A bug in Gerber CAM job?

On 9/14/2011 5:51 PM, Sergey wrote:

I have a design with two supply layers, 2 and 15, $VCC and $GND

correspondingly. No DRC errors, 100% routed.

In the layout editor I can clearly see thermals going to the areas where

connector pins are (with only supply layer and vias visible, pads layer

disabled).

BTW, why does the color of a supply layer get reversed, so the copper is

supposed to be in the white?

 

Then I generated files using gerb274x-4layer.cam job.

Using a Gerber viewer it can be seen that there is no problem with vias, the

supply layer is connecting to the plated holes. However, the thermals on

connector pins are now not reaching the plated holes and stop short distance

away from the holes, unlike in the EAGLE layout.

 

Good thing the board maker did a great job catching tis up before processing

my order!

So, what is going on?

 

Other details:

EAGLE version: 5.11 Professional

The models of connector packages are mine, created for Molex Micro-Fit line.

The pads in the packages do have "Thermals" checked in the properties, as

can be seen in the layout editor.

 

I could not attach screenshots because of the 50KB size limitation on a

message. If someone can help me with sharing the images, that would be of

big help too.

 

Thank you.

 

>

Hi Sergey,

I hope you are doing well. Keep in mind that $ layers are reversed, so

when generating the gerbers do not include the pads and vias layers for

the internal gerbers otherwise you will have issues.

Remember that anything drawn on the $ layers represents removed copper

that's why the thermals on the dollar sign layers are different than the

ones generated by a polygon.

hth,

Jorge Garcia

Dear Jorge,

Thank you very much:

I removed pads and vias from the CAM sections for $ layers, and now it came

out right!

Just one more question: you say that "anything drawn on the $ layers

represents removed copper". I do not see any frame around the board's

perimeter. Does this mean that the copper goes all the way to the board edge

in supply layers? Is that a right thing to do?

Sincerely,

Sergey

"Jorge Garcia" <jorge@cadsoftusa.com> wrote in message

news:j4rbc0$hoj$1@cheetah.cadsoft.de...

On 9/14/2011 5:51 PM, Sergey wrote:

>> I have a design with two supply layers, 2 and 15, $VCC and $GND

>> correspondingly. No DRC errors, 100% routed.

>> In the layout editor I can clearly see thermals going to the areas where

>> connector pins are (with only supply layer and vias visible, pads layer

>> disabled).

>> BTW, why does the color of a supply layer get reversed, so the copper is

>> supposed to be in the white?

>>

>> Then I generated files using gerb274x-4layer.cam job.

>> Using a Gerber viewer it can be seen that there is no problem with vias,

>> the

>> supply layer is connecting to the plated holes. However, the thermals on

>> connector pins are now not reaching the plated holes and stop short

>> distance

>> away from the holes, unlike in the EAGLE layout.

>>

>> Good thing the board maker did a great job catching tis up before

>> processing

>> my order!

>> So, what is going on?

>>

>> Other details:

>> EAGLE version: 5.11 Professional

>> The models of connector packages are mine, created for Molex Micro-Fit

>> line.

>> The pads in the packages do have "Thermals" checked in the properties, as

>> can be seen in the layout editor.

>>

>> I could not attach screenshots because of the 50KB size limitation on a

>> message. If someone can help me with sharing the images, that would be of

>> big help too.

>>

>> Thank you.

>>

>>

>>

>

 

Hi Sergey,

 

I hope you are doing well. Keep in mind that $ layers are reversed, so

when generating the gerbers do not include the pads and vias layers for

the internal gerbers otherwise you will have issues.

 

Remember that anything drawn on the $ layers represents removed copper

that's why the thermals on the dollar sign layers are different than the

ones generated by a polygon.

 

hth,

Jorge Garcia

 

On 9/15/2011 1:12 PM, Sergey wrote:

Dear Jorge,

 

Thank you very much:

 

I removed pads and vias from the CAM sections for $ layers, and now it came

out right!

 

Just one more question: you say that "anything drawn on the $ layers

represents removed copper". I do not see any frame around the board's

perimeter. Does this mean that the copper goes all the way to the board edge

in supply layers? Is that a right thing to do?

 

Sincerely,

 

Sergey

Hi Sergey,

You are right on the money! The copper does go all the way to the edge

of the board. This is generally not a good thing so the recommendation

is to use the wire command and draw a border on the $ layer to not have

copper right at the edges.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

Jorge

>

 

"Jorge Garcia"<jorge@cadsoftusa.com>  wrote in message

news:j4rbc0$hoj$1@cheetah.cadsoft.de...

>> On 9/14/2011 5:51 PM, Sergey wrote:

>>> I have a design with two supply layers, 2 and 15, $VCC and $GND

>>> correspondingly. No DRC errors, 100% routed.

>>> In the layout editor I can clearly see thermals going to the areas where

>>> connector pins are (with only supply layer and vias visible, pads layer

>>> disabled).

>>> BTW, why does the color of a supply layer get reversed, so the copper is

>>> supposed to be in the white?

>>>

>>> Then I generated files using gerb274x-4layer.cam job.

>>> Using a Gerber viewer it can be seen that there is no problem with vias,

>>> the

>>> supply layer is connecting to the plated holes. However, the thermals on

>>> connector pins are now not reaching the plated holes and stop short

>>> distance

>>> away from the holes, unlike in the EAGLE layout.

>>>

>>> Good thing the board maker did a great job catching tis up before

>>> processing

>>> my order!

>>> So, what is going on?

>>>

>>> Other details:

>>> EAGLE version: 5.11 Professional

>>> The models of connector packages are mine, created for Molex Micro-Fit

>>> line.

>>> The pads in the packages do have "Thermals" checked in the properties, as

>>> can be seen in the layout editor.

>>>

>>> I could not attach screenshots because of the 50KB size limitation on a

>>> message. If someone can help me with sharing the images, that would be of

>>> big help too.

>>>

>>> Thank you.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>

>>

>> Hi Sergey,

>>

>> I hope you are doing well. Keep in mind that $ layers are reversed, so

>> when generating the gerbers do not include the pads and vias layers for

>> the internal gerbers otherwise you will have issues.

>>

>> Remember that anything drawn on the $ layers represents removed copper

>> that's why the thermals on the dollar sign layers are different than the

>> ones generated by a polygon.

>>

>> hth,

>> Jorge Garcia

>>

>

On 09/15/2011 01:27 PM, Jorge Garcia wrote:

 

Hi Sergey,

 

You are right on the money! The copper does go all the way to the edge

of the board. This is generally not a good thing so the recommendation

is to use the wire command and draw a border on the $ layer to not have

copper right at the edges.\

Sergy,

It's worth pointing out that the use of supply layers  (designated with

a leading $) has been deprecated.  If I recall the thread, it's slated

to be removed in v6.

Enjoy,

    - Chuck

On 09/15/2011 01:27 PM, Jorge Garcia wrote:

 

Hi Sergey,

 

You are right on the money! The copper does go all the way to the edge

of the board. This is generally not a good thing so the recommendation

is to use the wire command and draw a border on the $ layer to not have

copper right at the edges.\

Sergy,

It's worth pointing out that the use of supply layers  (designated with

a leading $) has been deprecated.  If I recall the thread, it's slated

to be removed in v6.

Enjoy,

    - Chuck