Saturday, February 17, 2024

Find and Fix Corrupt Mid Layers

Example six layer board with Corrupted Mid Layer IDs.

.Layer_ID  and .Layer_Name

Example . . . Corrupt Mid Layer IDs

The Fix . . .

Backup the Project Design Files using Project > Project Packager

Open the PcbDoc . . .

Import Changes from Project to Update the Netlist and Design Rules in the PcbDoc.

Run DRC checks, take note of any reported errors.

Create and open a Copy of the PcbDoc in the project.

Design > Layer Stack Manager

Export Stackup as CSV, then include Impedance Screen Captures in Excel.

Delete all Mid Layers from the Corrupt Stackup.

Then add Mid Layers as needed.

Save Stackup to the PcbDoc, then check Mid Layer IDs and Layer Names.

Example Corrected Mid Layer IDs.

Design > Layer Stack Manager

Enter Material Thickness and Impedances as needed.

Save the fixed Stackup to the copy of the PcbDoc 

Copy each Mid Layer from Original PcbDoc to Copy of PcbDoc.

Suggested Selection Filter Settings for Copying Mid Layers

Show all Mid Layers and use Signal Layer Mode.

Hide the Multi-Layer to avoid Selecting the Board and Board Cutouts.

Copy each Mid Layer from the Original PcbDoc to Copy of PcbDoc.

Use Edit > Paste Special > Check Paste on Current Layer and Keep Net Name.

Edit Design Rules and Fix Trace Width Rules as needed, including Diff Pairs.

Import Changes from Project to update the Netlist and Design Rules in the Copy.

Run DRC checks, take note of any reported errors.

Done !

Friday, February 9, 2024

Variants - Silkscreen and Solder Paste

Project > Variants

Check the First Option for Silkscreen

Check Both Options for Solder Paste

That's it !

Project Releaser - Temp Files Location

C:\Users\rjcle\AppData\Local\TempReleases

Open the Snapshot Folder and Drill Down . . .

That's it !

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Room - Donut Shaped with Height Constraint

Example - Donut Shaped Room with Height Constraint

Height Constraint using Keep Objects Outside

Create two Arcs with Crosshairs.

Draw Rectangular Room, ignore self-intersecting warnings while drawing the polygon. Then Edit Polygon Room Vertices to form joined 90 degree Arcs using Snap to Lines and Arcs. 

or

Draw Lines and Arcs then Tools > Convert > Create Room From Selected Primitives.

Notes:

Height Constraint Syntax -  AsMM(Height) > 0.6

Height Constraint - Online DRC does NOT work (bug ?)

Height Constraint - Batch Mode DRC Check works.

Use Shift + Space Bar to Pull Lines to Arcs.