FYI, two Gerber files are missing from the set of Gerber files BOOSTXL-DRV8305EVM HW files.
Specifically, the board is 4-layer, but the Gerber files for the two inner layers are missing from the directory of Gerber files (and the corresponding drawing pages are also missing from the MDBU003_PCB.PDF PCB layout document). These layers are present in the ODB files (which you can verify using a free ODB++ viewer app for Windows), and presumably in the Altium file collection.
This issue bit me because I'm currently an Eagle user, don't have access to Altium, and there was no easy way for me to convert the Altium files to Eagle format (as noted in earlier threads in this forum). Thus, to produce a minor variation on the EVM, I started with the Gerbers, edited them for my purposes (with a Python utility) and had 2-layer PCBs fab'ed. (FYI, tried Seeed Studio as an experiment: 7 days in production; 7 days in Singapore Post (both trackable); two weeks! rattling around the USPS (with the added insults of tracking going dark and having to retrieve the package from the post office after an early morning delivery attempt failed. Sigh.... would appreciate feedback from others on shipping experiences and carrier recommendations for off-shore fabs.)
The boards were slightly less accurate than my experience from local fabs (entirely adequate for this application, modulo delivery time and the missing internal layers). Fortunately, the missing layers aren't essential (ground shield -- presumably not consequential; and power layer -- which I can hand wire on the component-free bottom).
Suggestions:
- In order to make HW reference designs most adaptable for reuse (which I presume is the intent), make sure that all relevant files are included. (Besides the missing Gerbers in this case, I recall another where the Altium schematic was provided, but not the PCB layout.)
- Particularly in the case of LaunchPad designs, destined for student and hobbyist, it would be great if an Eagle version of the schematic and PCB layout were provided.
- Also, particularly for LaunchPad designs, consider distributing the "Altium" files through CircuitMaker projects, the free online version of Altium for open-source, non-commercial projects.
Thanks for your continued support of the single professional designer and hobbyist. (I'm both :-)
HTH,
Mike