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Parent page: The Board
The Board Shape defines the overall shape of the finished board. Click through the slides to see the three Board Regions that make up the rigid-flex shape, and the finished board in 3D.
The Board Shape, also referred to as the board outline, is a closed polygonal shape that defines the overall extents of the board. The Board Shape can be made up of a single Board Region (for a traditional rigid PCB), or multiple board regions (for a rigid-flex PCB). As well as providing a visual guide of the extents of the space available for the placement and routing of the design, the Board Shape is also used by the software for:
The Board Shape is only available in the PCB editor. When a new PCB file is created, it opens with a rectangular Board Shape created from a single Board Region.
The overall Board Shape can be created by:
The Board Shape is created from one or more Board Regions. For designers working on a single-region board design, the following commands can be used to define the Board Shape:
The Board Shape can also be defined from selected objects (in 2D Layout Mode). Typically this will be a set of lines and/or arcs placed on the Keepout layer or a mechanical layer.
Use the following sequence of steps:
Board Shape
, as shown in the video below.
The video demonstrates creating the Board Shape from selected objects and then slicing the shape to create the three regions needed.
Then it shows an alternate approach, where the three Board Regions are defined from selected objects.
The Board Shape can be defined from a closed outline imported as DXF/DWG data.
By combining the ability to import DXF / DWG data into a mechanical layer and then defining the board shape from selected objects, a shape defined in a mechanical CAD package can be transferred into the PCB editor.
To prepare the new board for import:
The next step is to import the board's shape as a .DXF or .DWG file. Note that the shape to be imported must be a closed shape and internal cutouts are not automatically created (but can be defined later from imported objects).
This feature redefines the board shape based on a surface (face) of an imported 3D model. Supported model formats includes: STEP (*.Stp or *.STEP), Parasolid (*.x_t or *x_b), or a SOLIDWORKS Part File (*.SldPrt). It can be used to quickly create a complex board shape and helps integration between electronic and mechanical design areas. This is a two-stage process: first the STEP model is imported, then the required shape is selected from the STEP model.
To do this:
Note that if you keep the STEP model embedded in or linked to the PCB file, you will be notified whenever the STEP file changes. You will also be prompted to update the shape, which helps if the shape is still under development and updates are expected.
As well as defining the Board Shape from selected primitives, it also is possible to create primitives from the Board Shape using the Design » Board Shape » Create Primitives from Board Shape command. This command will open the Line/Arc Primitives from Board dialog. Use this command when the Board Shape exists but there are currently no objects along the boundary. Situations where this command can be useful include:
A board cutout can be placed anywhere in the Board Shape. To place a cutout, switch to view the board in 2D Layout Mode then use the Design » Board Shape » Define Board Cutout command from the main menus (alternatively, you can also use the Place » Define Board Cutout command in Board Planning Mode). Note that the cutout is actually a Region object configured to be a negative object.
A Board Cutout has been placed on the Board Shape.
Keep the following points in mind when creating a board cutout.
Polygons that overlay a solid region board cutout will pour as close to the edge of the cutout as allowed by the applicable Clearance design rule. A specific Clearance design rule can be created if required, which could, for example, be scoped to apply between IsBoardCutoutRegion
and InPolygon
.
A common approach used to cut the finished board from the fabrication panel is to mill or route the board out of the panel. Board cutouts can also be routed out. A Route Tool path is defined by placing Line and/or Arc objects on a mechanical layer. This can be done manually or automatically by the software.
To define a Route Tool path for the board and any board cutouts:
The images below show the Route Tool path defined on a mechanical layer.
A Board Cutout shown on the left, with a Route Tool path defined in the image on the right.
As well as the Board Shape, you also should define a placement and routing boundary around the edge of the board. This can be created automatically from the Board Shape itself using the Design » Board Shape » Create Primitives From Board Shape command (in 2D Layout Mode), and setting the Layer in the Line/Arc Primitives from Board dialog to the Keep-Out Layer
.
Alternatively, this can be done manually by placing objects on the keepout layer. Objects placed on this layer define a no-crossing-allowed boundary for components and routing. Typically you want objects such as components and routing to be a certain distance from the edge of the board; this distance can be controlled by setting the applicable routing and component placement design rules. You can also define other routing and component keepouts areas for mechanical objects, such as screw heads or other mounting requirements.
A keepout boundary defined by placing standard line objects on the keepout layer.
You also can define layer-specific keepouts on any copper layer. To do this:
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