V8 PCB Routing Tool -- S witching Layers and Layer Num bering

BUT....

 

I loaded in a 2-layer board from an older version and started randomly

ripping up and routing with EAGLE v8 Free version.  I couldn't figure out

why it kept complaining about trying to put traces on the bottom layer,

complaining that I was exceeding the license limits.

 

I think figured it out:  When it tries to switch layers from top to bottom

it changes to Layer 2!  It should be changing to Layer 16 which is always

the bottom.  Trying to change layers to 16 while the routing tool is active

won't work.

 

If I stop routing and explicitly change layer to 16 with command line, then

I can route on the bottom layer.  So good idea, just didn't quite get it

nailed.

 

For bonus points, check out suggestion about setting active routing layers

which would help even more.

 

Cheers,

 

James.

 

 

Hi James,

I can't reproduce this. If open hexapod and do the same thing it

switches to the only other available layer.

Could you confirm your DRC settings? You are super experienced user and

I'm sure you wouldn't miss something so obvious but we are human after all.

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Jorge Garcia wrote on Wed, 25 January 2017 18:34

BUT....

 

I loaded in a 2-layer board from an older version and started

randomly

ripping up and routing with EAGLE v8 Free version.  I couldn't

figure out

why it kept complaining about trying to put traces on the bottom

layer,

complaining that I was exceeding the license limits.

 

I think figured it out:  When it tries to switch layers from top

to bottom

it changes to Layer 2!  It should be changing to Layer 16 which is

always

the bottom.  Trying to change layers to 16 while the routing tool

is active

won't work.

 

If I stop routing and explicitly change layer to 16 with command

line, then

I can route on the bottom layer.  So good idea, just didn't quite

get it

nailed.

 

For bonus points, check out suggestion about setting active

routing layers

which would help even more.

 

Cheers,

 

James.

 

 

 

Hi James,

 

I can't reproduce this. If open hexapod and do the same thing it

switches to the only other available layer.

 

Could you confirm your DRC settings? You are super experienced user and

 

I'm sure you wouldn't miss something so obvious but we are human after

all.

Jorge,

Yes, the drc layer settings are (1*16).  I played with (1+16) just in case,

but no difference.

It was a design that was originally in v4.1.  So I tried another from V6.

Same thing.  This board had multiple layers.  But when I tried to swap

layers it would only use layer 2 and no other layers.  Layer setting here

is (12*1516).  I don't get a selection menu of destination layer either,

it just always goes to layer 2.

I'm on a Mac if that matters.  Basically, it looks to me like the freeware

license will only swap between layers 1 and 2.

James.

--

James Morrison  ~~~  Stratford Digital

http://www.stratforddigital.ca

--

EAGLE support forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca :: Where the EAGLE community meets.

Hi Jorge,

hm.. I'm also testing the version 8 in free version.

-> I have a similar problem:

Just for try and error::: example, an old 5 layer PCB, larger then 80cm², there i can routing (manually) just on the top layer.

DRC: (1*2*3*15*16)

I thought i can routing on the top also on the bottom layers.

Im working with Windows 10Pro.

Best Regards,

Gerald

---

On 1/25/2017 7:17 PM, Gerald Schwarz wrote:

Hi Jorge,

 

hm.. I'm also testing the version 8 in free version.

-> I have a similar problem:

Just for try and error::: example, an old 5 layer PCB, larger then 80cm², there i can routing (manually) just on the top layer.

DRC: (1231516)

I thought i can routing on the top also on the bottom layers.

Im working with Windows 10Pro.

 

Best Regards,

Gerald

---

 

--

To view any images and attachments in this post, visit:

https://www.element14.com/community/message/214288

 

Hi Guys,

I still can't reproduce any of this. Would someone be able to post a

screen capture showing what you guys are seeing(doing)? That would help

me figure out exactly what is going on.

Thanks guys.

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Jorge Garcia wrote on Mon, 30 January 2017 22:57

On 1/25/2017 7:17 PM, Gerald Schwarz wrote:

Hi Jorge,

 

hm.. I'm also testing the version 8 in free version.

-> I have a similar problem:

Just for try and error::: example, an old 5 layer PCB, larger then

80cm², there i can routing (manually) just on the top layer.

DRC: (1231516)

I thought i can routing on the top also on the bottom layers.

Im working with Windows 10Pro.

 

Best Regards,

Gerald

---

 

--

To view any images and attachments in this post, visit:

https://www.element14.com/community/message/214288

 

 

Hi Guys,

 

I still can't reproduce any of this. Would someone be able to post a

screen capture showing what you guys are seeing(doing)? That would help

 

me figure out exactly what is going on.

Attached is a screen shot showing that when it tries to switch layers it

automatically selects layer 2.  If I manually change layers to layer 16

then it will route as expected.

James.

--

James Morrison  ~~~  Stratford Digital

http://www.stratforddigital.ca

--

EAGLE support forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca :: Where the EAGLE community meets.

Attachments:

On 1/30/2017 6:54 PM, James Morrison wrote:

Jorge Garcia wrote on Mon, 30 January 2017 22:57

On 1/25/2017 7:17 PM, Gerald Schwarz wrote:

Hi Jorge,

hm.. I'm also testing the version 8 in free version.

-> I have a similar problem:

Just for try and error::: example, an old 5 layer PCB, larger then

80cm², there i can routing (manually) just on the top layer.

DRC: (1231516)

I thought i can routing on the top also on the bottom layers.

Im working with Windows 10Pro.

Best Regards,

Gerald

---

--

To view any images and attachments in this post, visit:

https://www.element14.com/community/message/214288

 

Hi Guys,

 

I still can't reproduce any of this. Would someone be able to post a

screen capture showing what you guys are seeing(doing)? That would help

 

me figure out exactly what is going on.

 

Attached is a screen shot showing that when it tries to switch layers it

automatically selects layer 2.  If I manually change layers to layer 16

then it will route as expected.

 

James.

 

Hi James,

In your screenshot something else is going on. It looks like the trace

is over  a dimension line. Since EAGLE changed to an area

limitation(even in the freeware, it's now 80cm^2) it's now using a

different mechanism to enforce the area limit. I wonder if there is an

interaction going on.

Would you be able to send me a sample file for review?

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Hi,

attached the board.

This is an old PCB created with the V 5.12

Now i tried to test the router for routing and error messaging.

I can route the TOP layer across the board but i cannot route on the other layers.

/ oh, (just tested now before posting) i can also route the BOT layer across the board. ->The PCB is larger then 80x100mm.

Gerald

---

Attachments:

On 1/31/2017 4:34 PM, Gerald Schwarz wrote:

Hi,

 

attached the board.

 

This is an old PCB created with the V 5.12

Now i tried to test the router for routing and error messaging.

I can route the TOP layer across the board but i cannot route on the other layers.

/ oh, (just tested now before posting) i can also route the BOT layer across the board. ->The PCB is larger then 80x100mm.

 

Gerald

---

 

--

To view any images and attachments in this post, visit:

https://www.element14.com/community/message/214889

 

Attachments:

E8_routing1.png

 

Hi Gerald,

Make sure the other layers are setup in the DRC and that the layer you

want to route to is active. If you use the spacebar (press mutliple

times to cycle through your layers) does it not cycle. The way you can

tell is by looking at the bottom of the screen it will tell you what

layer you are currently on.

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

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

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