Uploading Native Files

Benefits of Uploading Native Files

Exporting CAD files to Gerbers can be tricky. The typical PCB designer exports Gerbers rarely enough that it's easy to forget what the proper setting are. 
Instead of submitting Gerber files with your order, Sunstone offers you the choice to order your prototype boards using your native design files. We will do the CAD conversion for you - Sunstone's Native File Conversion service. 
 
It's a healthy trade-off between control (exporting your own) and convenience. Sunstone can help you achieve both control and convenience order-by-order.
 
If you choose to generate your own Gerbers, we recommend you submit them to our free Design for Manufacturabitly tool, DFMplus. The report we return to you will not only verify the data you exported, but will also help identify any lingering design flaws before you commit them to fiberglass and copper. Try it! 

Native File Conversions

Native files conversions are only available if you create your PCB design file in one of the following packages:

  • Altium (including Protel and other Altium-owned tools)
  • EAGLE
  • OrCAD (with .MAX file extension)
  • IVEX
  • Protel
  • National Instruments Circuit Design Suite (Ultiboard up to V12)
  • Sunstone's Free PCB123 design software
  • ExpressPCB files

Just place your order as normal, and when it comes time to upload the CAD files, just send us the native files. We’ll do the CAD conversion for you. It really is that simple … and free. That’s right, we provide our CAD conversion services to our customers for free!

 

Benefits of Native File Conversion

  • More consistent conversion – we convert from Gerbers everyday; you design everyday. With Native File Upload, you can just design; we've got the conversion covered.
  • Faster transition to ordering – you have enough to worry about in your design without stressing over Gerber exports. Just attach the PCB design file, and you’re done.
  • Reduced Delays in manufacture – believe it or not, incorrect Gerbers are one of the most common reasons orders go on hold, or suffer delays. Our CAD conversion services from native files will prevent untimely delays for your PCB order.
  • Improved revision control – it happens every day. Customers modify a design, place an order for a revision of the board, but accidentally send us Gerbers from an earlier version – another wasted design spin. Make the changes, send us the new version of the PCB design file, and you have the peace of mind that we received your most up-to-date design data.
  • No extra charge
 

General Notes:

  1. Native file upload is not a design check service. We will generate Gerber files from your CAD data as sent with CAD application settings. If you wish to get a pre-order Design for Manufactuability (DFM) check, please take advantage of our free DFMplus tool, available on the www.sunstone.com website 
  2. All Limited Review orders will proceed directly to manufacture following file conversion.
  3. Please review your native files using a Gerber/NC Drill file viewer. Your Gerber/NC Drill file viewing software will allow you to see how your completed boards will appear after using either of our Limited Review services (PCBExpress or ValueProto).
  4. If your layout requires a design change after initial CAD conversion, there is a $25 per instance charge for additional conversions due to revised or resubmitted files.

A Variety of PCB Design File Choices

  • PCB123 Users

    With our free CAD software you have the flexibility to order PCBs directly from inside the tool itself,  or from our Sunstone website. There is no added lead-time and no additional native file upload effort when you submit your PCB123 file with a Sunstone PCBpro Full Feature or PCBexpress Quickturn order. One unique feature for PCB123 is that there is no approval process for multi-layer boards on PCB123 - multi-layer boards proceed straight to production.

    Free PCB123 Download

    Altium Designer & Protel Users

    We can convert your Protel 99SE and DXP, and Altium Designer 6, Summer 08 and Winter 09 PCB design files to Gerbers. Please send *.pcb or *pcbdoc files. If you would like to provide *.ddb or .prjpcb files, please ensure they contain only a single .pcb or .pcbdoc file. Because we currently don't support Altium Designer Winter 09, we will send the generated Gerber files to you for final approval before starting manufacturing.

    EAGLE (CadSoft) Users

    Our native file upload service supports PCB design files from EAGLE versions 4.11, 4.16 and 5.4. Unfortunately, we cannot convert schematic files to layouts for you. Please note that during the file upload process it is important to specify which layer objects we should use for silkscreen and inner layers (mid-layers). If you do not specify which layers to use, we will use only the following default settings for silkscreen per our CAM scripts or place your order on hold for clarification on inner layer object selection:

    • Top Silkscreen: L21 & L25 (tPlace & tNames)
    • Bottom Silkscreen: L22 & L26 (bPlace & bNames)

    For extra convenience and peace of mind, we also provide the following CAD conversion service add-ons for EAGLE:

    • CAM Job: Download and install these files to add the official Sunstone CAM processor settings to your EAGLE installation. 
    • Sunstone-EAGLE_5.0_cam_NEW
      Convert to Gerber and preview your EAGLE .brd designs from your EAGLE 5.0 PCB design software prior to ordering at Sunstone.
      ZIP, 828.22 KB
    • Sunstone-EAGLE_4.16_cam_NEW
      Convert to Gerber and preview your EAGLE .brd designs from your EAGLE 5.0 PCB design software prior to ordering at Sunstone.
      ZIP, 827.98 KB
     
     

    National Instruments Circuit Design Suite

    We can convert your Circuit Design Suite (Ultiboard) .ewprj PCB design files to Gerbers. Unfortunately, we cannot convert schematic files to layouts for you. Please note that during the upload process it is important to specify which layer objects we should use for silkscreen and inner layers (mid-layer).
     
     

    OrCAD Layout

    We can convert your OrCAD .max CAD files to Gerbers. Since OrCAD Layout is no longer actively supported by Cadence Design Systems, we suggest you try our no cost design software, PCB123 and take advantage of the tool’s synchronized layout and schematic editing functions, as well as the 500,000 available parts definitions, and our Around the Clock support. Still like OrCAD Schematic? PCB123 will import your OrCAD schematic files and take you straight to layout design.

     
     

    Ivex Winboard Users

    Ivex files are "mirrored" by default (instead of looking down from the top, in IVEX files by default, you look up from the bottom). If you choose to do a CAD conversion of the Ivex board file yourself, prior to file submission, it is advised to place "right reading" text somewhere on the top layer and name the file extensions names *.L1, *.L2 etc., for proper orientation. NOTE: If there is no text on the layers, they will be run "as sent."
     
  • CAM Job: Download and install these files to add the official Sunstone CAM processor settings to your EAGLE installation. 
  • Design Rules: Our DFM Add-Ons for EAGLE are EAGLE design for manufacturing rules (DRU) files written in accordance with Sunstone's manufacturing criteria for 2, 4, and 6 layer designs.