Writing PCB Layouts to Manufacturing Files

When to Use

• Exporting a pcbComponent or pcbStack design to Gerber manufacturing files
• Selecting and configuring RF connectors (SMA, SMB, MMCX, etc.) for PCB export
• Formatting output for specific fabrication services (OSH Park, Seeed, Advanced Circuits)
• Attaching RFConnector objects to catalog components for shielded analysis
• Generating a complete manufacturing package from a MATLAB RF design

When NOT to Use

• Importing Gerber files into MATLAB — use matlab-read-pcb-layout
• Building the PCB design itself — use matlab-assemble-pcb-layout or the designing skills
• Running EM analysis — use matlab-analyze-em

Typical Workflow

1. Before: A design skill or matlab-assemble-pcb-layout — create the pcbComponent; matlab-analyze-em — validate performance; matlab-optimize-pcb-design — tune if needed
2. This skill: Export to Gerber with connectors and fab formatting

Quick Reference

gerberWrite — Export to Manufacturing

The gerberWrite function generates manufacturing files from a pcbComponent.

Basic Export

p = pcbComponent;   % Your designed component
W = PCBServices.OSHParkWriter;
W.Filename = 'my_design';          % Controls output zip/folder name (default: 'untitled')
C1 = PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch;
C2 = PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch;

[A, outputPath] = gerberWrite(p, W, {C1, C2});

Output

gerberWrite produces a folder of Gerber and drill files:

• Top/bottom copper layers
• Solder mask layers
• Silkscreen layers
• Drill files
• Board outline

The A output is a PCBWriter object with export metadata. outputPath is the path to the generated files.

PCBWriter Object

The PCBWriter object controls export settings.

Properties

PCBConnectors — Connector Catalog

Attach standard RF connectors to your exported board.

Available Connectors (25 Built-in Types)

Access via PCBConnectors.<type>. All connectors have common properties: Type, Mfg, Part, Annotation, Impedance (default: 50 ohm), Datasheet, Purchase.

5-pad properties: TotalSize, GroundPadSize, SignalPadDiameter, PinHoleDiameter, IsolationRing, VerticalGroundStrips

Edge-launch properties: GroundPadSize, GroundSeparation, GroundPadIsolation, SignalPadSize, SignalGap, SignalLineWidth, EdgeLocation ('north'|'south'|'east'|'west'), ExtendBoardProfile, FillGroundSide

Coax properties: PinDiameter, DielectricDiameter, ShieldDiameter, AddThermals, ThermalsDiameter, ThermalsBridgeWidth

Connectors are placed at feed locations during Gerber export. They define pad footprints and drill patterns.

PCBServices — Fabrication Service Writers

Writers configure output for specific fabrication services.

Available Services (5 Built-in Writers)

Each writer formats Gerber files according to the fab house's naming and layer conventions.

Key PCBServices properties: Filename, CoordUnits ('in'/'mm'), CoordPrecision, CreateArchiveFile, DefaultViaDiameter, UseExcellon, BoardProfileFile, SameExtensionForGerberFiles, PostWriteFcn, Files

% Customize a service writer
w = PCBServices.AdvancedCircuitsWriter;
w.Filename = 'my_antenna';
w.CoordUnits = 'mm';
w.CoordPrecision = [3 4];

RF Connectors

RFConnector models coaxial connectors (SMA, SMB, etc.) that attach to PCB structures.

rc = RFConnector;
rc.InnerRadius  = 5e-4;      % Center pin radius
rc.OuterRadius  = 1.5e-3;    % Outer conductor radius
rc.PinLength    = 3e-3;      % Pin insertion depth
rc.PinFootprint = 'Taper';   % 'Taper' or 'Circular'
rc.EpsilonR     = 1.7341;    % Dielectric fill permittivity
rc.Impedance    = 50;        % Characteristic impedance

Attaching to a Catalog Object

Attaching a Connector to a catalog object (e.g., microstripLine) requires IsShielded = true:

m = microstripLine;
m.IsShielded = true;          % Required before setting Connector
m.Connector = RFConnector;
show(m);

Design for a pcbComponent

design() auto-tunes connector dimensions to match a PCB object. This requires an FEM-based pcbComponent — catalog objects like microstripLine do not support FEM:

pcb = pcbComponent;           % Must be pcbComponent with SolverType='FEM'
pcb.SolverType = 'FEM';
rc = design(RFConnector, pcb);

Complete Design-to-Manufacturing Workflow

%% Design a filter
f = design(filterCoupledLine, 3e9);

%% Analyze
freq = linspace(1e9, 5e9, 101);
sp = sparameters(f, freq, 'SweepOption', 'interp');
rfplot(sp);

%% Export for manufacturing (convert to pcbComponent first)
pcb = pcbComponent(f);
W = PCBServices.OSHParkWriter;
C1 = PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch;
C2 = PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch;
[A, gPath] = gerberWrite(pcb, W, {C1, C2});

Pitfalls

1. Connector compatibility: Not all connectors work with all board thicknesses. SMA edge-launch connectors assume standard substrate heights. Check connector footprint dimensions match your board.

2. Gerber aperture limitations: Complex curved geometries may be approximated with polygons in Gerber format. Very fine features may lose resolution during export — check minimum feature size for your target fab service.

3. Multiple connectors need cell array: When passing multiple connectors to gerberWrite, wrap them in a cell array: gerberWrite(pcb, W, {C1, C2}). An object array [C1, C2] will error.

4. gerberWrite requires pcbComponent or pcbStack: gerberWrite does not work on catalog objects (e.g., microstripLine, filterHairpin). Convert to pcbComponent first if needed.

5. Connector requires IsShielded on catalog objects. Setting obj.Connector = RFConnector on a catalog object (microstripLine, etc.) will error with "SolverType property must be set to 'FEM'" unless obj.IsShielded = true is set first. Catalog objects do not support FEM directly — use IsShielded = true for MoM shielded mode. design(RFConnector, obj) only works with pcbComponent objects that have SolverType='FEM'.

6. IsShielded + finite conductivity conflict. Setting IsShielded = true activates an internal FEM-like solver path. If you also set Conductor = metal("Copper") (finite conductivity), you will get "FEM solver does not support finite conductivity. Set conductivity of conductor to Inf." Leave Conductor at the default (PEC) when using IsShielded = true or Connector.

7. gerberWrite on pcbcascade results. pcbcascade returns a pcbComponent. This can be passed directly to gerberWrite. However, verify the port count and connector count match — pcbcascade merges ports and removes connected ports, so the surviving port count may differ from the input components.

8. IsShielded switches solver to FEM — affects sweep options. Setting IsShielded = true changes the internal solver to FEM. The 'SweepOption', 'interp' interpolated sweep is designed for MoM and may not be available or behave differently with FEM. Run S-parameter analysis before adding IsShielded for export, or use a discrete frequency sweep with FEM.

Related Skills

• matlab-read-pcb-layout — Import layouts from Gerber, ODB++, and Allegro
• matlab-assemble-pcb-layout — Building custom PCB structures from shapes
• matlab-analyze-em — Running EM analysis before export

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