PCB_Cmd-PlaceBoardOutlinePlaceBoardOutline_AD

Applied Parameters: Mode=BOARDOUTLINE_FROM_SEL_PRIMS

Summary

This command is used to redefine a board shape using a closed boundary made up of selected track and/or arc objects.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor when configured in 2D Layout Mode by choosing the Design » Board Shape » Define from selected objects command from the main menus.

Use

Place a closed boundary, using tracks and arcs (typically placed on a mechanical layer) to define the outline of the board shape that you want to create. Ensure that all constituent track and arc primitives of this boundary are selected.

After launching the command, the current board shape will be modified to fill the area defined by your selected boundary.

Tips

1. The software will attempt to find the shape based on the centerline of the selected objects. If the coordinates for the end of one track/arc segment do not exactly match the coordinates of the next track/arc segment then the boundary identification algorithm will fail and a message will be displayed showing the failure location and will offer to use a tracing algorithm instead. Note that the tracing algorithm follows the outer edge of the track/arc objects so the board shape will be slightly different than the one created from the centerlines. Only choose this option if your design can accept the impact of this difference.

Applied Parameters: Mode=PRIMS_FROM_BOARDOUTLINE

Summary

This command allows you to replicate the current board outline and include any board cutouts as primitive objects (tracks and/or arcs), if you wish.

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:

• You want to modify the board shape (or board cutouts) by modifying track and arc primitives first.
• You need a keepout boundary for the board or keepout boundaries for board cutouts on the Keep-Out layer.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor when configured in 2D Layout Mode by choosing the Design » Board Shape » Create Primitives From Board Shape command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the Line/Arc Primitives From Board Shape dialog will open. Use this dialog to configure the width of the tracks/arcs, the layer onto which the primitives are placed (typically a mechanical layer), and any additional options as required. With all options defined as required, click OK to have the primitives created on the nominated layer.

Tips

1. If the target layer is specified to be the Keep-Out layer, object specific keepout objects will be placed directly on the layer (keepout track and keepout arcs).
2. 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 track and/or arc objects on a mechanical layer. This can be done automatically as part of this command by enabling the Route Tool Outline option in the Line/Arc Primitives From Board Shape dialog. When this option is enabled, the track/arc objects are placed so their edges touch the edge of the board shape and the edge of a cutout.
3. You can use this command to redefine the board shape using some or all of the track/arc primitives you have created. Edit the objects to the desired shape and size then use the Design » Board Shape » Define from selected objects command to define the board shape from them.