Gunrunnerjohn's revised Gerber file for Passenger Car lighting boards

GRJ is the man. I wonder how many train enthusiasts he has helped either directly or indirectly. I fall into both those categories and I really appreciate him!

Well ... if we're keeping a tally add me to that list.  Barry

No sweat Carl, I love the easy ones.

Gunrunner John is definitely the man. I enjoy him and Stan_2004 going back and forth finding ways to keep improving things. Thanks to both of them and many others too numerous to name that have helped me out many times. It's appreciated!

What is the secret to opening the files?

@Big Jim posted:

What is the secret to opening the files?

This is a cumbersome explanation, but the gerber file is a set of technical file(s) which tell the pcb manufacturer the parameters of the unique board production design.  So you won’t be able to “see” whats in the files by opening them in a text environment.  If you load the Osh Park site it will tell you to browse for files.  Point them to where you downloaded the zip and they will open the files, compile the pcb and display it for you to order.  Hope this helps.

@Big Jim posted:

What is the secret to opening the files?

Why do you want to "open" the files?  You just send the whole ZIP file to the PCB maker of your choice and they make the boards.  If you really must "open" the files, the easy way to do it is go to OSHPark and drop the ZIP file on the input file prompt.  They will unpack them and display the graphic content of each file.

You can also pick up the Gerber View application and open the individual files.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Why do you want to "open" the files?

Because I thought that there was actually something there to be seen that might be helpful! That's what I get for thinking!!!

@Big Jim posted:

Because I thought that there was actually something there to be seen that might be helpful! That's what I get for thinking!!!

Viewing the Gerber files is usually reserved for doing more complex boards that you want to match up layers and insure alignment of components or holes on different layers.  In truth, nowadays with modern layout applications, I've not had the occasion to need to look at the Gerber files for some time.

@Pingman posted:

Props to @gunrunnerjohn for making a minor adjustment to the Gerber file for his OSH Park passenger car LED lighting PCB to accommodate JST XH 2.5 connectors for the DC output.

Thank you, GRJ.

Good price on Amazon right now, 50 pair for $14.99 pig tails included.   https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Anyway, I also bought some JST 2.0 PH, just a little over 1/64" in pitch.  If they all have pigtails not sure how it all plays out, but we'll see.

GRJ suggested ordering the boards from JLCPCB, they are now 'tendered for delivery'.  You can't bet the price, I placed the order 3/30/22.

My next stop is Digi Key for the components, then I have to learn how to solder to a PCB.

@Big Jim posted:

Because I thought that there was actually something there to be seen that might be helpful! That's what I get for thinking!!!

I did the same thing, too.  I had never heard of a Gerber file... Baby food yeah, but electrical --

A really big thank you GRJ,

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

@Tom Stoltz posted:

Good price on Amazon right now, 50 pair for $14.99 pig tails included.   https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Anyway, I also bought some JST 2.0 PH, just a little over 1/64" in pitch.  If they all have pigtails not sure how it all plays out, but we'll see.

GRJ suggested ordering the boards from JLCPCB, they are now 'tendered for delivery'.  You can't bet the price, I placed the order 3/30/22.

My next stop is Digi Key for the components, then I have to learn how to solder to a PCB.

I did the same thing, too.  I had never heard of a Gerber file... Baby food yeah, but electrical --

A really big thank you GRJ,

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

The bad news about the JST-PH connectors is they're 2.0mm pitch connectors, the Amazon listing is wrong.  If you cut the pigtails and solder the wire into the board it won't matter, but if you wanted to have a connector on the board, it has to be 2.5mm pitch.