NextPCB Multi-Design Ordering Specification: Different PCB Designs in Gerber Files

At NextPCB, we are dedicated to providing products and services of the highest caliber. We continuously optimize our manufacturing processes and refine our technology to meet the increasingly diverse and complex design requirements of our global customer base.

To ensure we deliver premium quality and maintain sustainable production capabilities, special processes and custom requirements may incur additional charges based on their complexity and resource demands.

While all standard pricing is calculated instantly using our online quoting tool based on your uploaded Gerber files and selected options, there are critical exceptions. For certain intricate designs, specific special processes, or if the correct options are not accurately selected at the time of order submission, surcharges may apply during the mandatory Design for Manufacturing (DFM) file review process.

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I. Special Processing Fee: Defining the Multi-Design File

A Multi-Design File is defined as a single set of Gerber data that contains two or more independent and distinct circuit designs (e.g., Design A and Design B, not simply panelized copies of the same design).

If your submitted file contains multiple different designs, an additional design processing fee is required. This fee is calculated by selecting the corresponding number of different designs within the NextPCB online quotation calculator.

Note on SMT Assembly: If your order includes our SMT assembly service, any fees related to the PCBA Panelization (creating a manufacturing array for assembly) will be quoted separately from the PCB Multi-Design file handling fee.

I.A. Detailed Definition of  "Different Designs" in PCB Manufacturing

To accurately select the corresponding number of designs and avoid delays, a "Different Design" is defined by the following criteria:

• Design Variations: Different designs refers to different board designs in the same set of Gerber files, which includes any differences in the copper, soldermask, silkscreen, drill layers, or the board outline.
• Separable Designs: If these designs are divided by V-cuts, Stamp Holes, or Slots , and therefore can be split apart after manufacture, they are considered different designs.
• NextPCB Panelization: If the files contain multiple individual designs that must be panelized by NextPCB, they are considered different designs.

I.B. Policy for Incorrect Selection and Defective Boards

• Mandatory Selection: Please ensure the correct number of designs is selected. Failure to do so may result in delays or misinterpretation of the data. We will not be held responsible for errors caused by selecting the incorrect number of designs.
• Defective Boards Policy (If X-outs are Not Accepted): For multiple designs, if X-outs are not accepted, and some boards are defective, we will not arrange reproduction. Instead, we will offer a refund for the defective pieces.
• Note on SMT Assembly: If your order includes our SMT assembly service, any fees related to the PCBA Panelization (creating a manufacturing array for assembly) will be quoted separately from the PCB Multi-Design file handling fee.

The default is a single design

Different Designs(2 designs): the value for quantity and board type have changed

II. Multi-Design Quantity Calculation and Ordering Rules

For Multi-Design Orders, the method for calculating the final quantity of boards differs from standard single-design orders. We utilize the "Set" as the fundamental ordering unit to simplify complex orders.

1. PCB Manufacturing Quantity Formula

The total number of individual circuit boards (Pieces) you receive is determined by the following formula:

Total Pieces = No. of Sets Ordered x No. of Different Designs x Panel Quantity per Design

• No. of Sets Ordered: The quantity you specify in your order (e.g., 10).
• No. of Different Designs: The count of unique circuits included in your file (e.g., 3 unique designs).

Panel Quantity per Design: The number of copies of a single design that were grouped together in your panelization scheme (e.g., if you panelized a 1 x 3 array, the quantity is 3).

Example Calculation:
If your file contains 3 different designs (A, B, and C), and each design is panelized with 3 copies (1 x 3 array), and you select an order quantity of 10 Sets:

Total Pieces = 10 (Sets) x 3 (Designs) x 3 (Panel Copies) = 90 Pieces

This means you will receive 30 pieces of Design A, 30 pieces of Design B, and 30 pieces of Design C.

2. PCB Assembly Quantity Input Guidance

When placing an order for PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly), the required quantity must always be input in Individual Pieces:

• Full Assembly: If you require assembly for all boards in the example above, the PCBA quantity must be entered as 90 Pieces.
• Partial Assembly: If you only need to populate Design A, the PCBA quantity should be entered as 30 Pieces (which is the total number of Design A boards manufactured).

 If there are multiple different designs, the files should be provided as follows:

III. Mandatory File Submission Requirements

To ensure a smooth, error-free production process, all Multi-Design files must meet the following consistency requirements:

Uniform Panelization is Required: All different circuit designs included within the same Multi-Design order must utilize a unified panel format and maintain consistent individual quantities.

• File Distinction: Files should be provided with clear naming conventions to distinguish between the different designs (e.g., DesignA_Gerber.zip, DesignB_Gerber.zip).
• Critical Warning: We use the total count of designs and the panelization information you provide to calculate your final output. NextPCB will not be held responsible for quantity discrepancies, incorrect yields, or production delays resulting from customers submitting Multi-Design files that use inconsistent panelization formats or different order quantities for each individual design. Adherence to these specifications is mandatory for production authorization.

We will not be held responsible for incorrect quantities in such cases: 

NextPCB is committed to high-precision manufacturing. By following these Multi-Design ordering specifications, you help us streamline the DFM process and accelerate your project's time-to-market.

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