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Boris
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jun 2011 : 08:10:50
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Hi, I wondered if it would be possible to have an enhancement to the program to include odd-shape pads. I need to create wedge shaped pads that I can place in a circle in order to attach probes.
I also need to create arc-shape pads of various lengths which will also be placed in a circle for a wiper to pass over them.
Currently we can only have round, oval, and rectangular style pads but the ablity to create any shape in copper and then allocate the area as a pad would be superb. I can create a small pad and 'bury' it within a copper area but I cannot add any solder resist for the copper area, unless anyone knows different.
Any help on this topic would be most welcome,
Many thanks, Boris |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2011 : 09:43:04
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Actually there is a whole range of pad shapes eg diamond, bullet, triangle, octogon etc etc. I have never done it but perhaps you can create new shapes by "adding" shapes together like a jig saw ?
Also you could create your own resist and paste mask to suit if you use copper shapes.
Iain
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Edited by - Iain Wilkie on 28 Jun 2011 10:31:13 |
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Boris
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2011 : 10:33:40
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Hi Iain, I do not have the pad options that you speak of, yet I am sure that I used to have those in the list now that you mention it. I have version 14.05. As for adding the pads together to create one larger shape I assume when mapping I tell the machine that the pads are joined already and therefore do not need joining in layout? Mmmm, food for thought. The only problem that I can see is the solder mask again as I shall have multiple pads overlapping each other.
What do you reckon?
Boris |
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Iain Wilkie
United Kingdom
1015 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2011 : 20:30:06
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Boris,
All these pad shapes are available. When in the footprint editor add an SM pad and properties and click on the shape box. There are no nets in the component editor, not sure if the pads touch they would become one net when you create the component but if not then you can always do that in the bomponent editor anyway. The masks should generate ok if they are all pads. However as I said, if you use copper shapes then you need to edir the paste and resist masks accordingly.
Iain
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Peter Johnson
United Kingdom
498 Posts |
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Topic |
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pad shapes