AD 15, solder mask expansion on tracks

[linux-dude]

Hi,

I've been scratching my head for quite a while, maybe someone have solved this.

I'm trying to figure out a way to make solder mask expansion on *tracks* controlled via rules.

I have set up a rule that for a specific class set solder mask expansion to 20mil. But for that value to be enforced, i must first route the track and then select every track in the class and in the Track Property dialog | Solder Mask Expansion, enable "Expansion From Rule". I've tried to change default track to have this option enabled, but all new traces are created with the option disabled. Is there a way to force AD to enable "Expansion From Rue"?

Thanks in advance

[T3sl4co1l]

Don't know offhand.

You can set defaults from the Preferences dialog.  Apparently not everything can be persistently changed from the TAB dialog.

Better selection might help.  Try S (Select), S, C, P, N, etc.

Might also consider using polygons, and drawing soldermask patterns on top of that.  Rather an anti-solution, but can be good for fatter routes.

Tim

[ajb]

If you've set expansion from rule in the default PCB primitives and it's not actually affecting new traces, I'd call that a bug. 

As a slightly easier workaround, perhaps you could use a net class plus a query to select all of the tracks that need expansion and apply it all at once.

[linux-dude]

Thanks for your replies.

I finally gave up on this. Either a bug or me missing something. I learned to use filtering better, so it wasn't so bad after all

[Richard Head]

On Protel you create a keepout layer. Altium may be similar.