X-Authentication-Warning: delorie.com: mail set sender to geda-user-bounces using -f X-Recipient: geda-user AT delorie DOT com DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:date:message-id:subject:from:to:content-type; bh=PdnQ1njkJKADxNnMjh2lNhnEuJt1mY+hS81e0ai4ebI=; b=W3yO/MJy0zmxfmGQ/T7CrsnxS9+iNW4l+sITWyJ2UW3eZokl8E4C6QftiFm9R82lwp lse+xs+/IYRLPAbJfl/dFplkaYANr++0ot43YrIFiRJufiJhSiGVG75nRBfDDdS+PZPC E4iVfNoCx4vvbHOkRInTnYMLegLA16yfq97GiAkoWRoUJXlEaU3V7JokCZfOy2YdDdkB HGlolgg2S7sldjQVUKd7sGh2+xTFd2U897SXOg+jTjqDwLYxkRZNWwCDchi9vkAeO3HQ +SLLnyKDDYOV0BeUobNWwYOPrRKI+IkxZp+TW7mmc3VJpjEC2A6ELmt5J8vkGlZcv8xG rcsA== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.236.228.2 with SMTP id e2mr73961221yhq.122.1426708028236; Wed, 18 Mar 2015 12:47:08 -0700 (PDT) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 15:47:08 -0400 Message-ID: Subject: [geda-user] Here's how to do auto-routing with ground and power planes From: Russell Nelson To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a11c22e0438a7e805119559c7 Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com --001a11c22e0438a7e805119559c7 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 HA!! I have figured out how to do no-fuss auto-routing with ground planes that works well. Here is what you do: - Group bottom, ground, and bottom layer together. - Group top, power, and power layer together. - Lay out your circuit, yadda yadda. - Run ground traces on the ground layer and power traces on the power layer: - Do these steps for both top/power and bottom/ground: - Turn off all layers but the top layer. - Use Ctrl-F on any power connection. - Use Select/Select all found. - Use Connects/Auto-route selected rats. - Auto-optimize and miter. - Turn on the top and bottom layers. - Route everything else using Connects/Auto-route all rats. - Auto-optimize and miter. - The Message Log will report that your layout is complete. - Select the top and draw a rectangle. - Select the bottom and draw a rectangle. - This fills-in the ground plane, but you're not done, because you still have the traces. - Do these steps for both ground and power: - Use Ctrl-F on any ground connection (best where the power comes in). - While you're there, select the Via tool and drop a via on that connection. - Use Select/Select all found - Use Select/Rip up selected auto-routed tracks. - Use Connects/Optimize rats nest again. - Use Connects/Auto-route all rats. - The Message Log will report that your layout is complete. There's a bunch of steps, but it will work a champ every time, because first routing power and ground ensures that when you flood it with power and ground planes, you'll have full connectivity. The only drawback is that you can get unnecessarily long traces and jumps to the other plane involving extra vias. On a 27 part board, I only spotted two jumps and one derp trace. All of this is necessary because the auto-router doesn't know that the ground plane will magically disappear when you lay a trace across it. --001a11c22e0438a7e805119559c7 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
HA!! I have f= igured out how to do no-fuss auto-routing with ground planes that works wel= l. Here is what you do:
<= ul>
  • Group bottom, ground, and bottom layer to= gether.
  • Group top, power, and power laye= r together.
  • Lay out your circuit, yadda = yadda.
  • Run ground traces on the ground l= ayer and power traces on the power layer:
  • Do these steps for both top/power and bottom/ground:
    • Turn off all layers but the top layer.
    • Use Ctrl-F on any power connection.
    • Use Select/Select all found.
    • Use Connects/Auto-route selected rats.
    • Auto-optimize and miter.
  • Turn on the top and bottom layers.=
  • Route everything else using = Connects/Auto-route all rats.
  • Auto-optim= ize and miter.
  • The Message Log will repo= rt that your layout is complete.
  • Select = the top and draw a rectangle.
  • Select the= bottom and draw a rectangle.
  • This fills= -in the ground plane, but you're not done, because you still have the t= races.
  • Do these steps for both ground an= d power:
    • Use Ctrl-F on any ground co= nnection (best where the power comes in).
    • While you're there, select the Via tool and drop a via on that connec= tion.
    • Use Select/Select all found
      • Use Select/Rip up selected auto-routed tracks.=
  • Use Connects/Optimize rats nest ag= ain.
  • Use Connects/Auto-route all rats.
  • The Message Log will report that your= layout is complete.
    • There's a bunch of steps, but it wil= l work a champ every time, because first routing power and ground ensures t= hat when you flood it with power and ground planes, you'll have full co= nnectivity. The only drawback is that you can get unnecessarily long traces= and jumps to the other plane involving extra vias. On a 27 part board, I o= nly spotted two jumps and one derp trace.

    All of this is necessary b= ecause the auto-router doesn't know that the ground plane will magicall= y disappear when you lay a trace across it.
    --001a11c22e0438a7e805119559c7--