I noticed at some point that a keepout check box was added to the fill properties. I have long wanted to place a top or bottom only keepout in between certain surface mount pads such that copper pours were prevented from filling in between pads that had a layer specific keepout.
Unfortunately to make the keepout layer-specific the fill that will be turned into a keepout must be on a single side layer, like Toplayer or Topoverlay. Unfortunately the fill must be associated with a conductive layer to prevent polygons on that layer from over-running the fill-made-keepout. This now leaves a chunk of copper in between the pads in place of the pour. Better but not what is needed. I thought of using very thin traces in the form of a rectangle with no net to block the migration of the pour. Of course there would have to be a set of rules written to keep the DRC happy. Ideally we could make an all-sides keepout fill be layer specific by selecting the desired layer in a "Constrain Keepout to a Specific Layer" pull down but that does not exist yet. Does anyone have any better ideas how to keep pours on a given layer from passing through certain pads. The solution should be able to be saved with the footprint and should not involve using larger clearance rules. The reason for this requirement is to keep the copper from between surface mount pads when using circuit board routers to prototype SMT boards. Since solder masking is typically not used with this type of prototype, copper under components like caps and resistors can lead to shorts from paste reflow. The selective keepout would prevent the polygon from getting under some of these small components. Charlie Jenkins, Pioneer * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
