Pattern creation weirdness - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2013, 11:50:20 pm
content: So I've been playing around with DipTrace, kinda like it, but I've run into this, and just.. I don't get it. Any clues?And yes, I know I can just place pads freely, which is what I'm going to end up doing.

author: gc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 03:11:19 pm
content: Don't draw silk screen lines on pads! You will run into an DRC error in PCB. I think the Component Editor can't handle the small lines automatically. There is no need for such lines. Delete them and everything works fine.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 03:12:10 pm
content: Quote from: gc on July 29, 2013, 03:11:19 pmIt does it even without lines touching the pads.

author: gc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 03:31:02 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 29, 2013, 03:12:10 pmIt does what? Die automatic shape creation workes fine for simple shapes like rectangles on IC components. If you need complex shapes just draw them by hand. You can use copy and paste and shift for positioning with the cursor keys to get the shapes to their properly position. I don't see any problem.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 03:32:48 pm
content: Quote from: gc on July 29, 2013, 03:31:02 pmMakes an appalling mess for no apparent reason and forces me to fix the mess.Even a simple shape it screws the dimensions up on.

author: gc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 03:45:56 pm
content: I don't have any mess. Look at the attachment.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 03:47:15 pm
content: Quote from: gc on July 29, 2013, 03:45:56 pmAnd does it mangle the dimensions? (ie. .2" becoming .414" when going from 2 to 4 pins)If not: Please explain how you get it to work.

author: gc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 03:57:36 pm
content: Sorry, I have no further time yet. Just play a little bit around with the things. The generator is a rearly cool tool. Maybe someone else could answer better or post your question to alex in the diptrace forum.

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 06:25:49 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 29, 2013, 03:12:10 pmThere seems to be a quirk in DT - if you create a pad layout using the generator, then draw the silk print and later change pad generator dimensions, the silk will be distorted. This can be considered a bug.The easy workaround is to first complete pad placement and only when that is positively correct, you draw the silk and assy layers. Works for me every time.

author: gc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 08:13:32 pm
content: Yes, you are right! I just saw it. Once you leave the Pattern Editor it ends up with quirk to reuse automatic pattern creation. But I found a workaround.Open the Pattern Lib to start your work.Klick on the component of interest left in the Patterns list.Select silkcreen drawingCTRL+X (will temporarily cut the silkscreen drawing)Select the editfield with Number of Pads then CTRL+C and CTRL+V (pads get out of center = BUG)CTRL+ALT+C (this will recenter the pads)Left mouse button click in drawing areaCTRL+V (will paste old silkscreen drawing)use cursor keys the shift silkscreen drawing to correct position (hope your grid fits)CTRL+S (save all work)Now you can make any further components in Pattern Properties without mess.Alter you leave the Pattern Editor and have a new start next time first repeat the workaround procedure(only if you would like to expand existing Patterns using the generator)And hope of Alex and his Software team that they will soon fix the bug.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 08:26:27 pm
content: Even if you don't leave, put two pads in at .1", draw a .2" wide box around them, then increase the number of pads to 4 and check the size of the box.

author: gc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 08:38:16 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 29, 2013, 08:26:27 pmYes, it's another Bug. But it's very easy and fast done to fix this in the Points window.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 08:39:07 pm
content: Quote from: gc on July 29, 2013, 08:38:16 pmUnless you run headfirst into the other bug. I'll just do it using free placement, less implosions.

author: gc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 09:05:09 pm
content: I think the generator is a useful and cool tool, but it surely needs some improvements e.g. for silk adjustment and of course bug fixing.