Frequently Asked Questions.pdf

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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
This page is not intended to replace the Design Tutorial in PCB Artist, but to clarify
important items for users. The Design Tutorial is found in the PCB Artist application
itself. It is accessible from the main menu under Help>Design Tutorial.
More information is available in the User Tips Guide for PCB Artist, which can be downloaded
from this link :
Email technical support is available at layouthelp@4pcb.com
Contents
Component Creation and Library Manager
Q: Can I create my own components?
Q: Can I get a quick overview of the Schematic Symbol Wizard?
Q: Can I get a quick overview of the PCB Symbol Wizard?
Q: Can I get a quick overview of the Component Symbol Wizard?
Q: How do I create a connector or other manually created parts?
Q: I cannot find the part I am looking for. Am I not looking in the right place?
Q: How do you make mounting holes?
Q: How big should I make a finished hole size?
Q: How big should I make the pad size?
Q: Do I need to make Soldermask clearances?
Q: How do I place pads dimensionally on my part?
Q: How can I verify that the Component Symbol I created is correct?
Schematic Creation
Q: How do I create a Multipage Schematic?
Q: How do I Implied Connections?
Q: Where can I find power and ground symbols for schematics?
Q: How do I change the values of capacitors, resistors, etc?
Q: I made the symbol, but it doesnÓt show on the list for Add Component. Why is that?
Q: How do I display pin logic names on the schematic?
The New PCB Wizard
Q: Can I change the board size later?
Q: What does Unit Precision mean on the Board page of the New PCB Wizard?
Q: What is a Board Template?
Q: I donÓt know how many layers I need on the Layers page, what do I do?
Q: I need a split plane and a mixed plane inner layers, how do I specify that on the Layers page?
Q: On the Board Parameters page of the New PCB Wizard, I donÓt know the minimum track width and
space I need. How do I handle that?
Q: On the Board Parameters Screen of the New PCB Wizard, I see the options for v-score and Tab rout,
but they are grayed out. How can I select those?
Q: What should I use the Special Requirements text box of the Additional Requirements page for?
Q: On the Production page, must I enter a part number and revision?
Q: I want an array, how do I configure it?
Q: When I ran the New PCB Wizard, I chose some options I need to change. Do I have to start over?
PCB Design Edit
Q: The plane layers are just a bunch of pads, what happened?
Q: How big should I make via pads?
Q: I created plane layers and they donÓt have thermal connections. What happened?
Q: How can I change a component to the other side of the board?
Q: How do I display just the layers you want to see?
Q: When I display the Properties of an object the size shows as zero, but that canÓt be right.
Q: I canÓt seem to draw at odd angles, is it possible to do that?
Q: Can I make Mixed and Split Planes?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I draw on a different layer?
Q: I have a net highlighted. How do I turn off the highlight?
Q: Can I make draws with 45 degree angles to the bends in my traces?
Q: How do I select all the segments of a trace at once?
Q: I need to change a pad (or trace) size universally, is there a faster way that editing the properties on
each one?
Q: How do I set up a Pour Copper area?
Q: I created a copper pour area, but itÓs not filled. Is that correct?
Q: I have added new holes and traces in an existing copper pour. They are not on the net of the
copper pour, but they are connected to it. How do I fix this?
Q: I created a copper pour area and filled it. But it looks like the bounding box I drew the shape with is
still there, intersecting traces that arenÓt on that net. Is that really shorting the nets?
Q: How close do I need to keep the copper pour from the rout edge?
Q: I cannot select what I wish to select. Other items at the same point keep getting selected. How can I
select the feature I want?
Q: How do I edit the soldermask?
Q: How do I make mounting holes?
Q: How do I create Slots?
Q: How do I put a radius or chamfer on my rout corner?
The Autorouter
Q: I have a fine pitch part that will not autoroute in the PCB. Why not?
Q: How can I prevent the autorouter from drawing in a Ðkeep outÑ area that I want it to avoid drawing in?
Design Rule Checks
Q: Are there other checks to run besides Tools>Design Rule Checks?
Q: How can I review design rule check errors effectively?
Q: I cannot get rid of all my design rule errors so I can investigate and edit them. How do I do that?
Q: What do these Design Rule Check errors mean?
Arrays
Q: What is an array (also referred to as a sub-panel, palette, etc)?
Q: How do I make an array for a design?
Q: Cant I just Copy and Paste to create the array and skip the other way?
Order Process Questions
Q: How do I place an order?
Q: I clicked on Output>Submit order and it says that I have errors. What should I do?
Q: The order process is looking for a .fab file. What is that?
Installation
Q: I am getting a windows warning saying "Due to a problem initializing a Microsoft OCX control the grid
cannot be displayed. This option has not been turned off in Preferences."
Q: Why do I get an error during installation saying I donÓt have permissions to access a file?
Q: I am having an installation problem that may be due to a proxy firewall. How can I deal with this?
Q: I cannot find the directory where my design is stored. Where is it located?
Q: Are other operating systems supported?
Assembly
Q: How do I optimize the design for Advanced Circuits Assembly Services?
Best Practices
v Do not use Delete to remove tracks for redrawing.
v Be careful when joining nets.
v Avoid overlapping copper pours where possible.
v Do not use copper pours for contact lands.
v If your surface mount is colored gray, it requires a crucial edit.
v Make sure your power and ground nets are properly defined in Settings>Nets as Power or
Ground in the Class Column.
v Plane layers cannot have draws or tracks on them.
v Always create a new library for any parts you create or modify.
v In Settings>Spacings, never change the Board row to less than .020Ñ or the Shape row to
less than .010Ñ.
v Do not create parts with the same name as any other part in any other library.
v Do not add Vias inside Surface Mount Lands.
v Always use Thermal Pads in Copper Pours for component holes.
v Preventing accidental edits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Component Creation and Library Manager
Q: Can I create my own components?
A: Yes. There are millions of parts in circulation; it is not possible to pre-package a library with all
parts in it. There is a downloadable tutorial available for creating parts.
This link will download that PDF tutorial .
Procedure for getting maximum benefit from the Part Creation Tutorial:
1. The tutorial builds a part step-by-step. Build that part in PCB Artist along with the
tutorial.
2. Refer to the overview of the PCB Symbol Wizard and Manual Part Creation in this
document.
3. Note down any questions you have in the process.
4. Email the questions to layouthelp@4pcb.com when you have completed the tutorial.
Q: Can I get a quick overview of the Schematic Symbol Wizard?
A: Here is an overview:
Schematic Symbol Creation
a.
Click on the Schematic Symbols tab in the upper left of the Library Manager.
b.
Click on the New Lib button in the upper right. This will create a new Library for your
part. Always put edited or created symbols of any kind in a library you created or you
risk losing them in the future.
c.
i. Click Next on the 1 st page
ii. Choose the Units and make the Precision 4 if you use Inches, Precision
3 if you use mm, and 1 if you use mils. Click Next.
iii. Choose one of the schematic shape symbols. In the upper right, change
the Origin radio button to Pin1. Click Next
iv. On the Styles page, leave all at the defaults and click Next.
v. On the Pins page, distribute the pins on each side of the symbol as you
wish. Leave the Distance between Pins, Width across Symbol, and Length Of
Pin Leg all at the defaults. Click Next.
vi. On the Finish page, Name the symbol. Click on the Save Symbol to
Library checkbox and change the dropdown to the library you created above.
Click off the Edit Symbol New checkbox. Click Finish.
Click the Wizard button in the center column.
Q: Can I get a quick overview of the PCB Symbol Wizard?
A: Here is an overview:
1. Look up the data sheet of the part you need to create from the distributor or
manufacturer.
a. Warning: If the data sheet shows a PCB footprint (which is rare), you should
create to that footprint exactly as specified by the manufacturer.
b. Some types of specified footprints are easier to manually create (see below for
manual part creation), than to create with the wizard.
c. Parts with no specified PCB footprint are usually easier to create in the PCB
Symbol wizard.
2. Go to the Library Manager, which is on the top icon bar. It is the fifth icon from the left
that resembles a book.
3. Click on the PCB Symbols Tab.
4. Click the Find button in the middle column. Search for the exact name you wish to call
the part you will create. No two parts in the library can have the exact same name.
Confirm the exact name is not used anywhere else.
ß IMPORTANT - All parts you make or edit must be placed in a library of your own
creation. They should never be placed in a library that came pre-packaged in PCB
Artist. When upgrading PCB Artist, all of the pre-packaged libraries will be
overwritten and new or modified parts residing in them. That directory can
be backed up in advance of the upgrade, but the best practice to prevent data loss
is to create your own libraries to store your new parts and also parts you have
modified.
5. Click the New Lib Button on the upper right. This will create a new library and you will
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Frequently Asked Questions
be asked to name it.
6. Click the Wizard button in the center column of buttons.
7. In the wizard Start page, click the Next button.
8. In the Technology page of the wizard:
a. You can choose to use a Technology file. Technology files save many types of
settings from previous parts, such as Styles settings, Units settings, etc.
b. Units: This can be independently set from the schematic or layout units that you
will use in your design. This should be set to the same units that the partÓs data
sheet.
c. Unit Precision: This controls how many decimal places are shown after the whole
number of any displayed or entered numbers.
i. For example, if the Precision is set to zero and the Units are inches,
a .250Ñ hole would show as size zero.
ii. If the Units are set to millimeters and the Precision is set to 1, the
user can enter a .25 grid to in Settings>Grids but the system will change it
to .3.
d. Click the Next button.
9. On the Type page there are several packages to choose from. Choose SOIC for this
example. Click the Next Tab.
10. On the Pads page you specify the dimensions of the part from off of the datasheet of the
manufacturer.
a. A representation of the part is constructed on the right. It adjusts as you change
values.
b. Notice that if you change the number of pads, the symbol changes on the right to
match.
c. The gold and gray colored rectangle in the bottom center of the page:
i. Viewed from looking down upon it.
ii. The gold is the pcb surface mount land.
iii. The gray is the actual lead as it will sit on the surface mount land.
iv. The ÐHÑ dimension controls the heel, which in PCB Artist is defined
as the sides and heel.
v. The ÐTÑ dimension controls the toe.
vi. The ÐPWÑ and ÐPLÑ dimensions represent the actual size of the
surface mount.
d. Click Next to continue.
11. The Silkscreen Shape page is for specifying the details of the silkscreen. Click the Next
Page.
12. The Placement Outline page is for specification of the part outline that will be placed on
the Document layer. That layer can serve as an assembly drawing. Click the Next
button.
13. The Finish page is where you save the part and specify its library. Make certain you are
saving to a new library of your own creation.
Q: Can I get a quick overview of the Component Symbol Wizard?
A: Here is an overview:
1. Creating the Component. This will join the schematic and PCB Parts.
In the Library Manager, click the Component Symbols tab in the upper left.
e.
Click on the New Lib button in the upper right. This will create a new Library for your
part.
f.
i. Click Next on the Start Page.
ii. Choose Normal Component and click Next.
iii. Details page:
1. Component Name will be the name of the symbol in the library.
2. Package is the type of package, you can type one in if you do not like
the ones listed in the drop down menu. These names do not have any
particular attributes that impact the part of its function.
3. Default Reference is the name the reference designator that will show
on the silkscreen in the PCB layout.
4. Component Pins is as the name suggests. In selecting the part, it will
only show PCB Symbols with this pad count in a particular library.
Click the Wizard button in the central column.
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Frequently Asked Questions
5. Number of Gates. For this type of part, just leave it at the default 1.
6. Click Next.
iv. Schematic Symbols page, first choose the library the Schematic Symbol
was saved to, then select that part on the left. Make sure the Preview button
is clicked on. Click Next.
v. PCB Symbol page works the same as the Schematic Symbols page.
Make sure the Preview button is clicked on. Click Next.
vi. Assign Pins page, click the Assign 1 to 1 button. Click Next.
vii. Finish Page, choose the Component Symbol library you had created
above. Make sure the Edit Symbol Now button is checked if you want to assign
logic names to the pins, if you do not want that you must un-check this
checkbox. Click Finish and the Component Symbol Editor will launch.
Manual Component Symbol editing.
a.
The Gates column will be with only one gate, that is as is should be.
b.
The SCH Symbol Name column should be left as is.
c.
The SCH Symbol Terminal Name is where you can enter the logic names of the pins of
the part. You do not have to enter them, but if you do not, they will not show on your
schematic. On a BGA, it will likely be too crowded to display them.
d.
The next three columns are for pin association. They should have the exact same
number in each row.
e.
The Net Class Name column should be empty.
f.
Making the logic names show in the schematic.
Go to File Save. Exit the part.
3.
a.
Select the specific component, right-click and go to Properties.
b.
Click on the Pin Names and Pin Numbers checkboxes to see those items.
c.
Click OK to exit and save your change.
d.
The logic names of a pad can be seen in the Status Bar in the lower left frame of the
application without displaying them in the PCB Design.
Q: How do I create a connector or other manually created parts?
A: There are no connector templates in the PCB wizard. This is the process to create one. There
are many other types of parts that are so different in footprint variation that they cannot have a
common template in the PCB symbol wizard. These must be created manually.
1. Look up the data sheet of the part.
a. Warning: If the data sheet shows a PCB footprint (which is rare), you should
adhere to that exact footprint in regards to hole sizes and any surface mount land
patterns. Thru-hole pads should use a pad that has no less than .014Ñ annular
ring.
2. Most Data sheets use relative dimensions to define the part. We must manually convert
all of these to absolute dimensions from of a point we can easily reference.
a. Print out the data sheet, it is recommended to blow up the dimensioned area.
Use a pencil to make the conversions and note these absolute dimensions on the
print-out as seen in the example below (the notes are in red).
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