The following is a list of standard formats that can be used by Ascentec Engineering to design your fixtures and tooling. Please contact Ascentec Engineering directly regarding formats not listed below:

Formats in bold represent preferred formats

• Gerber
  
  • Basic or Standard Gerber (RS274D)
    
  • Extended Gerber (RS274X)
    
  • Fire9000
• ODB++
• DWG
• DXF
• IGES
• SOLIDS FORMATS
  • Autodesk Inventor® Part Files and Assemblies
    
  • PARASOLID
    
  • ACIS (*.SAT)
    
  • SolidWorks® PART FILES (*.SLDPRT)
    
  • Solid Edge® Files (*.PAR, *.PSM)
    
• BARCO DPF
  • HPGL
    

Gerber RS274X-This gerber format eliminates the need for a separate Aperture File by embedding the aperture, unit, and format information into each gerber file.
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ODB++- ODB++ is an intelligent format that captures all the CAD/EDA, assembly and PCB fabrication knowledge in one single database. This format takes the place of individual gerber, drill, and aperture files, and adds additional information that helps Ascentec Engineering produce more accurate, higher quality fixtures.

ODB++ is an ASCII open format originally developed by Valor Computerized Systems.
Features and Benefits:

• All needed data is in one database that is easily transferred to Ascentec Engineering by e-mail, online, or FTP.
• Contains board and part attribute information allowing us to design more accurate and higher quality tooling, while reducing the burden of providing this information from your engineers and technicians.
• Can be exported from many Circuit board design tools including: Cadence Allegro, Mentor Graphics, PADS, and VeriBest.

DWG-The native drawing format for Autodesk’s AutoCAD® tools.
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DXF-DXF, Data eXchange Format is a specification developed by Autodesk® as a means of exchanging data between CAD systems.
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IGES-Iges, Initial Graphics Exchange Specification is a file format developed for exchanging 2D/3D wireframe drawings and surfaces between CAD systems. The Iges format does not support a solid model drawing, however most solid modeling systems can export the model to an Iges wireframe with surfaces. The formats listed under "Solids Formats" below are preferred for sending solid models.
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AutoDesk Inventor®-The native files produced by Autodesk’s Inventor® program. Back

PARASOLID- PARASOLID is a file format for exchanging solids data between high-end MCAD applications. It is licensed to many leading CAD/CAM/CAE vendors and a good format for sending solid models.
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ACIS- ACIS is a solid modeling kernel used in many popular cad systems. The ACIS data is stored in a .SAT file.
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SolidWorks®- The native solid part files produced by SolidWorks®.
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Solid Edge®- The native files produced by Solid Edge®.
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HPGL- HPGL is the HP graphics language. It was not intended as an interchange format but it can be used as such when a more preferred format is unavailable.
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Aperture File- Basic Gerber (RS274D) is not complete without an Aperture File. The aperture file is a list that defines the characteristics of each D-code contained in the gerber files. Each PCB Design tool will output aperture files with slightly different formatting. Below are examples of two different types of aperture files:

Example 1:

# Units: Inches
#
#    Shape     Width   Height    Type  Tool   Tool Size   Legend   R90
#
D10  Round     0.007000 0.007000   ThruHole 0 0.0 D0      0
D11  Round     0.005000 0.005000   ThruHole 0 0.0 D0      0
D12  Round     0.012000 0.012000   ThruHole 0 0.0 D0      0
D13  Round     0.015000 0.015000   ThruHole 0 0.0 D0      0

Example 2:
Position  Width  Hgt/ID  Shape    Qty
========  =====  ======  =====    ===
   10      125       0    RND      27
   11       50       0    RND    4238
   13       60       0    RND     458
   14       50       0    SQR       1

NOTE: Aperture Files are not required for 274X or Fire9000 format Gerber files as they are embedded in the Gerber file.
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