I have been using zones extensively to help keep low inductance paths on power supply rails. KiCAD seems to do this work very well.
A practice I have been using (when zones on both sides of the board are used) is to lay out the vias that connect the two zones together. Then connect these vias with 8mil trace (small is ok because the zone fill will go over the traces). The net check can then remove the ratsnet prior to the zone being filled. This also works for a single layer zone. Just connect the path you expect will be taken by the fill with a small trace. Also, be careful to select the correct net (for the fill) at the bottom of the zone properties dialog. This sounds pretty simple, but I messed up here some. ...Jim H. ----- Original Message ----- From: kajdas To: [email protected] ; Gal Aviel Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:11 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Zone on copper layer only? You may also want to try: - deleting all the zones and redrawing them (as someone else already suggested) to make sure there are no overlaid zones - turn off DRC temporarily to let you do 'wrong' things to see what is going on. I do this all the time when moving traces that temporarily cross other traces. Martin ---- Gal Aviel <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Martin, > > thanks for your reply, > > ok now I know it is possible but not working for me ... > > I'll re-check the netlist ... > > I'm trying to set zone on analog gnd and vdd ... I'm pretty sure both > of them have net segments routed in both layers, so connection to the > zones should be possible for both .. > > In the mean while, I've sent out the board for fabrication, just since > it's probably a very early prototype and I wanted to have something > working already to develop the software .. > > I'll try again the zones tool next time. > > Thanks - Gal. > > --- On Mon, 9/21/09, kajdas <[email protected]> wrote: > > > From: kajdas <[email protected]> > > Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Zone on copper layer only? > > To: [email protected] > > Cc: "galaviel" <[email protected]> > > Date: Monday, September 21, 2009, 5:27 AM > > I use the same version and I have a 4 > > layer board and I do zones on each layer just fine. > > I am sure you are doing something wrong, check you netlist > > and make sure you are filling a zone over a correct net. > > Martin > > > > ---- galaviel <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > > > I'm trying to build a 2-layer board to be sent to > > BatchPCB.com. > > > > > > Yesterday I could swear that PCBNew let me do zone on > > both sides (copper, and component). I used them for analog > > GND and VCC respectively. > > > > > > But today, after doing small netlist change, I cannot > > ! > > > > > > Whenever I try to add a 2nd zone, After I click the OK > > button on the > > > the "Fill Zone Options", the layer selection list box > > always > > > switches back to the copper layer. Then of course I > > get small pop-up > > > saying "DRC error: this start point is inside or too > > close an other area". > > > > > > I'm using Kicad 20090216-final on Win XP Pro. > > > > > > Am I getting something basic here? isn't the component > > side a copper > > > layer also? because I have some tracks routed there by > > the auto-router. > > > > > > Any help would be greatly appreciate as I really want > > to get this board > > > on the road :) > > > > > > TIA, Gal. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
