GerberTools

This repository contains a suite of C# tools for loading, editing, creating, panelizing, and pre-rendering sets of Gerber files. These tools are designed to facilitate PCB production workflows, particularly for panelization and format conversion.

Main Applications

GerberPanelizer

Purpose: The primary GUI application for creating PCB panels. It allows you to import multiple board designs, arrange them (manually or automatically), add break-tabs (mousebites), and export the merged Gerber files.

Usage: Launch GerberPanelizer.exe. No command line arguments are required.

AutoPanelBuilder

Purpose: A command-line version of the panelizer for automated workflows.

Usage:

AutoPanelBuilder.exe [--settings {file}] [--files {filewithfolders}] [--dumpsample] output_directory

GerberViewer

Purpose: A simple GUI application for viewing Gerber files.

Usage:

GerberViewer.exe [file1] [file2] ...

Command Line Utilities

File Conversion

GerberToImage

Purpose: Renders Gerber files to high-resolution PNG images.

Usage:

GerberToImage <files> [--dpi N] [--noxray] [--nopcb] [--silk color] [--trace color] [--copper color] [--mask color]

GerberToDxf

Purpose: Converts Gerber files to DXF format (AutoCAD).

Usage:

GerberToDxf <infile> <outfile>

GerberToOutline

Purpose: Extracts the outline from a Gerber file and exports it (typically to SVG).

Usage:

GerberToOutline.exe <infile> <outfile>

File Manipulation

GerberCombiner

Purpose: Combines multiple Gerber or Excellon files into a single file.

Usage:

GerberCombiner <outputfile> <inputfile1> <inputfile2> ...

GerberMover

Purpose: Applies translation (move) and rotation to a Gerber file.

Usage:

GerberMover <inputfile> <outputfile> <X> <Y> <CX> <CY> <Angle>

GerberClipper

Purpose: Clips a subject Gerber file using a polygon defined in an outline Gerber file.

Usage:

GerberClipper.exe <outlinegerber> <subject> <outputfile>

GerberSubtract

Purpose: Subtracts one Gerber layer from another. Experimental.

Usage:

GerberSubtract <sourcefile> <subtractfile> <outputfile>

GerberSplitter

Purpose: Splits a Gerber file into slices based on a "slice file".

Usage:

GerberSplitter <slicefile> <gerberfile1> <gerberfile2> ...

GerberSanitize

Purpose: Reads Gerber files and writes out a "sanitized" version, fixing common formatting issues.

Usage:

GerberSanitize <file1> <file2> ...

Analysis & Verification

GerberAnalyse

Purpose: Analyzes Gerber files or Zip archives to report board dimensions, drill counts, and layer types.

Usage:

GerberAnalyse <inputfile_or_folder>

Building

Visual Studio: Open GerberProjects/GerberProjects.sln and build.

Dependencies: Ensure NuGet packages are restored.

Linux/Mono: The tools are standard C# and generally compatible with Mono. Run ./build.sh. Dependencies should be automatically fetched.

License

See the LICENSE file for details.