How to create a Centroid File from Eagle, Altium and ORCADALLEGRO
To place surface mounted parts on PCBs via automated equipment, it is necessary to create a Centroid file to program the equipment. A Centroid file contains all the positional parameters such that the machine knows where to place a component and in what orientation on a PCB. A Centroid file consists of the following information:
RefDes RefDes stands for reference designator. It will correspond to your bill of materials and PCB markup.
Layer Layer refers to the top side or reverse side of the PCB or the side where the components are placed. PCB fabricators and assemblers often call the top and reverse sides the component side and solder side, respectively.
Location Location: the X and Y Locations refer to the values that identify the horizontal and vertical location of a PCB component with respect to the board's origin. The location is measured from the origin to the component's center. The board's origin is defined as the (0, 0) value and is located at the lower left corner of the board from a top point of view. Even the reverse side of the board uses the lower left corner as the origin’s reference point. The X and Y location values are measured to the ten thousandth of an inch (0.000).
Rotation Rotation is the direction of rotation of a PCB component's placement orientation referenced from a top point of view. The rotation is a 0 to 360 degree value from the origin. Both the top and reserve side components use a top point of view as their reference point.
A Sample Centroid File
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