| FAQ300-001 |
What is meant by incremental on-line check? |
|
To save computation time, only modified items are checked real-time by the incremental online check. As board parameters may have changed until post-processing, please run a final batch check with the actual parameters before releasing the board. The incremental connectivity however does not have parameters and thus is always correct. Please view all checking counts finally with the
function. |
| FAQ300-010 |
Is it legal to create connections over copper areas? |
|
Yes! This most powerful in-built feature of the
AutoEngineer layout system is known as genuine copper sharing and/or true connectivity. It works with double precision on arbitrarily shaped copper objects! |
| FAQ300-030 |
How do I create split power planes? |
|
You can either use negatively plotted split power planes by (hierarchically) creating Active Copper Areas on power planes. Or you can create Copper Fill Areas to be filled with the appropriate Copper Fill functions. These positive areas should later be filled using the appropriate Copper Fill functions. The
Layout Editor module also supports changes with Fill Remove functions which won't affect the fill area outline. |
| FAQ300-031 |
Does the system recognize islands in filled areas? |
|
The
AutoEngineer recognizes fully isolated copper areas in Copper Fill Areas and removes them as required. |
| FAQ300-050 |
The select group by polygon function is very flexible, but a bit cumbersome, is there a way to use a simple rectangle selection box, where the user only has to specify two corners? |
|
Group selection and deselection functions through rectangular polygons specified with two corner points are implemented with the
gedgroup User Language program. |
| FAQ320-010 |
I would like to optimize my placement, but without modifying certain parts! |
|
Please run the
Autoplacement Pin/Gate/Part Swap. Selectable parts can be fixed with the
Layout Editor group functions to prevent them from being involved in placement optimization processes. |
| FAQ330-001 |
What is meant by selective rip-up and cleanup? |
|
The router has a unique algorithm for identifying blocking traces during rip-up and cross-net optimization. The router removes such traces and tries to find less obstructing paths for them. Cleanup means cross-net changes during optimization by said algorithm. The cross-net optimization saves a lot of via space and is also called when the rip-up algorithm temporarily fails to find an acceptable solution. This is the reason why the router may find a bunch of traces, then nothing for some time, then again some traces, and so on. |
| FAQ330-010 |
Can I place pre-routed traces and parts anywhere off-grid? |
|
Yes! The
Bartels AutoEngineer features off-grid recognition based on floating point design database precision. Note, however, that on-grid items make the job easier for the router (and of course for the production people). |
| FAQ330-011 |
Can I perform single-layer routing with the Autorouter? |
|
Yes! Simply use the
function from the
menu to define keepout layers to prevent the router from routing certain layers, e.g. prohibit routing on layer 1 and allow routing on layer 2 causes the router to use the part side only. Note that single-layer routing might require non-default routing strategy settings in order to achieve 100% routing. |
| FAQ330-012 |
On a 4-layer multilayer design, there are pre-routed power supply traces which have been fixed. Now I want to autorout the rest of the layout, however, I want to prevent the
Autorouter from routing on layer 4 since I want do reserve the remaining space on this layer for future use. How can I advice the
Autorouter to rout the rest of the layout on the first three signal layers, still considering the pre-routed traces on layer 4 as being already routed? |
|
The
parameter from the
Autorouter
menu must be set to 4 to force the
Autorouter to take the pre-routed traces on layer 4 into consideration. Additionally, to prevent the
Autorouter from creating any further routes on layer 4, the
function from the
menu must be used to prohibit layer 4 for routing. Once these settings are defined, the
Autorouter can be started. |
| FAQ330-020 |
What should be done to route dense SMT boards? |
|
Please consider pre-allocation of vias using the SMD via pre-place function (SMD Via Fanout Routing) or select a sub-grid for routing between the standard grid if necessary. The sub-grid mode requires more computing power and should therefore only be used if considered necessary. Appropriate preferred routing direction setup according to SMD IC placement is recommended for the part and solder side layers. |
| FAQ330-030 |
Can I use blind, buried or staggered vias? |
|
Yes, you can enter more than one via with the
menu function. These vias are automatically considered by the router and by the interactive functions in order to achieve minimum via layer coverage. |
| FAQ330-050 |
The router left some traces open and then starts optimizing. Should I stop the router? |
|
Please don't! The router tries to clean up the mess from the selective rip-up operations and will re-start rip-up later again. Just wait! The router can distinguish blocked from rip-up traces and excludes blocked traces automatically. |
| FAQ330-051 |
The routing results gets worse. Should I stop the router? |
|
Please don't! As the router does a selective rip-up, it tries several alternatives and may rip-up or move more than one trace. If this does not succeed or if the router is stopped, it will always return to the best result. |
