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Parent page: PCB Objects
The Board Shape defines the shape of the finished board.
The board shape, also referred to as the board outline, is a closed polygon that defines the boundary, or extents, of the board. As well as providing a visual guideline of the extents of the space available for the placement and routing of the design, the board shape is also used by the internal power planes as the reference for the power plane edge pullback and the edge for splitting power planes.
The board shape is available only in the PCB editor. When a new PCB file is created, it opens with a default board shape.
There are a number of ways this shape can be altered. The commands available depend on the current View mode:
Main article: Defining the Board Shape
After launching the Redefine Board Shape command (in Board Planning Mode), the cursor will change to a crosshair and you will enter the standard polygonal object placement mode. Board shape definition is made by performing the following sequence of actions:
When redefining the board shape there are five available corner modes, four of which also have corner direction sub-modes. During redefinition:
Press Shift+Spacebar to cycle through the five available corner modes, press the 1 shortcut to toggle placement between two edges or one edge.
After launching the Edit Board Shape command (in Board Planning Mode), the existing board shape will turn green. The outer shape is defined by a series of edges: where each edge is represented by an end vertex, shown as a solid white square; and a center vertex, shown as a hollow white square. Each end vertex represents the location where two edges meet.
Editing handles for an example board shape after entering edit mode.
The Modify Board Shape command allows you to easily change the shape of the board. The command is accessed in Board Planning Mode and is run by selecting Design » Modify Board Shape. Once the command is launched, the cursor becomes a crosshair. Each time you click, a new vertex is added. The Shift+Spacebar keys can be used to change corner shapes.
Modifying the board shape.
After launching the Move Board Shape command (in Board Planning Mode), the existing board shape will turn green and an outline copy of the shape will be attached to the cursor. Move the shape to the desired new location within the workspace and click or press Enter to effect placement.
An outline copy of the board shape attaches to the cursor, while the original shape can be used as a reference.
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:
This Board Shape has been defined from a set of selected lines and arcs placed on the Keepout layer.
This feature is accessed by using the Design » Board Shape » Define from 3D body command from the main menus (when in 3D Layout Mode). Prior to launching this command, you must have already placed a 3D body in the workspace. To define a board shape from the 3D body:
An example of redefining the board shape based on the selected surface of a 3D body.
As well as defining the board shape from selected primitives, it also is possible to create primitives from the board shape. 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. Note that the cutout is actually a Solid Region object configured to be a negative object. To learn more about placing this type of object, refer to the Region 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). 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 also can 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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