help needed for eagle via layers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: generic_username
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 08:20:16 am
content: Hi,I'm new to multilayer pcbsI've got an eagle project and it has the following multilayer setup for vias:[2:(1*(2*3*4*5)*16):5]But I'm missing via options from layer 1 to 3 and layer 3 to 16 as layer 3 is my signal layer but It seems I can't get it right so that I have this 2 additional options.I tried changeding the fist 2 and the last 5 to 3 so now I had the vias from 1 to 3 and from 16 to 3 but how do I get the layers from 1 to 2 and from 16 to 5 back??update: added screenshot

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 08:58:49 am
content: type help <enter>Go to -> Design Checks -> Design Rules -> LayersThe Layers tab defines which signal layers the board actually uses, how thick the copper and isolation layers are, and what kinds of vias can be placed (note that this applies only to actual vias; so even if no via from layer 1 to 16 has been defined in the layer setup, pads will always be allowed).The layer setup is defined by the string in the "Setup" field. This string consists of a sequence of layer numbers, separated by one of the characters '*' or '+', where '*' stands for core material (also known as FR4 or something similar) and '+' stands for prepreg (or any other kind of isolation material). The actual core and prepreg sequence has no meaning to EAGLE other than varying the color in the layer display at the top left corner of this tab (the actual multilayer setup always needs to be worked out with the board manufacturer). The vias are defined by enclosing a sequence of layers with (...). So the setup string(1*16)would mean a two layer board, using layers 1 and 16 and vias going through the entire board (this is also the default value).When building a multilayer board the setup could be something like((1*2)+(15*16))which is a four layer board with layer pairs 1/2 and 15/16 built on core material and vias drilled through them, and finally the two layer pairs pressed together with prepreg between them, and vias drilled all the way through the entire board.Besides vias that go trough an entire layer stack (which are commonly referred to as buried vias in case they have no connection to the Top and Bottom layer) there can also be vias that are not drilled all the way through a layer stack, but rather end at a layer inside that stack. Such vias are known as blind vias and are defined in the "Setup" string by enclosing a sequence of layers with [t:...:b], where t and b are the layers up to which that via will go from the top or bottom side, respectively. A possible setup with blind vias could be[2:1+((2*3)+(14*15))+16:15]which is basically the previous example, with two additional outer layers that are connected to the next inner layers by blind vias. It is also possible to have only one of the t or b parameters, so for instance[2:1+((2*3)+(15*16))]would also be a valid setup. Finally, blind vias are not limited to starting at the Top or Bottom layer, but may also be used in inner layer stacks, as in[2:1+[3:2+(3*4)+5:4]+16:5]A blind via from layer a to layer b also implements all possible blind vias from layer a to all layers between layers a and b, so[3:1+2+(3*16)]would allow blind vias from layer 1 to 2 as well as from 1 to 3.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 09:46:39 am
content: first of all consult the manufacturing process with your board manufacturer - you can't have vias between any layers you want - you're limited by the manufacturing process.once you have the via possibilities confirmed - just write the corresponding regexp to define it in eagle it's explained in the help nicely. once set, during routing eagle will not let you to jump to a layer where via is not possible.

author: generic_username
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 10:02:12 am
content: see attachment: that's the stackup for a different project done by that manufactor.@rob77 so a via from 1 to 3 is possible for the via from 2 to 5 I have to see if that works you're correctI actually only need an additional via from layer 1to 3But I can't figure out how to change[2:(1*(2*3*4*5)*16):5]so that the via will go from 1 to 3 only and keeping all eyisting ones

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 12:32:02 pm
content: Quote from: generic_username on February 11, 2016, 10:02:12 amthe stacking you attached can be described as((((1*2)*3)*4)*13*14*15*16)replace asterisks with + sign where it's prepreg instead of aditional core.

author: generic_username
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 01:44:08 pm
content: thank you I can work with that now