This page describes how to draw various planes.

For how to toggle plane types, refer to here.

Drawing Various Planes

There are three kinds of plane objects, "Polygon Plane", "Rectangle Plane" and "Circle Plane". The method for drawing each object is as follows.

Drawing Polygon Plane
Drawing Rectangle Plane
Drawing Circle Plane

Drawing Polygon Plane

The following explains how to draw a polygon plane.

(1) In a PCB sheet, click [Create PCB] =>[Polygon Plane].

The mode will be switched to Polygon Plane Creation Mode.

(2) Select a net to be assigned to a plane from placed net objects. * When hovering the mouse cursor over a object with a net, that net name will be displayed on the cursor. * A net can also be selected on the Property Window.

(3) Click at each corner of a plane and create its shape. (4) Double-click at an end point. * If the start point and the end point overlap, you can finish the drawing by a click.   * For details on operations that can be performed when drawing planes, see Various Operations for Drawing Planes.

* During plane creation, it is possible to re-set the net to be added to a plane by executing [Assign Net] on the right click menu and selecting a net object again.

(5) If an unconnected plane exists, a confirmation message, "Do you want to delete unconnected plane?" will appear. Click "Yes" to continue. * For more details about unconnected planes, refer to Deleting Unconnected Planes.

A polygon plane is now created.

 

Drawing Rectangle Plane

The following explains how to draw a rectangle plane.

(1) In a PCB sheet, click [Create PCB] =>[Rectangle Plane].

The mode will be switched to Rectangle Plane Creation Mode.

(2) Select a net to be assigned to a plane from placed net objects. * When hovering the mouse cursor over a object with a net, that net name will be displayed on the cursor. * A net can also be selected on the Property Window.

(3) Click a start point. (4) Click an end point.   * For details on operations that can be performed when drawing planes, see Various Operations for Drawing Planes.

* During plane creation, it is possible to re-set the net to be added to a plane by executing [Assign Net] on the right click menu and selecting a net object again.

(5) If an unconnected plane exists, a confirmation message, "Do you want to delete unconnected plane?" will appear. Click "Yes" to continue. * For more details about unconnected planes, refer to Deleting Unconnected Planes.

A rectangle plane is now created.

 

Drawing Circle Plane

The following explains how to draw a circle plane.

(1) In a PCB sheet, click [Create PCB] =>[Circle Plane].

The mode will be switched to Circle Plane Creation Mode.

(2) Select a net to be assigned to a plane from placed net objects. * When hovering the mouse cursor over a object with a net, that net name will be displayed on the cursor. * A net can also be selected on the Property Window.

(3) Click a center coordinate. (4) Specify a radius by a click.   * For details on operations that can be performed when drawing planes, see Various Operations for Drawing Planes.

* During plane creation, it is possible to re-set the net to be added to a plane by executing [Assign Net] on the right click menu and selecting a net object again.

(5) If an unconnected plane exists, a confirmation message, "Do you want to delete unconnected plane?" will appear. Click "Yes" to continue. * For more details about unconnected planes, refer to Deleting Unconnected Planes.

A circle plane is now created.

 

Drawing Planes Without Net

When creating a plane, you can draw a plane without a net by drawing it with the "Ctrl" key held down.

Plane Creation without a Ctrl key	Plane Creation with a Ctrl key

 

Deleting Unconnected Planes

Unconnected Planes are planes that become "Electrically Unconnected" due to the Plane Line Width when a plane is generated. When there is an Unconnected Plane, a problem may occur due to nearby pattern characteristics, or the appearance may not be good. Quadcept's Dynamic Planes have a function for deleting Unconnected Planes automatically when rebuilding a plane.

With Unconnected Planes	After Deleting Unconnected Planes

 

Various Operations for Drawing Planes

The following will explain each operation for drawing a plane.

Changing the Corner Angle
Switching the Angle
Pushback Plane
Changing the Corner Shape
Canceling a Plane
Exiting Create Plane Mode

Changing the Corner Angle

This is a function for changing the Corner of drawn planes between 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and Free.
The following is an example of changing the bending angle for route corners.

Plane Corner Bending Angle

45 degrees	90 degrees	Free

The following is the operation for changing the plane corner bending angle.

Method 1: [Keyboard] => Press "S"
Method 2: [Right Click] Select => [Change the Bending Angle]
Method 3: From the Property Window, change the "Bending Angle"

 

Switching the Angle

Before Switching	After Switching

The following is the operation for switching the angle.

Method 1: Right click, Select => [Switch Angle]
Method 2: Press "X" on the keyboard
* It can also be confirmed and changed from the Property Window.

 

It is also possible to determine the pulling direction by tracking using the mouse pulling direction.

When pulling to the right side first	When pulling to the bottom first

 

Changing the Current Layer

The following is the method for changing the Current Layer while drawing a plane.

- Changing from the Change Current Layer Menu
- Changing from the Status Bar

Changing from the Change Current Layer Menu

This is the method for instantly switching the Current Layer using the Shortcut Key.

(1) Click on the location where you want to place a Via while routing. (2) Press the "L" key. (Or, Right click Select => [Change Layer]). (3) Select the Layer that you want to switch, and then click "OK".   Or, use "L" "4" "Enter" to switch to the "Bottom" layer.

 

Changing from the Status Bar

This is the method for switching from the Current Layer displayed in the Status Bar.

(1) Change the Current Layer in the Status Bar.

 

Changing to the Previous Layer

This is the method for switching to the "Previous Layer". It is possible to toggle between frequently used layers.

Changing to the Previous Layer

It is possible to toggle between frequently used layers.

(1) Press the "Tab" key. (Or, Right click Select => [Move/Rotate/Mirror] => [Move to Previous Layer]).

The Current Layer will be switched.

 

Pushback Plane Corner

When creating a plane, you can return the corner to the previous status.

Before Pushback	After Pushback

The following is the operation for executing pushback.

Method 1: Right click, Select => [Pushback]
Method 2: Press "Back" on the keyboard

 

Changing the Corner Shape

The Corner Shape can be toggled between "Line (Angle)" and "Arc", and when the Corner Shape is "Arc", the Arc Length can be easily adjusted.
For more details, refer to Toggling the Corner Shape.

Corner Shape (Line)	Corner Shape (Arc)

Even when the corner shape is set to Line, the Outline Width will be round.

 

Canceling a Plane

When creating a plane, it is possible to return to the status before drawing by canceling the route being created.

Before Canceling	After Canceling

The following is the operation for executing pushback.

Method 1: Right click, Select => [Cancel]
Method 2: Press "Escape" on the keyboard

 

Exiting Create Plane Mode

The following is the operation for exiting Create Plane Mode.

When not creating a plane,

Method 1: Right click, Select => [Cancel]
Method 2: Press "Escape" on the keyboard