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In Proteus, generate PCB manufacturing data from the finished board layout using an output format your board fabricator accepts. Proteus supports Gerber X2 and traditional RS274X Gerber with Excellon drill files; Labcenter also lists ODB++ as an option. Run any available pre-production check, generate the output, then inspect the artwork in Proteus Gerber Viewer before sending it.
Choose the manufacturing output your board house accepts
Labcenter identifies Gerber X2 as Proteus’s primary supported manufacturing output. Traditional RS274X Gerber and Excellon drill files remain supported, and ODB++ is another option. These formats package manufacturing information differently, so confirm the accepted format with your chosen fabricator rather than assuming one is required everywhere.
| Format | What Labcenter documents | When to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Gerber X2 | Primary supported output; it can include connectivity information, file and object attributes, and separate drill files organized by drill range and plated or unplated status. | Choose it if your fabricator accepts X2 and the additional manufacturing context is useful. |
| RS274X Gerber/Excellon | Traditional Gerber and drill output remains supported; Labcenter describes it as widely used and sufficient for most purposes. | Use it when the board house requests conventional Gerber artwork and Excellon drill files. |
| ODB++ | Listed as an intelligent manufacturing-data exchange format; Labcenter says it is available from PCB Level 2 and higher. | Consider it only after confirming both your Proteus edition and fabricator support it. |
These are Proteus capabilities, not universal fabrication-house requirements. Ask the board house what file format and supplementary documents it needs.
Generate the files from your PCB layout
- Open the completed PCB layout. Begin with the board design you intend to manufacture, not an unfinished or earlier layout.
- Open the manufacturing-output workflow. Choose the output option for the format agreed with the fabricator. Menu wording and file naming can differ between Proteus releases; consult the help included with your installed version for its exact commands.
- Run the pre-production check if Proteus offers it. Labcenter’s tutorial says the output operation will most likely prompt you to run an automatic checklist for common design errors. Review its pass-or-fail results and address any problems before proceeding.
- Generate the selected output. Proteus provides similar UI procedures for its manufacturing-output options, but the specific controls depend on the release and chosen format.
- Inspect the generated artwork. Open the output in Proteus Gerber Viewer and check that the artwork matches the intended board before delivering the files.
The official instructions cited here do not establish one exact menu path for every release, so avoid relying on a click sequence from a different version.
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Check the output before sending it
Proteus PCB Design Professional includes a Gerber Viewer for checking artwork before manufacture. Use it to examine the generated output rather than assuming that successful export means the files are correct. The pre-production checklist checks some common design errors; neither that checklist nor the viewer guarantees manufacturability or replaces the board house’s own file requirements.
- Confirm the exported layers and artwork appear as intended in the viewer.
- Confirm the drill data is present where required by the selected format and fabrication instructions.
- Resolve checklist failures and investigate any unexpected artwork before sending the files.
Include manufacturing documentation when requested
Proteus Project Notes can produce a Manufacturing Report to accompany the file set. Labcenter lists the layer stackup, drill table, assembly drawings, and fiducial positions among its default report content. A PCB Specification Report can communicate requirements such as materials, allowable tool modifications, testing and quality standards, and packaging guidance. Ask the fabricator which of these documents it needs; they supplement the manufacturing output rather than replace it.
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