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rbuck
USA
63 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Mar 2017 : 00:30:04
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I am running Easy-PC v20.0.3.
I have a couple of problems trying to generate Gerber files to send to the board house. In previous versions, when I generated files from the Plotting and Printing dialog, there was an option to generate the board outline for each layer. Apparently that no longer exists. How do I generate a board outline for the board house?
I see a checkbox on the Settings tab in the Plotting & Printing dialog "Unplated Board Outlines". I checked that but when I look at the plot in a Gerber viewer, I do not see the board outline.
Also, I am seeing an error message I have never seen before. I have been using Easy-PC since 2008 and this is a new one.
The 'Thermal Isolation' values in the following plot(s) is smaller than the copper to pad design rule spacing.
'Gnd(Powerplane)'
'Vcc(Powerplane)'
In the Design Technology file, Spacings tab, I have Shapes to Pads and Shapes to Vias set to 20. This is because I have copper pour areas on the top layer and want to maintain .020 spacing to the pads and vias.
If I look at the Rules tab, I see Powerplanes and it says <Default>. I set "Isolation Gap:" to 20.00 and "Spoke Width" to 10.00. I would like to have .020 isolation between the pads/vias and the powerplane copper. I have always done this in the past and have never seen the error message before. There must be a setting somewhere that I can change to get rid of the message???
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edrees
United Kingdom
786 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2017 : 09:35:23
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I presume you have a board outline on your design?
The option to include Board Outline on each layer is still under "Layers" (and Settings) on the Plotting option. |
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rbuck
USA
63 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2017 : 17:10:07
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Ed,
After I shut the computer down last night and restarted it this morning, I now see the Board Outline checkbox. I generated Gerbers and now see the outline in the Gerber viewer.
I don't know what the Thermal Isolation error message is. I'm just going to ignore it and send the files to the board house. |
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edrees
United Kingdom
786 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2017 : 09:28:48
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Hi Ray,
I think that your "Thermal Isolation error" message may be due to Gnd & Vcc Powerplanes useage.
In the past, there was an issue with Powerplanes as there could be an isolated area of Powerplane (due to density of pads/vias) which the DRC would not detect. Since then I believe it is safer to use ordinary "tracked" layers rather than Powerplanes and then subsequently add your own Gnd & Vcc pour areas. |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1019 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2017 : 15:42:01
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Fully agree with Ed. Do not use the power plane utility !
Always use poured copper for your power planes, much better and definitely safer !!!
Iain |
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rbuck
USA
63 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2017 : 16:22:46
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Ed and Iain,
Thanks for the suggestion. I very seldom use power planes as I have seen previous postings indicating there were issues with them. For this design I decided to give it a go.
Since I am still seeing the warning, it may be safer to eliminate the power planes and replace them with copper pours. I have never had an issue with pours in the past. I didn't submit the files for manufacturing yet as I wanted to wait and see if anyone else replied to this topic.
I guess the rule with Easy-PC is "never use power planes" in your designs.
Ray |
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edrees
United Kingdom
786 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2017 : 17:14:02
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| Ray, it would be interesting to learn if your "thermal isolation" errors disappear when you pour/flood the two Vcc/Gnd layers (instead of Powerplanes) and redo the DRC. |
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rbuck
USA
63 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2017 : 19:37:09
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Ed,
I removed the power planes and replaced them with poured layers. The errors disappeared when I ran the DRC with the same settings that were giving errors with the Powerplanes.
Looking at the layers, I think I see where the errors come from with Powerplanes. There are four spokes for every pad/via when Powerplanes are used. With copper pours, in some places there were only two or three spokes. I had settings of orthogonal spokes, 4 desired spokes, 2 minimum spokes.
So I think the errors are caused by the extra spokes violating the thermal isolation rules. Apparently Powerplanes are not smart enough to understand isolation rules.
Ray |
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How to generate board outline?