Related Content:
Part 1:Create a schematic from your idea – Out of the head, into the tool.
Part 2: Make the PCB from your design – Almost there...
Part-3: Generate output files for printing – Eureka!!
Again, a reminder, if you still don't have your trial license, get it from here:
Professional PCB design tool | CircuitStudio
Right, after following Parts 1 & 2 of this blog series, you should have your design laid out and ready to print. However, no project proceeds without having any errors. In the previous parts, we compiled our design against the rules we set. But, are these fit for manufacturing? Let’s find out..
With your PCB document selected, navigate to Home → Design Rules →Design Rule Check as below. And click on “Run Design Rule Check...”
The Design Rule checker will validate your design against the rules set out and produce a report with all the violations. This is shown below:
Close the “Messages” window and scroll down to the appropriate section in the report where the errors are listed. My rule violations are in the “clearance constraints” set under “Design Rules”.
So, how do we fix it? Change the design rules..ha ha ha!!
With your PCB document selected, navigate to Home → Design Rules. Select the “Clearance” rule under “Electrial” section. Reduce the TH Pad to have a min clearance of 0.22mm as shown below and then click on “Apply” →”OK”.
Now, run the “Design Rule Check” again as described above and your violations should have disappeared as shown below. Note the 0 rule violations.
Save your project and move on to visualising your board in 3D.
Click on the “View” tab and under “View” group in the ribbon menu, click on “Switch to 3D”.
With the mouse pointer on any component, hold the “Shift” key on the keyboard. You will see a 3D sphere on the component as below. With the shift key pressed, hold the right click and drag around the board to view it in 3D.
When you are happy, it’s time to generate the output files for the PCB manufacture. Navigate to the “Project” tab and click on “Generate Outputs”. You should see a window with all the output files that will be generated for the project like this below:
Click on the check boxes next to the ones you want to generate and then click on the “Generate” button at the bottom of the window.
After a few minutes of waiting, the files will be generated. Save the files to a convenient location on your hard disk.
Notice in the “Projects” window there are now a lot of different documents specific to the project such as BOM, DRC, STEP, Drill/Pick Place etc for you to take them to the printer. Have a peek into each of these files (if you have the right viewers). The BOM is shown as an excel workbook for you to print/save etc as shown below.
From here on..you’re on your own soldier. Get those designs rolling. Have fun with Circuit Studio!
Further information from the e14 design center here:
https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-73745?ICID=designctr-devtools-info