Printed Circuit Board Design Guidelines for PCBexpress Quickturn 

Printed Circuit Board Design Guide

Orders will be run "as sent" using our standard manufacturing process for PCBexpress quickturn PCB prototype boards.

Depending on the CAD program you use and the type of PCB(Printed Circuit Board) you need, the number of PCB files required will vary. Orders for 1-layer boards must include the outline.

Please refer to these PCB design guidelines before submitting PCB files to us.

PCB Design Guidelines

2-layer circuit boards require the following Gerber files:

  • Top and Bottom Copper - positive polarity
  • Aperture/Dcode file (if not RS274X)
  • Excellon Drill file
  • Drill Tool list (if not embedded within Excellon Drill file)
  • Top and Bottom Solder Mask (for 2-day lead times) - positive polarity
  • Silkscreen 1 or 2 sides - positive polarity
  • Fab drawing, NC, or gerber file defining slots/cutouts size and location


4-layer circuit boards require the following Gerber files:

  • Top and Bottom Copper - positive polarity
  • 2 inner layers: polarity based on design
  • Aperture/Dcode file (if not RS274X)
  • Drill Tool list (if not embedded within Excellon Drill file)
  • Top and Bottom Solder Mask - positive polarity
  • Silkscreen 1 or 2 sides - positive polarity
  • Fab drawing, NC, or gerber file defining slots/cutouts size and location 


6-layer circuit boards require the following Gerber files:

  • 2 Gerber outer layers: Top: Positive, Bottom: Positive
  • 4 inner layers: polarity based on design
  • Aperture/Dcode file (if not RS274X)
  • Drill Tool list (if not embedded within Excellon Drill file)
  • Solder mask Top & Bottom  - positive polarity
  • Silkscreen 1 or 2 sides - positive polarity
  • Fab drawing, NC, or gerber file defining slots/cutouts size and location 


Any additional PCB files included will be ignored.

If your needs go beyond our PCBexpress quickturn capabilities, try our Full Feature quote form:

Quote Full Feature

Are you ready to take the next step? Please visit our PCBexpress quickturn quote page
or Full Feature Multilayer Circuit Boards Quote page.

Still have question about the PCB prototyping process? Contact us so we can better assist you now, and in the future.

To learn more about how we can help your business, please visit our PCB Product Comparison,
Circuit Board Assembly & Manufacturing Capabilities, and Inspection Guidelines.