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Creating a board outline - where are the CAD tools

cpallan

I don't see a way to create a complex board outline in Circuit Studio. There are only freehand tools, no CAD type tools for outline / mounting holes. Are there tools - am I missing something?

 

Thanks,

Charlie

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  • 0

    I generally use the method of creating the board from defined objects.  I create the outline using a Keepout or something else that is easy to draw, measure and adjust.  When I've got the right shape, I select the outline in single-layer mode and define the board from the selected objects.  There might be times when I need to adjust the board shape in the middle of a project so it's really handy to keep the board outline as its own layer so I can set it to single layer mode and easily highlight the outline and redefine the board shape.

  • 0 in reply to adamwebber

    This method works for me, also. It is also fairly easy to 'snap-in' board outlines with the regular layout tools, although not as easy as in a CAD app. First, set your Origin at some convenient datum point, so that X,Y values can be taken directly from a drawing. Set your snap grid to values convenient for the task. For example, if you have a lot of outline features at coordinates like 10.5 mm, set Snap Grid to 0.5 mm. You might want to change the Snap Grid settings more than once during the process. If you have rounded corners, set the routing mode for generating rounded corners and adjust the Design Rules for a suitable radius. Once you have the outline on some layer, you can select all objects and use the 'Outline from Selected Objects' command. Interior cutouts seem to require a separate operation, but can be done similarly. Use 'Place Pad' to create holes at particular locations. Set Pad Size and Hole Size to the desired diameter, and set the Plated Through option as required for the hole. Use 3D View to easily see what you have modeled and to look for missing features or errors. When the holes are setup properly, for example, you will clearly 'see through' each hole to the background color. You can use the 'View Configurations/View Configuration' command to adjust layer colors. I choose realistic colors, so that the 3D view does a decent job of rendering the assembly.

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  • 0 in reply to adamwebber

    This method works for me, also. It is also fairly easy to 'snap-in' board outlines with the regular layout tools, although not as easy as in a CAD app. First, set your Origin at some convenient datum point, so that X,Y values can be taken directly from a drawing. Set your snap grid to values convenient for the task. For example, if you have a lot of outline features at coordinates like 10.5 mm, set Snap Grid to 0.5 mm. You might want to change the Snap Grid settings more than once during the process. If you have rounded corners, set the routing mode for generating rounded corners and adjust the Design Rules for a suitable radius. Once you have the outline on some layer, you can select all objects and use the 'Outline from Selected Objects' command. Interior cutouts seem to require a separate operation, but can be done similarly. Use 'Place Pad' to create holes at particular locations. Set Pad Size and Hole Size to the desired diameter, and set the Plated Through option as required for the hole. Use 3D View to easily see what you have modeled and to look for missing features or errors. When the holes are setup properly, for example, you will clearly 'see through' each hole to the background color. You can use the 'View Configurations/View Configuration' command to adjust layer colors. I choose realistic colors, so that the 3D view does a decent job of rendering the assembly.

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