Hi Dan, thanks for the reply. I did a little experiment that would seem to contradict what you are saying. I routed a track on the "copper" layer and then I placed a microvia. The router tool automatically changed to Inner_L1. For me, this means that "copper" is on top. I confirmed this by routing a track on the "component" layer. I then placed a microvia and the routing tool changed to Inner_L14. For me, this would indicate that component is on bottom.
All these are proofs to the extent to which we accept that Inner_L1 is immediately below the Top layer and that Inner_L14 is immediately above bottom layer. In addition, the attached screencapture would also suggest that "copper" is top and "component" is bottom. Still, this would not explain why in the libraries yo find the smd components defined on "component" layer, so this would indicate you being right, and my experiments being wrong. Has anybody encountered any problems when using blind or buried vias? Regards, Cristian --- On Sat, 2/7/09, Dan Andersson <[email protected]> wrote: From: Dan Andersson <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [kicad-users] layer stack-up question To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 3:47 PM The "copper" layer is the bottom layer and it's more natural to see it as such when designing with axial components. The upper surface layer is called "component" layer. This is a surviving description from the pre-smd age. The reason for mirroring text on the copper layer i that you are looking on the pcb from above, you are looking trough your component layer as your viewpoint is above the top of the pcb board. The defacto standard of mounting SMD's is on the top - component side. YOU DO NOT PLACE SMD ON BOTH SIDES! Unless you solder it by hand. //Dan, M0DFI On Saturday 07 February 2009 12:26:37 Berceanu Cristian wrote: > Hi, > I have only recently started to use KiCAd and I think it is great. > However, I encountered some...contradictions. I am having trouble in > understanding which is the Top layer and which is the Bottom Layer. In > the help of Pcbnew I found the following statements: > > 1. "They are the usual layers of work, used by the automatic router, > on which tracks can be placed. Layer 1 is the copper (solder) layer. > Layer 16 is the component layer. The other layers are the internal > layers (L2 to L15)." > > 2. "All text on the 'copper' (sometimes called 'solder' or 'bottom') > side must be mirrored." > > For me, the first statement would indicate that the layer called > "copper" is the top layer. But the second statement says that "copper" > is the bottom layer. If the "copper" is the bottom layer, then it > comes in contradiction not only with statement 1, but also with the > fact that the SMD footprints in the library have their pads defined on > the "component" layer (and normally, one would expect the SMDs to be > defined by default on top, and only when you mirror them, they get on > bottom). > > So...which is Top and which is Bottom? > > Thank you for your help! > > Regards, > Cristian ------------------------------------ Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
