This is the most simplest auto route tool I've ever found. I absolutely love it.
I'm currently using version 2.17 Which I have been using all this time. But then I downloaded 2.32, the latest version. But PCB routes with ground pours has a track gap problem. Please see the attached files.
I've attached the two VRTs and 2 images describing the problem I have. Please give a fix for this great tool.
Thanks for reporting this Harshana.
This will be fixed in the next release, which I aim to put on SourceForge in a week or so.
The short term workaround for the example you sent is to paint in a short "ground track to nowhere" that goes "south" from the left pin of the connector. That will prevent the problem tag going "south-east".
By the way, are you getting PCB's professionally made (i.e. using Gerber's) or are you etching boards yourself using toner transfer method? I ask because the pad/track/gap etc dimensions in the example you sent are much larger than what I use for professionally made boards.
For professionally made boards I would advise the following settings (which is what I use for all my boards).
1) Thermal relief tag width = 18 mil. Using a large thermal relief tag width of 50 mil is not a good idea as that makes the ground pads difficult to solder when there are multiple of these tags on a pad.
2) A ground-fill gap of 12 mil is fine for professionally made boards.
3) Use a hole size that is at least 30 mil smaller than the pad size (i.e. give pad an annular ring of at least 15 mil).
I use (pad = 64 mil, hole = 34 mil) for most components.
I use (pad = 70, hole = 40) for parts with thicker leads.
For pads that will take wires (e.g. for inputs/outputs/power) I use (pad = 80, hole = 50).
Alex
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Thank you so much for the response. Really looking forward for the fix.
No I don't professionally get PCBs made. But there is a shop in my local
area which does PCB etching. I give them the PDF export and they do the
job. This is one reason why I have fat tracks and large gaps.
Thanks for reporting this Harshana.
This will be fixed in the next release, which I aim to put on SourceForge
in a week or so.
The short term workaround for the example you sent is to paint in a short
"ground track to nowhere" that goes "south" from the left pin of the
connector. That will prevent the problem tag going "south-east".
By the way, are you getting PCB's professionally made (i.e. using
Gerber's) or are you etching boards yourself using toner transfer method? I
ask because the pad/track/gap etc dimensions in the example you sent are
much larger than what I use for professionally made boards.
For professionally made boards I would advise the following settings
(which is what I use for all my boards).
1) Thermal relief tag width = 18 mil. Using a large thermal relief tag
width of 50 mil is not a good idea as that makes the ground pads difficult
to solder when there are multiple of these tags on a pad.
2) A ground-fill gap of 12 mil is fine for professionally made boards.
3) Use a hole size that is at least 30 mil smaller than the pad size (i.e.
give pad an annular ring of at least 15 mil).
I use (pad = 64 mil, hole = 34 mil) for most components.
I use (pad = 70, hole = 40) for parts with thicker leads.
For pads that will take wires (e.g. for inputs/outputs/power) I use (pad =
80, hole = 50).
Hi all,
This is the most simplest auto route tool I've ever found. I absolutely love it.
I'm currently using version 2.17 Which I have been using all this time. But then I downloaded 2.32, the latest version. But PCB routes with ground pours has a track gap problem. Please see the attached files.
I've attached the two VRTs and 2 images describing the problem I have. Please give a fix for this great tool.
Thank you,
Harshana
Thanks for reporting this Harshana.
This will be fixed in the next release, which I aim to put on SourceForge in a week or so.
The short term workaround for the example you sent is to paint in a short "ground track to nowhere" that goes "south" from the left pin of the connector. That will prevent the problem tag going "south-east".
By the way, are you getting PCB's professionally made (i.e. using Gerber's) or are you etching boards yourself using toner transfer method? I ask because the pad/track/gap etc dimensions in the example you sent are much larger than what I use for professionally made boards.
For professionally made boards I would advise the following settings (which is what I use for all my boards).
1) Thermal relief tag width = 18 mil. Using a large thermal relief tag width of 50 mil is not a good idea as that makes the ground pads difficult to solder when there are multiple of these tags on a pad.
2) A ground-fill gap of 12 mil is fine for professionally made boards.
3) Use a hole size that is at least 30 mil smaller than the pad size (i.e. give pad an annular ring of at least 15 mil).
I use (pad = 64 mil, hole = 34 mil) for most components.
I use (pad = 70, hole = 40) for parts with thicker leads.
For pads that will take wires (e.g. for inputs/outputs/power) I use (pad = 80, hole = 50).
Alex
Hi Alex,
Thank you so much for the response. Really looking forward for the fix.
No I don't professionally get PCBs made. But there is a shop in my local
area which does PCB etching. I give them the PDF export and they do the
job. This is one reason why I have fat tracks and large gaps.
Thank you,
Harshana
On Tue, May 16, 2023, 23:06 Alex Lawrow dralx@users.sourceforge.net wrote: