tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post2890104628614361682..comments2022-07-12T12:08:55.695+01:00Comments on Bodge It Quick Rep Strap Bertha Project: KIcad the Etch a sketch for Grown Ups --YayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790019375326311849noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-60154189260743155842010-02-18T17:02:09.397+00:002010-02-18T17:02:09.397+00:00The chip requires lots of copper but i have cct tr...The chip requires lots of copper but i have cct tracks under the chip as well so inbetween tracks i wanted extra copper its heatsinking.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11790019375326311849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-34755102420494037062010-02-18T16:41:45.041+00:002010-02-18T16:41:45.041+00:00I had most fills on GND but some on 12V and it wor...I had most fills on GND but some on 12V and it worked fine. The only strangeness I found was in the 3D view. There is an option to fill with tracks or polygons and polygons only show an outline in the the 3D view.<br /><br />Why do you want electrically and thermally isolated copper under a chip?nopheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12801535866788103677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-39230949445319687792010-02-18T16:32:34.972+00:002010-02-18T16:32:34.972+00:00I tried that, Its still got some strangeness / the...I tried that, Its still got some strangeness / there is a Nack to getting the fill to work.. Correctly on anything not marked GND.<br /><br />So I found its just a whole lot better lableing the NET with a GND symbol then as long as you included a pad that is in the GND NET it works fine.<br /><br />Its a pity I wanted more copper under the chip, that would need to be isolated but couldn get the Exclude Pad option to work only Thermal seems to work.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11790019375326311849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-66361730029704512010-02-18T14:56:15.207+00:002010-02-18T14:56:15.207+00:00If its only copper underneath without a connection...If its only copper underneath without a connection the you just need a copper fill on the right layer.nopheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12801535866788103677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-49823003086101485912010-02-18T14:54:13.484+00:002010-02-18T14:54:13.484+00:00Solved.. Thank You Nophead!!!
The clue was Pad wh...Solved.. Thank You Nophead!!!<br /><br />The clue was Pad when it worked I had included the whole of one of the IC pads if you dont use the pad outline i.e only part of it / it fails.<br /><br />Sucess I bet its in the Destructions some where and I missed it!<br />Else<br />The Destructions need that bit added.!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11790019375326311849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-62143352872372177342010-02-18T14:45:43.966+00:002010-02-18T14:45:43.966+00:00Renoir,
Oh yes as soon as I have tested it and go...Renoir,<br /><br />Oh yes as soon as I have tested it and got it working.<br /><br />Which won't be long once I have the boards etched.. I hope.<br /><br />I do have several chips I'm trying out to get the best performance / cost for the final design.<br /><br />I found it was quicker to route track by hand as the Auto router is kind of.. erm Stupid.. Maybe Its OK on double sided thou.<br /><br />Nophead Aha.. Thank you.. Oh I have managed to get the thermal pad to work once. since my reply don't know why it worked. No extra pin.. <br />So I do now know instead of just edge hatching and highlighting the area it fills the area in solid. Wen it works correctly. Just cant see what I did different and can't re-create it..<br /><br />So going to try the extra Pin called Pad.<br />The chip I'm using in this case has not got a Pad it just needs copper under it.<br />Not got any Vias as its Single sided board used upside down.<br /><br />I still think it should work without a pad though. For example just to make GND planes on RF/HF type boards or maximising copper for high current GND returns.<br />Or just for improving etching efficiency.<br /><br />Despite this complaint and its some times tedious nature it is better than any other Free PCB design package!!!..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11790019375326311849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-57749384503423074652010-02-18T13:13:04.242+00:002010-02-18T13:13:04.242+00:00I think I just added an extra pin to the chip call...I think I just added an extra pin to the chip called PAD. You can see it in the schematic. I then added it to the footprint as a big pad in the middle. That is easy.<br /><br />Adding the thermal vias is easy but time consuming and because it is at the board level you have to do it each time the chip is used.<br /><br />The tricky part is the paste mask contraction. Thermal pads need a much bigger contraction and because they are big you need to split them into four quarters. Again I had to do it at the PCB level because the footprints don't have a paste mask layer.<br /><br />A similar problem with fiducials which need custom solder mask clearance.nopheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12801535866788103677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-52930561544064576442010-02-18T13:10:56.843+00:002010-02-18T13:10:56.843+00:00I am looking at single-sided stepper driver boards...I am looking at single-sided stepper driver boards I can make at home. I've re-designed the MakerBot Stepper driver to print single-sided - I'm planning to etch it and give it a go soon.<br />Would you mind posting the board files so I can have a look? I'm quite interested<br /><br />:-)<br /><br />Renoir (Dave Reynolds)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046079586632841601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-34386621244758771822010-02-18T12:34:19.276+00:002010-02-18T12:34:19.276+00:00Aha did you have th same problem then ?
Where yo...Aha did you have th same problem then ? <br /><br />Where you set the perimiter of the Thermal pad by drawing on your PCB layout it then filling it so you can see it on your board layout screen.<br /><br />But when you print it the pad is not printed..? <br />Will add a picture crom Kicad.. to this post..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11790019375326311849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4960833485745755917.post-70149173094120380712010-02-18T11:54:59.211+00:002010-02-18T11:54:59.211+00:00My extruder controller has a thermal pad with vias...My extruder controller has a thermal pad with vias in it and it definitely comes out on the PCB. I will have a look this evening to remind myself how I did it.<br /><br />I think it is just an extra pad in the library symbol and I had to add the vias at the board level, which was a pain.nopheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12801535866788103677noreply@blogger.com