EEVblog Electronics Community Forum

Electronics => PCB/EDA/CAD => Topic started by: rahandford on October 17, 2018, 06:57:00 am

Title: Altium Designer Copper Pads
Post by: rahandford on October 17, 2018, 06:57:00 am

Hi, Can some one please tell me the best way to make PCB tracks (as shown) as the package in Altium only has what I would call standard pads. Thanks

Title: Re: Altium Designer Copper Pads
Post by: BradC on October 17, 2018, 07:06:32 am

Are you talking about the polygons poured over pads/tracks or something else?

Title: Re: Altium Designer Copper Pads
Post by: rahandford on October 17, 2018, 07:52:33 am

Yes, so do I just pour them as required?

Title: Re: Altium Designer Copper Pads
Post by: BradC on October 17, 2018, 08:15:24 am

Quote from: rahandford on October 17, 2018, 07:52:33 am

Yes, so do I just pour them as required?

That's what I do. I'm now hoping someone clever comes along and points out how I've been going it wrong by demonstrating a clearly better and more efficient workflow. I can dream, can't I?

Title: Re: Altium Designer Copper Pads
Post by: bugrobotics on October 27, 2018, 09:14:43 pm

Hi all, I thought I would mention my workflow as I just created a cruddy video showing my workflow for less than ordinary polygon pours in CircuitStudio.  Recommend watching at 1.5x speed as I did zero editing.  Should work just as well or better in Altium Designer.  Hope that's helpful.

https://youtu.be/BsuzJeKd-7k

Title: Re: Altium Designer Copper Pads
Post by: radar_macgyver on October 28, 2018, 01:24:32 am

I find it easier to use regions instead of polygons when I need an exact shape. With polygons, one has to fine tune PCB rules to prevent AD from trimming them in unintended ways.

Title: Re: Altium Designer Copper Pads
Post by: bugrobotics on October 28, 2018, 09:10:55 pm

Yea, regions are easier until you need to remove the interior portion of text or something else with holes, internal shapes.  Unless of course you know of a way to manipulate regions (hoping you do).