Hatched Polygon anomalities - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kcs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 06:58:01 am
content: When I use Solid Polygon everything works fine, but when I change it to Hatched I get some lumps that I cannot get rid of with Polygon Cutout. Can anyone suggest me how to get rid of them?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 07:17:12 am
content: Design Rules- Electrical- Clearance- or in the Polygon Pour dialogue box- Remove Necks

author: kcs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 08:01:35 am
content: I can increase Clearance rule up to the point when I get no pouring within small areas, but until that point I always get those lumps.I don't see "Remove Necks" option in my dialogue box.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 08:34:00 am
content: As I see it there a 2 options, but better Altium users than I will know best.1. Pour the problem area only then pour over the entire area with "pour over all same net objects"2. Design Rules- Electrical- Clearance- Where the second object matches- Net and Layer...Haven't tried this but I'm confident a rule can be made.

author: kcs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 08:54:42 am
content: 1. I guess this technique could be used on small PCBs, but for bigger ones it would be really time consuming.2. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but it doesn't work for me: InNet('GND') And OnLayer('Top Layer').

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 09:00:20 am
content: I'd call that a bug. A cutout should never be occupied by the copper it's supposed to be cutting...In the mean time, you can try cutting back a larger area and pouring near the cutout with a smaller (more tightly controlled) polygon. This will probably screw with the hatching where they overlap. Or you can painstakingly pull a concavity into the existing polygon so there is a hole in the area; the polygon DEFINITELY shouldn't be pouring where it doesn't exist!Tim

author: kcs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 09:13:27 am
content: I start to believe that it is a bug as well...It appears I need to make Coutout larger by ~3.7mil for this to work.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 09:17:23 am
content: In other words, about half the poly track width..?Probably worth double-checking the gerber output too, just to make sure WYSIWYG.Tim

author: kcs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 09:35:56 am
content: Very well spotted! It is related to poly track width. Lump size increases/decreases when I change poly track width.How come I am the first to spot this bug? I am sure Polygon Pouring feature is very frequently used.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 09:40:46 am
content: But is it only related to hatched pours?BTW Tim, congrats on a 1000 posts

author: kcs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 09:53:23 am
content: Yes, it is only related to Hatched type. But even with Solid type, you get a bug - do you see that cutout triangle?BTW, I don't like that in the latest version (14.3) after you change something within Polygon settings, you are not asked to re-pour it, but instead Polygon disappears and deselects. You need to find it and re-pour it manually. It was working fine in 14.2. Have they changed something or is it another bug?

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2014, 10:16:17 am
content: Meh, it annoys me that 1. I should have to repour at all, and 2. their algorithm is so shitty that they felt the need to require that step in the first place. Which they did finally improve, circa v.12 or so was it? But come on, even friggin Ultiboard does real time polys.At least up to 14.2 or so, there's still no default shortcut for repouring. I added one. Right-click the top toolbar, Customize..., find the Tools (context) menu - Polygon Pours - Repour All; edit entry, and add an "&" in front of the desired letter in the label/title. I set it to "Repour &All...", so I can type T, G, A, <ENTER> (to confirm the subsequent messagebox) with one not-very-swift swipe of the hand.I avoid trimming glitches (I believe what you're seeing is a "remove narrow necks" cut) by tapering the cutout on 45 degree angles. So, instead of the cutout in a square shape, try an octagon or something.TimP.S. Thanks! I've reached post-whoring status on more than a few forums now I think