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Vias on a Pad?

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Darryl Lawler 4 years ago

Good morning! I was hoping I could get some advice for creating a proper PCB footprint that includes vias. Here is the design information from Cree . . . ![image.png](//image.easyeda.com/pullimage/KOqpIdEWoRh8mD04pbVPbs7VnKWsC7DgiZSs4ats.png) ![image.png](//image.easyeda.com/pullimage/hatRSNqaVTGNvKhfdBf2fHjjIwgP8VQobesc0lIK.png) I have searched the Cree site for a GERBER file of the footprint to no avail. The challenge I am having is I cannot create the "I\-Shape" footprint \*and\* place the vias through it without the DRC throwing errors\. Here is a link to the PCB file I am attempting to implement the footprint in: [LINK](https://easyeda.com/editor#id=%7C4522143fe79e4ad9b5561f8c0eb09bdd%7Ce978d9ec63cb482884e35731aa788c36%7C633c5693d6e64d0db00ed37d175288cf) LED D01A shows the footprint I am trying to use. The others are using a workaround that is inadequate. I would like the "I-shape" footprint to be part of the THERMAL net so I can connect it to the grid filled THERMAL areas. If what I am trying to achieve is the wrong goal, please suggest what I should be doing instead. Here is a dropbox link to the .json file of the footprint: [FOOTPRINT](https://www.dropbox.com/s/efjn96hx3lxxa9u/CREE%20XLAMP%20XP-E2%20TORCH%20LED%20NO%20VIA%20V2A.json?dl=0) Here is the json text for the PCB footprint file in case that link does not work: ``` { "head": { "docType": "4", "editorVersion": "6.2.38", "c_para": { "package": "CREE XLAMP XP-E2 TORCH LED NO VIA V2A", "pre": "LED?", "Contributor": "Darryl Lawler", "link": "" }, "hasIdFlag": true, "x": 4000, "y": 3000, "uuid": "1b9dacb9886f499b933b071c0e08303e", "utime": 1565266428, "importFlag": 0, "transformList": "" }, "canvas": "CA~1000~1000~#000000~yes~#FFFFFF~0.393701~1000~1000~line~0.098425~mm~0.6299~45~visible~0.019685~4000~3000~0~yes", "shape": [ "SOLIDREGION~2~~M 3988.189 2988.189 L 4011.811 2988.189 L 4011.811 3011.811 L3988.189,3011.811 Z~solid~gge150~~~~0", "SOLIDREGION~1~~M 3988.189 2988.189 L 3988.189 2991.5354 L 3997.4409 2991.5354 L 3997.4409 3008.4646 L 3988.189 3008.4646 L 3988.189 3011.811 L 4011.811 3011.811 L 4011.811 3008.4646 L 4002.5591 3008.4646 L 4002.5591 2991.5354 L 4011.811 2991.5354 L 4011.811 2988.189 Z ~solid~gge303~~~~0", "PAD~POLYGON~3994.488~3000~3.543~12.992~1~~ANODE~0~3993.5041 2993.5039 3995.4726 2993.5039 3995.4726 3006.4961 3993.5041 3006.4961 3993.5039 3000.9843 3991.9291 3000.9843 3991.9291 2999.0157 3993.5039 2999.0157~0~gge10~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3994.4882,3000", "PAD~POLYGON~4005.512~3000~3.543~12.992~1~~CATHODE~0~4004.5274 2993.5039 4006.496 2993.5039 4006.4961 2999.0157 4008.0709 2999.0157 4008.0709 3000.9843 4006.4961 3000.9843 4006.496 3006.4961 4004.5274 3006.4961~0~gge25~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4005.5118,3000", "TRACK~0.6299~3~S$31~3993 2993 4007 2993~gge30~0", "TRACK~0.6299~3~S$31~3993 3007 4007 3007~gge32~0", "TRACK~0.6299~3~S$31~3993 3007 3993 2993~gge33~0", "TRACK~0.6299~3~S$31~4007 3007 4007 2993~gge34~0", "TRACK~0.6299~3~S$31~4008 3007 4008 2993~gge35~0", "PAD~ELLIPSE~3998.748~2992.5~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge306~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3998.7476,2992.4999", "PAD~ELLIPSE~4001.252~2992.5~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge316~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4001.2517,2992.4999", "PAD~ELLIPSE~4001.252~2995~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge321~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4001.2518,2994.9994", "PAD~ELLIPSE~3998.748~2995~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge326~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3998.7476,2995.0004", "PAD~ELLIPSE~4001.252~2997.5~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge331~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4001.2518,2997.4994", "PAD~ELLIPSE~3998.748~2997.5~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge336~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3998.7477,2997.5004", "PAD~ELLIPSE~4001.252~3000~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge341~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4001.2518,2999.9998", "PAD~ELLIPSE~3998.748~3000~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge346~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3998.7477,2999.9998", "PAD~ELLIPSE~4001.252~3002.558~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge351~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4001.2518,3002.5583", "PAD~ELLIPSE~3998.748~3002.558~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge356~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3998.7477,3002.5583", "PAD~ELLIPSE~4001.252~3005~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge361~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4001.2518,3004.9998", "PAD~ELLIPSE~3998.748~3005~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge366~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3998.7477,3004.9998", "PAD~ELLIPSE~4001.252~3007.5~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge371~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~4001.2511,3007.4997", "PAD~ELLIPSE~3998.748~3007.5~1.3937~1.3937~11~~THPD1~0.5~~0~gge376~0~~Y~0~0~0.4~3998.748,3007.4996" ], "systemColor": "#000000~#FFFFFF~#FFFFFF~#222222~#FAD609", "layers": [ "1~TopLayer~#FF0000~true~true~true~", "2~BottomLayer~#0000FF~true~false~true~", "3~TopSilkLayer~#FFCC00~true~false~true~", "4~BottomSilkLayer~#66CC33~true~false~true~", "5~TopPasteMaskLayer~#808080~true~false~true~", "6~BottomPasteMaskLayer~#800000~true~false~true~", "7~TopSolderMaskLayer~#800080~true~false~true~", "8~BottomSolderMaskLayer~#AA00FF~true~false~true~", "9~Ratlines~#6464FF~true~false~true~", "10~BoardOutline~#FF00FF~true~false~true~", "11~Multi-Layer~#C0C0C0~true~false~true~", "12~Document~#FFFFFF~false~false~true~", "13~TopAssembly~#33CC99~false~false~false~", "14~BottomAssembly~#5555FF~false~false~false~", "15~Mechanical~#F022F0~false~false~false~", "21~Inner1~#800000~false~false~false~~", "22~Inner2~#008000~false~false~false~~", "23~Inner3~#00FF00~false~false~false~~", "24~Inner4~#BC8E00~false~false~false~~", "25~Inner5~#70DBFA~false~false~false~~", "26~Inner6~#00CC66~false~false~false~~", "27~Inner7~#9966FF~false~false~false~~", "28~Inner8~#800080~false~false~false~~", "29~Inner9~#008080~false~false~false~~", "30~Inner10~#15935F~false~false~false~~", "31~Inner11~#000080~false~false~false~~", "32~Inner12~#00B400~false~false~false~~", "33~Inner13~#2E4756~false~false~false~~", "34~Inner14~#99842F~false~false~false~~", "35~Inner15~#FFFFAA~false~false~false~~", "36~Inner16~#99842F~false~false~false~~", "37~Inner17~#2E4756~false~false~false~~", "38~Inner18~#3535FF~false~false~false~~", "39~Inner19~#8000BC~false~false~false~~", "40~Inner20~#43AE5F~false~false~false~~", "41~Inner21~#C3ECCE~false~false~false~~", "42~Inner22~#728978~false~false~false~~", "43~Inner23~#39503F~false~false~false~~", "44~Inner24~#0C715D~false~false~false~~", "45~Inner25~#5A8A80~false~false~false~~", "46~Inner26~#2B937E~false~false~false~~", "47~Inner27~#23999D~false~false~false~~", "48~Inner28~#45B4E3~false~false~false~~", "49~Inner29~#215DA1~false~false~false~~", "50~Inner30~#4564D7~false~false~false~~", "51~Inner31~#6969E9~false~false~false~~", "52~Inner32~#9069E9~false~false~false~~" ], "objects": [ "All~true~false", "Component~true~true", "Prefix~true~true", "Name~true~false", "Track~true~true", "Pad~true~true", "Via~true~true", "Hole~true~true", "Copper_Area~true~true", "Circle~true~true", "Arc~true~true", "Solid_Region~true~true", "Text~true~true", "Image~true~true", "Rect~true~true", "Dimension~true~true", "Protractor~true~true" ], "BBox": { "x": 3988.2, "y": 2988.2, "width": 23.6, "height": 23.6 }, "netColors": {} } ``` One challenge I am having is properly masking the footprint so the anode, cathode and thermal pad areas are exposed, but the top and bottom of the "I-shape" footprint is solder masked. Additionally, the pad + vias combination is throwing a DRC error for each via. If I could set the net for the "I-shape" footprint to THERMAL or TPD1, I believe it would work, but I don't know how to set the net for an "area" in the footprint editor.

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Windows 10 EasyEDA 6.2.38

Comments

andyfierman 4 years ago

[https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-avoid-DRC-errors-when-connecting-to-PCB-Footprints-a-k-a-PCB-Libs-90bf944fe3644b21a7d27a9e9d8df8d6](https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-avoid-DRC-errors-when-connecting-to-PCB-Footprints-a-k-a-PCB-Libs-90bf944fe3644b21a7d27a9e9d8df8d6) [https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-place-multiple-vias-in-a-PCB-footprint-a34cf68d58414138898a56de60abd8c1](https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-place-multiple-vias-in-a-PCB-footprint-a34cf68d58414138898a56de60abd8c1)

Chrome 74.0.3729.169 Ubuntu EasyEDA 6.2.38

Darryl Lawler 4 years ago

Thank you for the links, andyfierman. They were very helpful. ![image.png](//image.easyeda.com/pullimage/NpAuIK895pxsFeqBTMROPgg7yxJbzXqDkFyRD9Ut.png) I would prefer to cover the left and right sides of the H-Shaped pad with solder mask, but I am unable to figure out how to do this. Additionally, when I place a fiducial, the paste mask layer creates an aperture. Is there a way of eliminating that aperture? The same is the case with the circle labeled JP2_2 in the picture above. I would like that to just simply be a copper expose, not a pad with a paste mask aperture. Any direction you could point me in for proper implementation of fiducials would be very appreciated. The four forum posts I found were not easily understood.

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Windows 10 EasyEDA 6.2.38

Darryl Lawler 4 years ago

EDIT: I think I resolved the fiducial thing. Regardless, if you have some instructions to point me towards, I would still be interested in what they have to say. Thanks!

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Windows 10 EasyEDA 6.2.38

andyfierman 4 years ago

Unless there's something in the Tutorial, I don't think there are any specific instructions for fiducials. You could try: 1. create a PCB Footprint for a fiducial but constructing it with no pads and using only a circular solid region; 2. Save it with a unique name; 3. make a schematic symbol for a fiducial with no pins; 4. Assign the name of your fiducial footprint to the symbol's package attribute; 5. Save it with the same name; 6. Place the symbols in the schematic 7. then update the PCB to pull them in. For more, see (2.3) in (2) in: [https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-ask-for-help-and-get-an-answer-71b17a40d15442349eaecbfae083e46a](https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-ask-for-help-and-get-an-answer-71b17a40d15442349eaecbfae083e46a)

Chrome 75.0.3770.101 AndroidOS 9 EasyEDA 6.2.38

Darryl Lawler 4 years ago

Thank you for the advice. I am having trouble finding a way to create a circular solid region. There are the circle and arc tools, but they are not solid regions. Thanks!

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Windows 10 EasyEDA 6.2.38

andyfierman 4 years ago

Here's a workaround. Since the last couple of updates from V6.2 it is possible to set a negative Solder and Paste Mask expansion. A positive expansion increases the radius of the aperture. A negative expansion reduces the radius of the aperture. So if you have a circular pad with a 60mil diameter and you specify a SolderMask and a PasteMask expansion of -30mil then both apertures will reduce to zero. You can check that this is true by generating and inspecting the Gerbers using gerbv. One question. Do fiducials have to be circular? An observation: There are some guidelines on fiducials here: [https://www.ladyada.net/library/pcb/fiducials.html](https://www.ladyada.net/library/pcb/fiducials.html)

Chrome 74.0.3729.169 Ubuntu EasyEDA 6.2.38

andyfierman 4 years ago

You **can** create a circular area directly using the Circle or Arc tools. It just needs a bit of lateral thinking. :) 1. To create a circular area of diameter X, draw a circle and then set the **Radius** to X/4; 2. Set the **Width** to **exactly** X/2. That will create a circular are with no hole in the middle. Note that a smaller (or larger!) Width will leave a hole in the middle.

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Ubuntu EasyEDA 6.2.38

andyfierman 4 years ago

Note that in both: [https://www.ladyada.net/library/pcb/fiducials.html](https://www.ladyada.net/library/pcb/fiducials.html) and: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiducial_marker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiducial_marker) the recommendation is that **PCB fiducials should be left uncovered by solder mask** for some distance around them but they can be plated by whatever is the chosen PCB copper finish.

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Ubuntu EasyEDA 6.2.38

Darryl Lawler 4 years ago

Thank you for the great tips. Very helpful. I now have the fiducials dimensioned properly and located where I would like them on the board. The problem is that they are not generating pick and place entries. Is there a setting I am missing during the footprint creation that would tell the Pick and Place generator to pull their locations as well? Project: [LINK](https://easyeda.com/darryl.lawler/Light-Curtain) Thanks!!

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Windows 10 EasyEDA 6.2.38

andyfierman 4 years ago

I suspect the problem is that you have just added fiducials directly to the PCB rather than as PCB Footprints pulled into the PCB from the Schematic. The recommended process in EasyEDA for **every****thing** that is on or forms an integral part of the PCB is to: 1. first create and save a named PCB Footprint and then 2. to create and save a Schematic symbol with the same name and having the named PCB Footprint assigned to the Package attribute of the symbol. This is explained in more detail in (2.2), (4) and (6) in (2) in: [https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-ask-for-help-and-get-an-answer-71b17a40d15442349eaecbfae083e46a](https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/How-to-ask-for-help-and-get-an-answer-71b17a40d15442349eaecbfae083e46a) :)

Chrome 76.0.3809.100 Ubuntu EasyEDA 6.2.38

你现在访问的是EasyEDA海外版，使用建立访问速度更快的国内版 https://lceda.cn(需要重新注册)
如果需要转移工程请在个人中心 - 工程 - 工程高级设置 - 下载工程，下载后在https://lceda.cn/editor 打开保存即可。
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