How to export Altium PCB to gerber files

This tutorial will guide you through generating Gerber and NC Drill files from Altium Designer

25 for manufacturing at JLCPCB.

The procedure is similar to earlier versions, but the interface and some options have been

updated.

Design Rule setup

Before exporting any files, make sure your PCB layout follows the manufacturing capabilities

of JLCPCB.

You can find the latest specifications on the official JLCPCB Capabilities page: https://jlcpcb.com/capabilities

Generate Gerber Files

Open your PCB design tab in Altium Designer 25.

1. Go to File → Fabrication Outputs → Gerber Files.

2.In the Gerber Setup dialog:

General Tab

● Units: Inches (in)

● Decimal: 0.01mil

● Outputs: filename

● Include unconnected mid-layer pad

● Generate Reports

Layers to plot

● Board Outline (.GM)

● Top Layer (.GTL)

● Inner Layers (.G1, .G2, …)

● Bottom Layer (.GBL)

● Top Overlay (.GTO)

● Bottom Overlay (.GBO)

● Top Solder (.GTS)

● Bottom Solder (.GBS)

● Top Paste (.GTP)

● Bottom Paste (.GBP)

3. In the Advanced Gerber options dialog:

Select options:

● Aperture Tolerances: (±0.005mil)

● Leading/Trailing Zeroes: Suppress leading zeroes

● Plotter Type: Unsorted (raster)

● Others: Optimize change location commands

4. Click Apply to generate the Gerber files.

After the files have been generated, CAMtastic windows is opened automatically, so you can

check the generated gerber files.

Generate NC Drill files

1. Go to File → Fabrication Outputs → NC Drill Files

2. In the NC Drill Setup dialog:

Select options:

● Units: Inches

● Format: 2:5

● Zero Suppression: Keep leading and trailing zeroes

● Coordinate Positions: Reference to absolute origin

● Enable Optimize change location commands

● Enable Generate separate NC Drill files for plated & non-plated holes

● Leave other options unchecked unless required.

3. Click OK to generate the NC Drill files.

After the files have been generated, CAMtastic windows is opened automatically, so you can

check the generated NC drill files.

Collect all files and put them together into a single zip/rar file.

Altium has published a guide on producing those files here:

https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/preparing-manufacturing-data-with-o

utput-jobs

If everything looks OK, upload the zip file to the JLCPCB order page.

Altium Designer version: 25.8.1.

Author: Milos Ilic