I started using a new manufacturer recently, and it seems they can’t handle KiCAD gerbers.
When they try to digitize, all the pads are messed up and apparently they have no experience with this issue.
From searching online this looks like an issue with vectorized pads.
KiCAD 9 supports OBD++ (fantastic!) so I sent them new exports in this format thinking it would solve the issue. It did not.
Is there a way to change KiCAD export settings to make it work for them?
Update to add clarifying details:
“digitize” is the word they used to describe the process of importing gerbers into their software to convert it to instructions for their pick n place machines.
They gave me this personal feedback. I went to the factory myself to try to help them with the process but I’ve never used the software they use to process the gerbers so I wasn’t much use. I spoke directly with the only engineer they have to do this.
I have sent them gerbers of a different design exported from Eagle CAD and those worked fine.
I tried disabling aperture macros but it made no difference.
The situation is difficult to interpret, you should be more accurate and detailed.
The screenshot looks like from an online viewer. They are often buggy. Does “When they try to digitize” mean you only saw the viewer, or did they give you feedback personally? How did you come to the conclusion “apparently they have no experience with this issue”?
KiCad has export settings for gerbers in the Plot dialog. “Disable aperture macros” is related to pads.
That clarifies a bit. Unfortunately, as far as we can tell, KiCad creates valid gerbers and can’t help with non-functioning 3rd party viewers or converters.
Just to be sure, you can try the gerbers with the Ucamco online viewer to see if they are in the opinion of the reference gerber implementation.
We can try to speculate (without knowing nothing about the non-functioning software and their problem), but at least we should know what kind of pad doesn’t work, and what works. Are all the pads problematic? Can you show a more detailed view of them? And better view of the non-functioning representation (now it’s impossible to tell anything with the screenshot above)? Or maybe you can attach the gerbers or even the whole project here?
Not all pads are problematic. A couple footprints are pulled from an older version of the design made in Altium and the ones that have no rounded edges seen to show up fine.
The gerbers show up just fine in the KiCAD gerber viewer. They also show up fine in the Ucamco online viewer.
Unfortunately I can’t show a complete detailed view or risk exposing confidential IP. But here’s the same area as seen in the KiCAD gerber viewer:
