PCB Layout CAD

PCB Layout CAD : PCB Settings

Layers

Configure layer settings for PCB documents. In the Layer setting dialog, it is possible to configure "Physical Layer", "Layer Settings" and Display Layer Settings.

Item	Description
Physical Layer	Configures electrical layers such as Top and Bottom layers. It is possible to set the number of board layers such as a 2-layer board or 4-layer board, and the materials.
Layer Settings	Customize layers such as layers for Dimensions and layers for comments can be added to Physical Layers. It is also possible to set display/lock, object color, and the fill style for each layer.
Display Layer Settings	Toggling can be done easily by registering display of the PCB drawing that is being designed.

For more details about opening the PCB Settings screen, refer to About PCB Settings.

Layer Screen

Explanation of Layers

Layers	Description
Top, Bottom	Indicates the Top layer(Component side) and Bottom layer(Solder side). (These cannot be deleted because they are predetermined layers.)
noname	Indicates an added inner signal layer. Its layer name can be changed.
Other	Common layers such as Board (Board Outline) for all layers.
System	Layer used for the system such as Drills and Rats. (These cannot be added or deleted because they are predetermined layers.)

Physical Layer

Configure Physical Layer settings.
For a 2-layer board, configure settings for the "Top" and "Bottom" layers.
For a 4-layer board, configure settings for the "Top", "Layer2", "Layer3", and "Bottom" layers.

Thickness and materials, etc., are used for Recommended Width (Impedance Control).
When not necessary, etc., it is OK not to configure these settings.

Adding Physical Layers

The following will explain how to add physical layers.

(1)	Click "Add".

An inner layer will be added.

You can also add inner layers by entering the number of layers from the "Layers" button.

Inner layers will be added according to the specified number of layers.

Deleting Physical Layers

The following will explain how to delete physical layers.

(1)	Select an inner layer and then click "Delete". *When deleting a layer, execute by selecting the lowest layer of the inner layers (noname〇). If another layer is specified, it will not be possible to select "Delete".

The selected inner layer will be deleted.

You can also delete inner layers by entering the number of layers from the "Layers" button.

Inner layers will be deleted according to the specified number of layers.

It is also possible to add/delete layers while designing. However, when deleting an added layer,
it is necessary to delete all objects placed on that layer.

Layer Settings

It is possible to configure customize layers included in each layer and color settings.

For surface layers (Top/Bottom), "Silk", "Electric", "Paste", "Solder", "Assembly", "KeepOut", "DesignRule", and "Dimension" layers are automatically prepared.
When a Physical Layer is added to an inner layer, an "Electric", "KeepOut", and "DesignRule" layer are created automatically.
For Other layers, "Board", "KeepOut", "DesignRule", and "Dimension" layers are prepared.
For System layers, "Drill", "Rat", "ConnectionPoint", "DRC/MRC Error", "DRC/MRC Error(Approved)", "Background Color", "Cursor", "Selected Item", "Grid", and "Origin Point" are prepared.
In addition to the above, it is possible to add customize layers (Dimension, Comment, Assembly Drawing) freely.

Explanation of Default Layers

The following will explain the default layers that are prepared automatically.
Default layers cannot be deleted.

Layers	Description
Silk	This is the Silk object layer, and it includes Non-Electric Objects such as References, Lines, and Text.
Electric	This is the Copper layer, and electric objects such as Routes, Planes, Pad Lands, and Via Lands are automatically included in this "Electric" layer.
Route	This is the Route object layer in the Electric layer.
Plane	This is the Plane object layer in the Electric layer.
PadStack	This is the Pad Land object layer in the Electric layer.
ViaStack	This is the Via Land object layer in the Electric layer.
Paste	This is the metal mask and paste mask layer. When metal mask settings are configured for the CHIP pad, objects will be created in this layer automatically. It is also possible to place objects such as Lines arbitrarily.
Solder	This is the solder resist and solder mask layer. When Solder Resist Settings are configured for a Pad/Via, objects will be created in this layer automatically. It is also possible to place objects such as Lines arbitrarily.
Assembly	This is the official outline line layer for components. For IPC Footprints, official outline lines for components are created in this layer automatically. It is also possible to prepare this when creating a footprint.
KeepOut	This is the Keep Out Area layer. When this setting is configured for individual layers, it is created in the KeepOut layer of each layer. When common for all layers, it is created in the KeepOut layer for Other.
DesignRule	This is the Design Rule Area layer. When this setting is configured for individual layers, it is created in the DesignRule layer of each layer. When common for all layers, it is created in the DesignRule layer for Other.
Dimension	This is the Dimension layer. For "Create Component Dimension Automatically", by default, dimensions are automatically created in the Dimension layer. For "Create Board Outline Dimension Automatically", by default, dimensions are automatically created in the Dimension layer for Other.
Board	This is the Board Outline layer. A closed drawing is drawn using Lines and Arcs, etc.

System Layer

Layers	Description
Drill	The color of the Drill on the board can be set. Drills created using Pads and Vias are recognized automatically.
Rat	The color settings for Lines (Rats Net) that express Net connections can be configured.
ConnectionPoint	The color settings for Connection Point objects can be configured.
DRC/MRC Error	The color of DRC/MRC error marks can be configured. The color of error marks for "Not yet" errors is set by this setting.
DRC/MRC Error(Approved)	The color of DRC/MRC error marks can be configured. The color of error marks for "Approved" errors is set by this setting.
Background Color	Background Color settings can be configured.
Cursor	The color of the Cursor Shape can be set.
Selected Item	The color can be set for when an object is selected.
Grid	GRID Line color settings can be configured.
Origin Point	Origin Point Mark Color settings can be configured.

Item

Item	Content
Display Mark	You can toggle display ON/OFF.
Lock Mark	Layer objects can be locked. It becomes impossible to select objects placed on locked layers.
Color	By clicking on a color, you can select a color from the color palette. You can select any color you want.
Fill Style	The Fill Type can be selected.

- Use Toggle All ON/OFF to easily turn display and the lock mark ON/OFF.
- It is possible to change the order in the same Physical Layer, and the display order changes according to this order. The higher it is displayed, the higher the display priority.

The following will explain various operations that can be executed from the Layer Settings window.

- Adding a Customize Layer
- Deleting a Customize Layer
- Changing the Name of a Customize Layer
- Changing Each Layer Color
- Changing the Fill Style of Each Layer
- Deleting All Unused Layers

Adding a Customize Layer

The following will explain how to add a customize layer.

(1)	Select the layer in which you want to add a customize layer, and then click "Add".

(2)	Input a name for the customize layer, and then click "OK".

Deleting a Customize Layer

The following will explain how to delete a customize layer.

(1)	Select the customize layer that you want to delete.
(2)	Click "Delete".

Changing the Name of a Customize Layer

The following will explain how to rename a customize layer.

(1)	Select the customize layer that you want to change.
(2)	Right click Select => [Rename]. * This can also be done by pressing the "F2" key.

Changing Each Layer Color

The following will explain how to change the color of each layer.

Click Color to display the Color Palette, and then select a color.

The color will be changed.

Changing the Fill Style

The following will explain how to change the Fill Style of each layer.

Click Fill Style to display the Fill Style Palette, and then select a fill style.

The Fill Style will be changed.

Deleting All Unused Layers

It is possible to delete all unused customize layers with no objects placed.
The following will explain how to delete all unused layers.

(1)	Click "Del. Unused Layers".

(2)	As a delete confirmation dialog will appear, click "Yes".

(3)	Click "OK".

All unused layers will be deleted.

Display Layer Settings

By registering display of the PCB drawing that is being designed, you can easily toggle from the Layer Window or from the bottom of the screen.

Refer to Reading Display Layer Settings.

Adding to the Setting List

The following will explain how to add to the Setting List.

(1)	Click "Add" on the Setting List.

(2)	Place a check mark on a layer you want to display.
*	Toggle All ON/OFF is convenient.

Deleting from the Setting List

The following will explain how to delete from the Setting List.

(1)	Select the Setting List item that you want to delete.
(2)	Click "Delete".

Changing Names in the Setting List

The following will explain how to change names in the Setting List.

(1)	Select the Setting List item that you want to change.
(2)	Right click Select => [Rename]. * Names can also be changed by pressing the "F2" key.

Show Output Layers only

When the check for "Show Output Layers only" is removed, all layers will be shown.

When "Show Output Layers only" is checked	When "Show Output Layers only" is unchecked

Present Layer Display

The Display Layer that applies to the current design drawing can be applied automatically.
This is convenient because confirmed settings displayed on the screen can be applied as they are.

Saving Settings

Settings can be saved and read. For more details, refer to Default Environment.

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