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Creating a clearance rule with classes

bertho

I want extra clearance for hand soldered components so I created a class "Hand Solder" and assigned several connectors to that class. So far so good.

Then under clearance rules I created a new rule for "Hand Solder" and set a larger clearance.  So far so good

My problem is that the previous created class does not show up in the selection optioins:

Between .....

and

Between ......

I am used to Protel and I would just select between "Hand Solder class" and "Any trace or pad".

What do I need to do to have my custom class to show up in the selection options?

Bertho

  • 0

    I assume you are referring to electrical clearance? If you are trying to set up component classes and assign extra clearance then this will not work as not supported by the rule set. If you are referring to mechanical component clearance then this is available for component classes under Placement > Component Clearance rules.

     

    If looking for electrical clearance then one possibility is to have larger pads for the connectors for easier hand soldering and provided you have a solder mask layer you should not really need any additional electrical clearance.

  • 0 in reply to e14softwareuk

    Thank  you Peter for replaying.

    Yes, it is the electrical clearance I am looking for.

    That is one of the regular features of Protel and I am surprised it is missing in CS.

    The problem specially shows when a small clearance is used on a poured ground plane and hand soldered components are inside that ground plane area.

    I tried to add keep-out circles around the connector pins but then CS did not like me to connect traces to the pins.

    How can I add a keep-out that only affects the ground plane (poured polygon)?

    How can I request the feature of component class to be added to the electrical clearance rule option?

    Bertho

  • 0 in reply to bertho

    I've created a feature request ticket with Altium.

     

    A workaround is possible for what you are looking to achieve. Place a small polygon over the connectors and assign it a class and then in design rules you can set larger clearances just for that polygon. The main ground polygon can be taken back to just overlap the edge of this new polygon which will give you a continuous ground but with different clearances in different areas.

  • 0 in reply to e14softwareuk

    Thank you for submitting the ticket.  Too me that is such a basic requirement that I am surprised it is missing.

     

    I will try your suggested work-around.

    Bertho