How to make a guard ring in PCB using Eagle

Question

I am a new hand, maybe my question is too simple:

I plan to make a guard ring in the layout. In the beginning, I made a guard ring using the "wire" function in the Board Layout. However, I have realized that the "guard ring" made by the Wire Function has no difference to other wires, this means that the guard ring will have an insulation layer on it, like other wires, when the board is manufactured by a board company. But, the metal on the guard ring should be exposed, otherwise, it may lose the guard function. can some one give me some hints on how to make such a guard ring (conductive layer is exposed after the board is manufactured) in EAGLE?

Thank you

rachaelp · Answer

Hi Peter,

If you want any copper to be exposed on the PCB for whatever reason then you need to put the area to be exposed into the tStop or bStop layers. For example, if you want to ensure a wire you've drawn on the top layer is exposed then you need to draw a wire in the tStop layer on top of the wire you want to expose.

Best Regards,

Rachael

b.smith · Answer

You may want to expose the guard ring on both sides of the PCB.

For traditional through-hole PCB connections, to be most effective the guard pattern should appear on both sides of the circuit board. It should also be connected along its length by several vias.

Tips about PCB design: Part 3 - Static and dynamic PCB effects | Embedded

There are also some suggestions in this thread:

PCB guard ring

How to make a guard ring in PCB using Eagle

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