EFA CAMverse › GenCAD viewer
Unique Read GenCAD AND generate it from all 9 formats → Format guide · GenCAD 1.4Received a .cad file for assembly or test? EFA CAMverse opens GenCAD 1.4 natively – no cloud upload – and shows board, components, netlist, panels and 3D. And in the other direction it generates GenCAD from any of the 9 supported formats.
GenCAD 1.4 – the ASCII link between CAD layout and assembly/test.
GenCAD is a well-readable ASCII format that describes a PCB assembly for placement and test: board outline, pads and padstacks, component shapes, placements, netlist and mechanical holes – organised in named sections ($BOARD, $PADS, $SHAPES, $COMPONENTS, $SIGNALS …).
GenCAD was developed by Mitron and established itself as the practical link between CAD layout and manufacturing or test equipment. Version 1.4 is the widespread, de-facto authoritative release – the format has remained stable over the years.
Download for free and install – a native Windows application (10/11, 64-bit), free to use as a viewer.
Open the GenCAD file directly – panel files with multiple individual boards are displayed as well, each board at its position.
Toggle layers, highlight nets with a double-click, inspect components, measure distances – and switch to the 3D view with one click.
Toggle every layer – since GenCAD carries no material stackup, the stackup view is built from the layer order of the file.
Component placements with references and the netlist ($SIGNALS) – with bidirectional highlight on double-click.
Panel files with multiple individual boards are displayed – each board at its position within the panel.
View the assembly in space – with components as 3D bodies, rotate and zoom freely.
Precise distance and geometry measurement right in the layer view.
A native Windows application – no cloud, no upload. Your manufacturing data stays on your machine.
A GenCAD file from any formatEFA CAMverse reads Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, EAGLE, KiCad, PADS, DXF and more – and writes them out as GenCAD 1.4: real conversion, not just viewing. The file for your placement machine, ICT, flying probe or AOI is created straight from the data your customer delivered. Hardly any other tool offers this bridge. All features →
Assembly views & variantsFrom the component data in the GenCAD file, EFA CAMverse generates the assembly print itself, component by component – instead of merely displaying a supplied drawing. That is why your customer's variant can truly be reproduced: components deselected for a variant are never drawn in the first place and disappear completely with body, pads and labelling – in 2D as well as 3D. More about assembly →
What is GenCAD used for?Mainly for programming placement and test equipment: SMT placement machines, in-circuit testers (ICT), flying-probe testers and AOI systems. Because component positions, pad geometries and the electrical netlist come together, placement and test programs can be derived from it – and the plain ASCII format is easy to generate, read and verify.
GenCAD vs. Gerber & ODB++GenCAD focuses on assembly and test (components, pads, nets) – not on full layer fabrication like Gerber or ODB++. It typically carries no detailed material stackup. That makes GenCAD complementary to the fabrication formats – EFA CAMverse connects both worlds. To the Gerber guide →
And when the next customer delivers something else: EFA CAMverse also opens eight more PCB/CAM formats – in the same tool, with the same way of working.
EFA CAMverse is free to use as a viewer – unlock advanced features whenever you need them. Native on Windows, your data stays local.
EFA CAMverse 2026 · free viewer · Windows 10/11 · 64-bit
EAGLE
ODB++
IPC-2581
IPC-D-356
DXF
PADS
KiCad