PCB Layout CAD : Various Convenient Functions

Generating Offset Figures

The Generate Offset Figure command is used to generate one or more objects at the location away from a currently selected object by a specified distance. This is available in PCB/Panel/Footprint sheets, and is useful when you wish to create a keep out area based on a mounting hole, or when you want to temporarily create routes at regular intervals to check the routing space.

Generating concentric routes with a certain clearance Generating a keep out area based on a mounting hole

 

Available Objects

This command can generate the following objects based on a selected object.

Line / Filled Polygon / Route / Plane(Static) / Keep Out Area / Design Rule Area

When copying an arc line, Relative Move will move its origin point as well, but Generate Offset Figure will generate the object concentrically without moving its origin point.

Relative Move Generate Offset Figure

Generating Offset Figures

Generating Offset Figures (Object : Route)
The following explains how to generate arc routes with Generate Offset Figure.
(1) Click [Create PCB]
>> [Generate Offset Figure].

 

(2) Select Route in the field of Object.
(3) Configure each setting and then click a base object.
* For details on each setting, see Generate Offset Figure Settings.
* Clicking a route or line will automatically select a set of segments.
(4) Click on the inside or outside area of a base object as a direction to generate an offset object.
  Offset objects will be temporarily generated.
* The objects are not fixed at this moment. It is possible to discard the temporary objects and re-select the direction by pressing a Backspace key on your keyboard or selecting Pushback in the right-click menu.

(5) Click on any location on a PCB sheet.

The offset objects will be generated.

 

Usage Example (Object : Keep Out Area)
The following explains how to generate a keep out area based on a mounting hole (through pad).
(1) Click [Create PCB]
>> [Generate Offset Figure].
(2) Select Keep Out Area in the field of Object.
(3) Select Drill in the field of Pad Layer.
* Configure the other settings freely.
(4) Click a mounting hole (through hole).

=>A keep out area will be generated based on the drill of the through pad.

 

Usage Example (Object : Line)
The following explains how to generate a line based on a pad land as the indication of clearance for pads.
(1) Click [Create PCB]
>> [Generate Offset Figure].
(2) Select Line in the field of Object, and then specify a clearance value for a pad land in the Gap.
(3) Select Electric [Top] / Electric [Bottom] in the field of Pad Layer.
* Configure the other settings freely.
(4) Click a pad.

=> A line will be generated based on the pad land.

 

Generate Offset Figure Settings

The settings consist of Common Settings and Option Settings that are shared settings, and Object Settings that vary depending on each object.

Common Settings
Object Settings
Option

Line Filled Polygon Route

Plane(Static) Keep Out Area Design Rule Area

Common Settings
Item Description

Object

Select an object type to generate from Line, Filled Polygon, Route, Plane(Static), Keep Out Area, or Design Rule Area.

Gap

Specify the distance to generate an offset object.

Qty

Specify the number of objects to generate.

 

Object Settings

The contents of object settings vary depending on each object.

Line

Item Description

Line Width

Specify a line width.

Style

Select a line style from Solid Line, Dashed Line, Dotted Line, Chained Line or Chain Double-Dashed Line.
For details, see here.

For how to draw or edit lines, see here.

Filled Polygon

There are no object settings for filled polygons.

For how to draw or edit filled polygons, see here(Filled Polygon/Filled Rectangle/Filled Circle).

Route

Item Description

Line Width

Specify a line width.

Cap Shape

Select a cap shape for a route from Circle or Square.
For details, see here.

For how to draw or edit routes, see here.

The net name of a generated route will be "DummyNet". "DummyNet" is a net name temporarily assigned to a route created by Generate Offset Figure. After you have created it, specify a new name as necessary.

Plane (Static)

Item Description

Outline Width

Specify an outline width for a plane.

Filled Line Width

Specify a line width for filling a plane.

For how to draw or edit planes, see here.

Specify a value equal to or less than Outline Width for Filled Line Width.

Keep Out Area

Item Description

Restrict Placing Net

Enables to verify the existence of a net object in the area by DRC.

If you wish to specify a specific net as a permitted net, change the setting after creating a keep out area.

Restrict Placing Drills

Enables to verify the existence of a drill in the area by DRC.

Prohibit the Placement of Component

Enables to verify the existence of a component in the area by DRC.

Comp. Height Restriction

Enables to verify the existence of a component that is higher than a specified height by DRC.
=> If the Component Height Restriction is set as "0", placement of all components will be prohibited.
=> If the Component Height Restriction is set as "3", placement of components with an Assembly Area height of more than 3 mm will be prohibited.

For how to draw or edit keep out areas, see here.

Design Rule Area

Item Description

Area Name

Specify a name for a design rule area.

For how to draw or edit design rule areas, see here.

The settings for a design rule area can be configured in the DRC/MRC Settings.

 

Option
Item Description

Selection

Select a selection method from Normal or Point to Point.

Normal:
Selects an object you click. If you click a route or line, a set of segments will be automatically selected.
Point to Point:
Selects a part of an object by specifying two points on it. You cannot specify the points across multiple objects.

Ref Point

Select a reference point from Center or Outline.

Center:
Refers to the center line of a selected object without considering its line width.
Outline:
Refers to the outline of a selected object.

Pad Layer

Select a pad layer as a base object for generating an offset object.

Rounding

Enables to generate an object with round corners.
If you wish to adjust the radius for them, use the Trimming command or draw the corners again using an arc line.

Delete Base Object

Enables to delete selected base object(s) when generating an offset object. This option is only available when Normal is selected as a selection method.

Pads/Vias are not subject to deletion.