Gerber handoff guide
Gerber file checker for Mac: pre-upload checklist
A pre-upload check should make the manufacturing set easier to explain, not claim that it is ready to fabricate. Reconcile the files first, then keep the board house's DFM process as the final gate.
1. Inventory every source
Keep the original Gerber and drill files unchanged, hash the bundle and record which sources will be included in the reviewed handoff.
2. Reconcile layer roles
Prefer X2 FileFunction metadata, then review extension and filename inference. Correct any ambiguous copper, mask, silkscreen, outline or drill assignment explicitly.
3. Inspect completeness and bounds
Look for missing or duplicate roles, mixed units, polarity conflicts, geometry beyond the outline and drill hits outside the board boundary.
4. Export for fabrication review
Create a reviewed-source ZIP and receipt with unresolved items. The fabricator must still evaluate process constraints and manufacturability.