Unused pin is connected to Copper

[Simon74]

I have this DRC error but wonder this will be a real problem

'Design Rule Error: Unused pin is connected to Copper'

The red circles are now mysterious crop circles to me.

The chip and the traces are on copper top.

[Tayyab_R]

Hi Simon74,

As the error message mentions, your pins are not connected to any net so you cannot run copper traces from the pins. Did you transfer this design from Multism with the pins connected to nets or are you placing the part in Ultiboard and trying to run copper traces? The red circles indicate that there is a DRC error at that point.

[Simon74]

Hi,

Since the NI Multisim doesn't have chips like AD9834, I have to place it directly from the database of Ultiboard. Does this DRC error cause a serious problem when the board is printed?

Thanks,

[Tayyab_R]

Hi Simon74,

What you need to do is create nets for all the connections which you have made. You can do this by clicking on Tools -> Netlist Editor. In the Netlist Editor under Net, click on New and give a name to the new Net. Under the Pins tab, click on Add. This will allow you to add the Pins associated to that Net so select the starting point for the Net and then the end point. You will need to do this for all the connections which you are making. This will remove the DRC error.

Hope this helps.

[Simon74]

Thanks,

Last time I used this tool is quite long ago. I barely remember this tools. Thanks for comments.

[windows]

me too facing the same problem.

I have started the ultiboard design without importing anything from multisim.

the red lines are the copper bottom layer and light blue lines are the silkscreen top.

Please help me what are these drc error.

ONE MORE QUESTION:

I have placed a hole ( in yellow ). my question is  are the copper traces connected to these holes? I want them to be connected.

[Tien_P]

Hi Windows,

Since you are creating your PCB without a netlist, it is normal to get these DRC warnings and you should ignore them.  In the Design Toolbox select the Layers tab; uncheck the Design Rule Check box to turn off the red DRC error circles on the design.  Also on the Spreadsheet View select the DRC tab, right click on the error and select Add to Filter from the pop up menu, all similar warnings will be removed.   These DRC are warnings and as long as you make the right connection you won't have a problem generating the PCB.

The yellow hole you placed is just a hole without copper and if you run a trace to it, the trace will not connect to the screw.  You should create a new footprint with just one through hole pin instead.  There are some one-pin footprints in the Master database but it may not be the right size.

[windows]

thanks very much.

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@tien P wrote:

Hi Windows,

Since you are creating your PCB without a netlist, it is normal to get these DRC warnings and you should ignore them.  In the Design Toolbox select the Layers tab; uncheck the Design Rule Check box to turn off the red DRC error circles on the design.  Also on the Spreadsheet View select the DRC tab, right click on the error and select Add to Filter from the pop up menu, all similar warnings will be removed.   These DRC are warnings and as long as you make the right connection you won't have a problem generating the PCB.

The yellow hole you placed is just a hole without copper and if you run a trace to it, the trace will not connect to the screw.  You should create a new footprint with just one through hole pin instead.  There are some one-pin footprints in the Master database but it may not be the right size.

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@tien P wrote:

Hi Windows,

Since you are creating your PCB without a netlist, it is normal to get these DRC warnings and you should ignore them.  In the Design Toolbox select the Layers tab; uncheck the Design Rule Check box to turn off the red DRC error circles on the design.  Also on the Spreadsheet View select the DRC tab, right click on the error and select Add to Filter from the pop up menu, all similar warnings will be removed.   These DRC are warnings and as long as you make the right connection you won't have a problem generating the PCB.

The yellow hole you placed is just a hole without copper and if you run a trace to it, the trace will not connect to the screw.  You should create a new footprint with just one through hole pin instead.  There are some one-pin footprints in the Master database but it may not be the right size.

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