Problems with placement crosshairs in PCBnew and Gerber/PDF files

Layout
1

Hi all,

I don’t understand how to place aligment crosshairs so they are visible in all PCB layers produced by File/Plot.

I put them in Edge Cuts layer. The documentation reports that everything
placed on Edge Cuts Layer should be visible in all layers but in my
case it is not.

Crosshairs are visible if I enable Edge.Cuts layer but when I produce
the PDF/Gerbers files using File/Plot they are not visible, same thing
also for the PCB border. So I think I am not doing something I should
do.

Ant help will be appreciated.

Massimo

2

It’s a bug. I think I complained about it some time ago on the bug-tracker.

3

So how can I produce reliable gerber files? Kicad PcbNew is total unuseful if it doesn’t produce reliable gerber files.

4

Hmmm, could you clarify what does having a visible crosshair on Edge.Cuts layer has to do with producing reliable Gerbers? As I understand all Gerbers in a project are generated with the same origin so when you import them into CAM tool they are aligned. Am I missing something here?

5

Having the Gerber files registered to a common data
point is recommended (to assure perfect alignment). Some files come in with the layers at a different datum alignment (like a target) so then manual alignment of the layers
is necessary. I put the origin point (for drilling and reference/origin point) and 4 crosshairs (one over the origin point).
A simple way to chek for alignment problems is to put crosshairs on a mechanical layer (for Kicad Edge.Cuts layer) and check the crosshair coordinates with a Gerber viewer. the check should be done file by file.

6

How do you do that in pcbnew?

7

if you don’t check ‘Exclude PCB edge layer from other layers’ you should have anchor visible on all gerber files…

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1 Like
9

I realize this is an old thread, but hoping you still have notifications on :slight_smile: If you leave ‘Exclude PCB edge layer from other layers’ checked, it will also put the board outline in all the gerbers for the copper layers. My PCB maker does not want this, but I DO need to include the alignment target on all the copper gerbers. How do you include this layer alignment target mark on all the copper layers (and Gerbers) only?

10

I solver this by not putting the board edges on the Edge.Cuts layer. I draw the board edges on the Dwgs.User and F.SilkS layers leaving only the alignment markers on the Edge.Cuts layer.