Extract

Extract makes new objects from the pads of a Gerber object. It can extract drill holes (an Excellon object), a soldermask (a Gerber object), and a cutout outline (a Gerber object).

Where to find it

• Menu: Plugins > Extract.
• Keyboard: Alt+E.
• The panel opens in a tab next to Project and Properties. The tab shows the plugin name.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Extract-1.png — the Extract panel with the Source Object, Extract Drills, Extract Soldermask and Extract Cutout sections visible.

Quick start

1. Select the Gerber object in Source Object. Keep the type as Gerber.
2. Check the pad shapes to process in Processed Pads Type, for example Circular.
3. Under Method, select Fixed Diameter. Set Value to the hole diameter (mm or inch).
4. Click Extract Drills. A new Excellon object is created.
5. For the soldermask, set Clearance and click Extract Soldermask. For the outline, set Margin and Thickness, and click Extract Cutout.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Extract-2.png — the canvas with the extracted Excellon holes over the pads.

Parameters

Source Object

Parameter	Description	Selected by default
Gerber	The source is a Gerber object. All sections are shown.	Selected by default
Geometry	The source is a Geometry object. Only Extract Drills is shown, and only the circles of the object are used.	—
Source Object	The object from which to extract.	—

Processed Pads Type

Shown for a Gerber source only.

Parameter	Description	Selected by default
All	Selects or clears all pad types.	Unchecked
Circular	Processes circular pads.	Checked
Oblong	Processes oblong pads.	Unchecked
Square	Processes square pads.	Unchecked
Rectangular	Processes rectangular pads.	Unchecked
Others	Processes pads that are not in the categories above.	Unchecked
All selected Gerbers	Also processes the other Gerber objects selected in the project tree. All their apertures are used. The pad type filters still apply. The cutout goes around all of them.	Unchecked
Apertures table	Lists the apertures that match the checked types. Select the rows to use. Check M to mark the aperture on the canvas.	—
Pads	Read-only. The number of pads that Extract Drills uses.	—

Extract Drills

Parameter	Description	Selected by default
Method = Fixed Diameter	Each hole has the set size.	Selected by default
Method = Proportional	Each hole is a fraction of the pad size.	—
Method = Fixed Annular Ring	Each hole leaves the set annular ring.	—
Slots for oblong pads	An oblong pad gives a slot instead of a round hole.	Unchecked
Fixed Annular Ring values	One value for each pad type: Circular, Oblong, Square, Rectangular, Others. Each value is the copper ring width. Shown for Fixed Annular Ring. The values are enabled only for the checked pad types. For a Geometry source, only one value, named Ring, is shown.	0.2 mm each
Value (Fixed Diameter)	The fixed hole diameter. Range: above 0 to 10000 (mm or inch). Shown for Fixed Diameter.	0.5 mm
Value (Proportional)	The hole diameter as a percentage of the pad size. Range: 0.01 to 100 %. Shown for Proportional.	80.0 %
Extract Drills	Creates an Excellon object with the drills.	—

Extract Soldermask

Parameter	Description	Selected by default
Clearance	How far the soldermask extends beyond the margin of the pads. Range: 0 to 10000 (mm or inch).	0.1 mm
Include regions	Also extracts the copper regions (G36 areas) into the soldermask.	Unchecked
Extract Soldermask	Creates a Gerber object with the soldermask.	—

Extract Cutout

Parameter	Description	Selected by default
Margin	Margin over the bounds. A positive value moves the cutout further from the PCB border. Range: -10000 to 10000 (mm or inch).	0.1 mm
Thickness	Thickness of the line that makes the cutout geometry. Range: above 0 to 10000 (mm or inch).	0.1 mm
Shape = Rectangular	The cutout is the bounding box of the Gerber.	Selected by default
Shape = Convex	The cutout is the convex hull of the Gerber.	—
Extract Cutout	Creates a Gerber object with the cutout outline.	—

Tool Buttons

Button	Description
Reset Tool	Resets the tool parameters to their default values.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Extract-3.png — the Method set to Fixed Annular Ring with the five ring fields visible.

Advanced

• Each pad type checkbox enables its ring field. Unchecking a pad type disables its ring field.
• All selected Gerbers uses all the apertures of the other selected Gerber objects. The apertures of the source object follow the table selection.
• The command-line version is extract. See Tcl Command Reference.

See also

• Punch Gerber
• Excellon Object
• Gerber Object
• Drilling
• Panelize
• Tcl Command Reference
• Preferences Plugins