 min readcamgerberodb++panelization
Outcome

Fab-ready panels and verified netlists that drop straight into your fabricator's line.

Input formats
RS-274X, ODB++, IPC-2581
Netlist standard
IPC-D-356 / D-356A
Panelization
Step-and-repeat, arrays, tab/rout
Turnaround
24-48h standard

CAM processing is where a design database becomes a manufacturable image set. We ingest Gerber RS-274X, ODB++, and IPC-2581 data, reconcile it against your fabrication notes, and produce a clean, self-consistent tooling package for the fab line.

What we process

  • Layer alignment and normalization — mapping copper, solder mask, silkscreen, and drill layers to a single coordinate origin.
  • Aperture and draw cleanup — resolving zero-width draws, negative/positive plane conflicts, and legacy 274-D conversions.
  • Drill correlation — matching plated and non-plated holes to pad stacks and validating via structures.

Netlist extraction

We extract an IPC-D-356 netlist directly from the copper image so the fabricator can bare-board test (flying probe or bed-of-nails) against the true fabricated geometry, not just the design intent. Extracted nets are compared to your reference netlist to catch shorts, opens, and missing connections before tooling is cut.

Panelization and coupons

Step-and-repeat panelization maximizes material yield while respecting rout/scoring keep-outs, fiducial placement, and depaneling stress on fragile edges.

ElementPurpose
Impedance couponVerify controlled impedance targets
Microsection couponConfirm plating and layer registration
Test coupon (A/B/C)IPC-2221 qualification
FiducialsAutomated optical alignment
Engineering noteWe always regenerate the netlist from the finished copper rather than trusting the incoming IPC-356 — a surprising number of design-side netlists disagree with the actual artwork.

The output is a complete, documented job deck: prepared artwork, drill files, rout paths, a fabrication drawing cross-check, and an extracted netlist ready for DFM analysis.

Have a board that fits this?

Request a quote

FAQ

Common questions

Extended Gerber (RS-274X) or ODB++ (preferred), a netlist (IPC-D-356 if you're sending Gerber), fabrication notes (material, finished thickness, copper weight, surface finish, IPC class), and your stackup with any controlled-impedance targets. A complete package lets the work start without a round of back-and-forth.

ODB++ is preferred because it carries the netlist, stackup and component data in one intelligent database, which removes ambiguity. Gerber works fine too — just include an IPC-D-356 netlist alongside it so the electrical connectivity can be cross-verified.

A fab-ready job deck (panelized artwork, drill and rout data, and a matching fabrication drawing), an annotated DFM report with every finding keyed to a layer and coordinate and marked accept / waive / fix, and a verified netlist regenerated from the finished copper rather than trusted from the incoming file.

Yes. We engineer your data against your chosen fab's capability deck, or advise on a suitable fabricator if you don't have one. We're independent — we prepare and verify the data; you keep your fab relationship and your files.

See all pre-manufacturing FAQs →