Fill unused areas with copper?

[Dalmation]

Is there an automatic or semi auto way of filling the unused areas of the PCB (between tracks) with copper to save etchant and increase thermal transfer?

Surely you dont need to draw it all manually?

-Thanks (once again).

-Dalmation.

[lacy]

I have something you can try and see if that is what you are looking for. Goto Place>PowerPlane and select it. Iit will ask you for the net. In my test I just arbitrarily selected VCC and copper top. It appears to place copper area around the traces. You can give this a shot and see if that is what you are wanting.

I hope I was helpful.

Edit: Select VCC  on one side of the board and ground on the other side (if it is doublesided). Looks right to me in 3D view.

Message Edited by lacy on 08-23-2007 10:09 PM

[kittmaster]

this only works on one layer. I tried it for the bottom layer and I get no option to do it to the top layer since its grey out.......hmmm

[kittmaster]

I figured it, it defaulted to the remaining layer hence why it was greyed out.

That seems like a proper approach for this issue. The help file says that it can not route trace on a powerplane layer, since I'm running dual layer, one would think that its a problem, but as long as the traces are placed and the design 100%, the power plane for the layers with the net selection that is needed seems to do the trick.

Nice job lacy

EDIT:

http://www.kittmaster.com/imagedump/ScreenShot5000044.png
http://www.kittmaster.com/imagedump/ScreenShot5000045.png
http://www.kittmaster.com/imagedump/ScreenShot5000046.png

Message Edited by kittmaster on 08-24-2007 10:37 PM

[kittmaster]

Here some shots in action

Message Edited by kittmaster on 08-24-2007 10:39 PM

[lacy]

Thanks for the screenshots kittmaster. I know this works for 2 sided boards, but I have no idea what effect it could have with multiple layer. I would suggest caution in using this until its total effects can be determined. I really don't see where there could be a problem if you doing your own PCB work, but I have no idea on how this would effect the boards sent off for manufacture. I also want to thank you for the kudos you gave me on my solution, I really appreciated that.

Have a Nice Day 

[Dalmation]

Excellent!! Thnaks- that should save some etchant

-Now, for a bonus point...

Why isnt it connecting itself to the GND pins where possible (when i choose to make a gnd power plane)?

Surely that would make sense- it would provide extra shielding to mop upinterferesce/crosstalk between tracks?

Thanks again guys- this is really helping me a lot!

-Dalmation.

[lacy]

On mine all the grounds are wired to the power plane on the side that I chose to use as my ground plane I can tell by the little "X" looking mark on the pin hole in 3D view and also on the board view. The way I see this is that if you choose one side as the ground plane then it has no effect on the other side of the board. This may be what you are seeing.  It may be necessary (and I would have to find out how to do this) is to have all your grounds on one side of the board (if possible) and all the VCC on the other side. This would ensure that the pins get put into the power plane. I don't know if this is feasible, but I'll give it a shot and see.

I will continue looking at this and let you know what I can figure out. In the meantime, if kittmaster has anything to add I would be all ears.

Edit: It works. If you goto your spreadsheet and select the VCC and GND net you can force it to either top or bottom. Then re-route your board. Place your power plane. Then look at the board view and 3D view and you will notiice that some pins appear to have a little "X" on them. This indicates they are connected to the plane.

Message Edited by lacy on 08-25-2007 01:27 PM

[kittmaster]

Remember that ground is typically ASSIGNED TO NET 0!

Stupid I know, but ensure that you are selecting that for each layer. I found that both sides can be connected to net 0 if needed or any other net you choose.

Look very close at my screenshots, you'll see the XXXXXXXX's attached to some pins in the copper pour

Great job everyone.....easy pezy

Message Edited by kittmaster on 08-25-2007 01:52 PM

[lacy]

That's cool to know kitmaster. I didn't know you could select the same net for both sides as I never tried that. But he could still cut down on his etching using my method of basically eliminating 2 nets VCC and GND and putting these on the planes top and bottom if that is what he wanted to do.

To be absolutlely clear on this. If a person wants one particular net on both sides of the board to be attached to a plane, then you must select the same net for both sides( on a double sided board of course). This would apply to any net you choose. You can also have split power planes with one net on one side with pins attached to its plane and another net on the other side with pins attached to its plane. I will asume this statement to be correct until proven otherwise.

I am sure ther are other uses for the power plane other than what we have been discussing. So if anyone reads this we have discovered one use for it t and is not necessarily the only way to use it.