Slicer Properties

Now reading version 15.1. For the latest, read: Slicer Properties for version 22
Applies to Altium Designer versions: 15.1, 16.0, 16.1, 17.0 and 17.1

The Slicer Properties dialog.The Slicer Properties dialog.

Summary

This dialog allows you to configure properties for the Track Slicer. The Track Slicer provides an easy mechanism for cutting one or more track segments into two, and can slice tracks on the current layer, or all visible layers.

Click here for more information about interactive routing.

Access

In the PCB Editor, use the Edit » Slice Tracks command, from the main menus. You will enter track slicing mode. Click to define the desired starting location for the slice, then press Tab to access the Slicer Properties dialog.

Options/Controls

  • Blade Width - the current width of the blade. The smallest permissable blade width is 0.001mil.
  • Blade Side - use this option to control how the slice is made, in relation to the axis determined from the chosen starting location for the slice. Choose from the following available options:
    • Left - the slice will be made to the left of the starting location axis. The slice distance will be equal to the full Blade Width, or Gridded Width, as applicable.
    • Right - the slice will be made to the right of the starting location axis. The slice distance will be equal to the full Blade Width, or Gridded Width, as applicable.
    • Both - the slice will be made equally to the left and right of the starting location axis. The slice distance on each side will be equal to half the full Blade Width, or half the Gridded Width, as applicable.
In the workspace, the axis determined by the chosen starting location appears as a solid line, while the extent of the blade appears as a dashed line.
A track segment is sliced such that the extents of the blade pass through what will become the centers of the hotspots of the resulting two segment ends.
  • Snap Blade Width To Grid - enable this option to constrain the width of the blade based on the current Snap grid. If the value for the Blade Width is not a multiple of the Snap grid, it will be clipped so that it is on-grid. The resulting width is known as the Gridded Width.
If this option is disabled, AND the Blade Width is not a multuple of the current Snap grid, one or both of the resulting track segment ends may reside off-grid. If the Blade Side is set to Left or Right, the track end at the extent of the blade will be located off-grid (the track end along the starting location axis will remain on-grid). If the Blade Side is set to Both, then both track ends will reside off-grid.
  • Cut Current Layer Only - enable this option to only slice through track segments on the current layer only. Disable this option to slice through track segments on all visible layers, where those segments fall within the 'path' of the Track Slicer.
Note

The features available depend on your level of Altium Designer Software Subscription.