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7 Checks to Make Before Sending Gerber Files to PCB Manufacturing

A practical pre-upload checklist for catching missing layers, drill and outline problems, mismatched mask or legend data, and ambiguous PCB manufacturing files.
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Before sending Gerber files to a PCB manufacturer, confirm that every required layer and drill file is present, open the exported package in a Gerber/CAM viewer, and verify the board profile and manufacturing notes. Then check that the files describe one current, unambiguous board revision. The selected fabricator’s upload instructions take precedence: accepted formats and details such as drill conventions and stack-up requirements can vary.

1. Confirm the complete layer set

Make a list of every patterned layer in the PCB design and match each one to a manufacturing file. That normally means all copper layers, solder-mask layers, and legend or silkscreen layers for the sides used, plus any other patterned layers in the design. Add drill and route data as required by the fabricator.

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For a multilayer board, check that every inner copper layer is included and provide the required stack-up information. Do not infer that a layer is unnecessary just because it appears blank or optional in your CAD project; confirm board-specific needs with the manufacturer. Ucamco’s PCB fabrication data guide says each pattern needs corresponding digital data, while the manufacturer checklist from PCBfabrication.com identifies copper, drill, solder mask, silkscreen, outline, and multilayer stack-up notes among the relevant data.

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2. Inspect the exported files in a Gerber/CAM viewer

Review the files you will actually upload, not only the CAD layout or a screenshot. Load the manufacturing layers together to check registration, then inspect individual layers for missing or unexpected features. Pay attention to viewer or parser warnings rather than assuming a file imported correctly.

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Consistent coordinates matter: Ucamco notes that layers should use the same coordinate system so they align when imported. Its current downloads page links to a Reference Gerber Viewer; check the Gerber downloads page for the currently available specification and viewer resources. A viewer helps expose visual problems, but it does not replace the manufacturer’s format and data requirements.

3. Verify the board profile and routed features

Confirm that the package contains clear digital data defining the board’s actual edge. Check that the outline is closed and correctly positioned relative to the copper and other layers. Also inspect cutouts, slots, and other routed features, and make sure their geometry is represented in the manner the fabricator requests.

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The profile defines the PCB’s extent, so an outline shown only as a drawing is not a substitute for machine-readable profile data. Ucamco describes the profile as essential to fabrication, and PCBfabrication.com’s checklist also calls for a clear outline and milling definition.

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4. Check drill data and hole classifications

Make sure the drill data covers every hole and slot sequence and that the holes line up with their pads and the board profile when viewed together with the other layers. Where applicable, distinguish plated through holes (PTH) from non-plated through holes (NPTH) in the format the manufacturer requests. Ucamco advises separating plated and non-plated holes and representing each drill sequence separately; PCBfabrication.com notes that PTH/NPTH separation helps reduce interpretation errors.

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A drawing can help explain a design, but it cannot replace machine-readable drill data. If the fabricator has a required drill-file convention or asks for separate files, follow that instruction rather than relying on a general naming scheme.

5. Compare copper, solder mask, and silkscreen

Inspect these interacting layers together. Confirm that pads meant to be solderable have the intended solder-mask openings, and that tented vias or intentionally covered copper are deliberate. Check that reference designators and other legend artwork are on the silkscreen or legend layer—not accidentally mixed into copper—and that intended copper features are present.

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PCBfabrication.com describes review examples involving missing mask openings above pads and silkscreen-style artwork mixed into copper. Those examples illustrate the kinds of contradictions to look for; they do not establish how often such errors occur.

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6. Make layer names and build requirements unambiguous

Use Gerber X2 layer metadata where both your export workflow and the receiving fabricator support it. Otherwise, use consistent filenames that clearly identify each layer’s function and side. Keep files in a shared coordinate system and consistent precision so the recipient can interpret the set as intended.

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For multilayer or special boards, supply the stack-up and any applicable manufacturing requirements—such as material, board thickness, finish, or impedance requirements—in the form the fabricator requests. PCBfabrication.com specifically calls out stack-up notes for multilayer builds and blind or buried vias and impedance requirements where applicable. Gerber image files alone should not be expected to communicate every non-image build specification.

7. Freeze the revision and package one clean release

Regenerate or verify the exports from the intended, current board revision. Put only the necessary files for that PCB into one standard archive, and remove stale revisions, duplicates, and unrelated design files that could create ambiguity for the CAM operator.

Ucamco recommends one archive per PCB and cautions against unnecessary or duplicate data. Its advice is general; follow the selected fabricator’s upload-portal rules if they specify a different package structure or naming convention.

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Before upload: a final pass

  • Every patterned layer in the design has a corresponding manufacturing file.
  • All exported layers align in a Gerber/CAM viewer, and the viewer reports no unexplained errors.
  • The digital profile defines the board edge, cutouts, slots, and routed features.
  • Drill data is present, aligns with pads and profile, and distinguishes PTH and NPTH when required.
  • Copper, mask, and legend layers agree with the intended design.
  • Layer names or metadata, stack-up, and special build requirements are clear to the recipient.
  • The archive contains the current release for one PCB, without stale or duplicate files.

Fabricator requirements and supported formats can change. Confirm them with the manufacturer before submitting; Ucamco’s downloads page listed Gerber Layer Format Specification Revision 2026.05, dated 19 May 2026, when accessed on 5 October 2026.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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