National Instruments Ultiboard Working with Vias

Chapter 5 Working with Traces and Copper

© National Instruments Corporation 5-15 NI Ultiboard User Manual

2. In the Remove Islands box, set the parameters to remove islands using

the following (an island is a section of copper within the copper area

that is not connected to any other copper):

•Smaller than checkbox—Enable the checkbox and enter the

desired setting. Any copper islands with length and width smaller

than this value are automatically deleted.

•Not connected to outer edge checkbox—Any unconnected

copper within the coppe area will be removed.

•Reset all manual removed islands checkbox—Select to replace

all islands that you removed manually (that is, by selecting and

deleting).

3. Select Enable voiding if you wish the area around traces and pins not

to be connected to the copper area.

4. If you wish to connect the copper area to a net, enable Connected to

Net and select the desired net from the list.

Working with Vias

This section contains the following topics:

•Placing Vias

•Viewing and Editing Via Properties

Placing Vias

A via is a plated through-hole in a printed circuit board used to connect two

or more layers, as well as the top and bottom surfaces of the board.

Once placed, a via can be moved like a part. Refer to the Tools to Assist

Part Placement of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, section for more

information.

Complete the following steps to place a via:

1. Choose Place»Via and click on the board where you want to place the

via. The Select the lamination that is to be used for this via dialog

box appears.

2. Select the layers that the via is to run between (From Layer and

To Layer).

3. Click OK. The dialog box disappears.

4. Right-click to cancel the Place Via comm and, or click in another

location to place another via.

Contents

Main Page Important Information Warranty Copyright Trademarks Patents WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS Conventions Contents Chapter 1 User Interface Chapter 2 Beginning a Design Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design Chapter 4 Working with Parts Chapter 5 Working with Traces and Copper Page Chapter 6 PCB Calculators Chapter 7 Autorouting and Autoplacement Chapter 8 Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly Chapter 9 Viewing Designs in 3D Chapter 10 Using Mechanical CAD Appendix A Menus and Commands Page Page Appendix B Archiving Data Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services Glossary Index User Interface Introduction to the Ultiboard Interface Toolbars Standard Toolbar Page View Toolbar Main Toolbar Select Toolbar Draw Settings Toolbar Edit Toolbar Align Toolbar Place Toolbar Page Page Wizard Toolbar Autoroute Toolbar Setting Preferences General Tab Paths Tab Colors Tab PCB Design Tab Page Page Dimensions Tab 3D Options Tab Setting PCB Properties Attributes Tab Grid & Units Tab Copper Layers Tab Pads/Vias Tab Through Hole Pad Annular Ring Vias Microvias Maximum Vias Per Net Surface Mount Pads Oversize General Layers Tab Design Rules Tab Setting Favorite Layers Design Toolbox Birds Eye View Spreadsheet View Spreadsheet View: DRC Tab Filter Manager Spreadsheet View: Results Tab Spreadsheet View: Parts Tab Spreadsheet View: Part Groups Tab Spreadsheet View: Nets Tab Page Page Spreadsheet View: Nets Groups Tab Spreadsheet View: SMT Pads Tab Spreadsheet View: THT Pads Tab Page Spreadsheet View: Vias Tab Spreadsheet View: Copper Areas Tab Spreadsheet View: Keep-ins/Keep-outs Tab Spreadsheet View: PCB Layers Tab Spreadsheet View: Parts Position Tab Spreadsheet View: Statistics Tab Customizing the Interface Commands Tab Too lbar s Tab Keyboard Tab Menu Tab Options Tab Customization of Pop-up Menus Beginning a Design About Designs and Projects Creating a Project Creating a Design Creating a Design from a Netlist File The following is an example of component information from a netlist file. Working with Projects Opening an Existing File Saving and Closing Saving Technology Specifications from a Design Loading Technology Files Selecting and Unselecting Elements Using Selection Filters Place and Select Modes Searching for Design Elements Options for Viewing the Design Using the Full Screen Magnifying and Shrinking the View Refreshing the Design Tool-tip Label Setting Up a Design Working with Layers Defining Copper Layers Page Accessing Layers Page Working with the Board Outline Using the Drawing Tools to Create a Board Outline Importing a DXF File Using a Pre-Defined Board Outline Using the Board Wizard Setting the Boards Reference Point Enter coordinate dialog box Design Rule Errors Working with the Group Editor Add Group dialog box Working with Net Groups Working with Part Groups Page Working with Bus Groups Page Working with Differential Pairs Change Group Settings dialog box Net Group Settings Part Group Settings Differential Pair Settings Working with Parts Placing Parts Dragging Parts from Outside the Board Outline Using the Parts Tab in the Spreadsheet View Using the Parts Tab to Place Parts Using the Parts Tab for Other Functions Tools to Assist Part Placement Working with Ratsnests Working with Force Vectors Dragging Parts Rubber Banding Shoving Parts Page Page Using Ruler Bars and Guides Orienting Parts Aligning Shapes and Parts Spacing Shapes and Parts Placing a Group Array Box Page Replicating a Group Unplacing Parts Viewing and Editing Properties Attributes Page Viewing and Editing Part Properties Page Viewing and Editing Attributes Viewing and Editing Shape/Graphics Properties Placing Other Elements Placing Mounting Holes and Connectors Placing Holes Placing Shapes and Graphics Page Working with Jumpers Placing Jumpers Viewing and Editing Jumper Properties Working with Test Points Placing Test Points Viewing and Editing Test Point Properties Working with Dimensions Placing Dimensions Viewing and Editing Dimension Properties Placing Parts from the Database Page Editing Parts and Shapes Editing a Placed Part (In-Place Edit) Editing a Polygon Viewing and Editing Through Hole Pin Properties Page Viewing and Editing SMT Pin Properties Searching For and Replacing Parts Searching for Parts in Open Designs Locating a Part in a Design Replacing Parts Cross-probing Creating New Parts Using the Database Manager to Create a Part Using the Part Wizard to Create a Part Page Page Page Page Managing the Database Page Working with Database Categories Adding Parts to the Database Adding Parts using the Database Manager Adding Parts using the Add Selection to Database Command Merging and Converting Databases Merging Databases Converting Databases Page Working with Traces and Copper Placing Traces Working with Traces Placing a Trace: Manual Method Narrowing/Widening Trace Width On-the-Fly Placing a Trace: Follow-me Method Placing a Trace: Connection Machine Method Placing a Bus Working with Density Bars Working with Keep-in/Keep-out Areas Placing Keep-in/Keep-out Areas Viewing and Editing Keep-in/Keep-out Properties Page Equi-Spacing Traces Deleting a Trace Working with Other Copper Elements Placing Copper Areas Placing Powerplanes Splitting Copper Converting a Copper Shape to an Area Deleting All Copper Adding and Removing Teardrops Viewing and Editing Copper Properties Page Working with Vias Placing Vias Viewing and Editing Via Properties Page Placing SMD Fanouts Working with Nets Using the Nets Tab Using the Netlist Editor Adding a Net Page Page Page Renaming a Net Deleting a Net Deleting a Pin from a Net Setting Net Widths Setting High Speed Parameters Setting Miscellaneous Net Parameters Setting Group Parameters Setting Via Parameters Highlighting a Net Shielding Nets Page Net Bridges Creating a Net Bridge Page Placing a Net Bridge Copying a Copper Route Swapping Pins and Gates Swapping Pins Swapping Gates Page Page Automatic Pin/Gate Swapping Real-Time Pin/Gate Swapping PCB Calculators PCB Transmission Line Calculator Microstrip Trace Calculations Microstrip Equations Embedded Microstrip Trace Calculations Embedded Microstrip Equations Centered Stripline Trace Calculations Centered Stripline Equations Asymmetric Stripline Trace Calculations Assymetric Stripline Equations Dual Stripline Trace Calculations Dual Stripline Equations PCB Differential Impedance Calculator Microstrip Calculations Microstrip Differential Impedance Equations Embedded Microstrip Calculations Page Embedded Microstrip Differential Impedance Equations Centered Stripline Calculations Centered Stripline Differential Impedance Equations Asymmetric Stripline Calculations Page Asymmetric Stripline Differential Impedance Equations Autorouting and Autoplacement Autoroute Menu Items AutorouteAutoroute Selected Buses AutorouteStart Optimization AutorouteAutoroute/place Options Autoplacement of Parts Pre-Placing Parts Understanding How the Autoplacer Works Running the Autoplacer Controlling the Autoplacer Page Strategies to Achieve Better Part Placement Autorouting Understanding How the Autorouter Works Understanding the Four Fundamental Routing Functions Router Preprocessing Initial Routing Rip-up and Retry Routing Optimization Routing Selected Parts and Nets Running the Autorouter Interactivity Autorouting buses Placing Automatic Test Points Controlling the Routing Functions Routing Options: General Tab Routing Options: Cost Factors Tab Page Routing Options: Rip-Up Tab Routing Options: Optimization Tab Routing Options: Bus Autorouting Tab Strategies to Achieve Better Routing Results Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly Placing and Editing Text Capturing Screen Area Placing a Comment Page Renumbering Parts Backannotation to Multisim Mitering Corners Page Manually Re-Running the Design Rules and Netlist Check Cleaning up the Board Deleting Open Trace Ends Deleting Unused Vias Exporting a File Using Export Settings Viewing and Editing Export Properties Setting Gerber Properties Setting DXF Properties Setting NC Drill Properties Working with SVG Properties Working with other Properties Working with Board Statistics Properties Working with Bill of Materials Properties Working with Parts Centroids Properties Working with Test Point Properties Working with Copper Amount Properties Working with Layer Stackup Properties Exporting the Desired File Printing your Design Previewing the Printed Design Page Viewing Designs in 3D Viewing the Board in 3D Manipulating the 3D View Controlling the Elements Viewed in 3D Showing an Objects Height Internal View Exporting to 3D DXF Exporting to 3D IGES Using Mechanical CAD Creating Mechanical CAD Projects Creating Mechanical CAD Design Files Importing a DXF File Setting Mechanical CAD Properties and Options Setting Mechanical CAD Properties Setting Mechanical CAD Colors Controlling Workspace Elements for Mechanical CAD Setting Paths for Mechanical CAD Setting Mechanical CAD Dimensions A Menus and Commands File Menu Page Edit Menu Page Page EditSelection Filter EditOrientation EditAlign EditVertex EditIn-Place Part Edit EditProperties View Menu Page Place Menu PlaceFrom Database PlaceLine PlaceSelect PlaceFollow-me PlaceConnection Machine PlaceShape PlaceDimension PlaceGraphicLine Page Page PlaceAutomatic Test Points PlaceUnplace Parts PlaceComment Design Menu DesignNetlist & DRC Check DesignConnectivity Check Page Page Tools Menu Page Page Options Menu Autoroute Menu Window Menu Help Menu HelpAbout Ultiboard Context Menus Select Menu Page Right-drag Menu Place Trace Menu B Archiving Data Backing up the Corporate Database Backing up the User Database and Configuration files Page C Technical Support and Professional Services Page Glossary A B Page Page Page Index Numerics A B C D E F G H I J K L O P R S T U V W