Questions tagged [drc]

Design Rule Check(s): a checking procedure that PCB CAD software does against a design rule file.

Design Rule Check(s): a checking procedure that PCB CAD software does against a design rule file.

During the DRC, the following rules may be checked:

  • Layer construction
  • Track minimum widths, drills, vias, blind vias
  • Clearance among tracks, pads, SMD pads, and vias
  • Distance from wires and pads to edges
  • Pad/drill ratio
  • Shapes and rounding
  • Thermals
  • Masks
  • Cosmetic features
81 questions
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DRC tool for Gerber files

Do you know any tools which perform design rule checking for Gerber files of PCB and are suitable for using in batch mode on a remote server? Something similar to what BatchPCB or FreeDFM uses (I asked BatchPCB but they haven't answered yet.)
Dmitry Dzhus
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Are acid traps real? (2014)

Some people online say that acute angles in trace routing will cause these problems: "Acid Trap" - PCB etchant gets stuck in the corner, and eats away too much, causing open circuit "Peelable" - Narrow strip of photoresist falls off the board before…
AlcubierreDrive
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What are good values for standard design rules (like clearance, trace width, etc.) in PCB design?

I am working on a project for LED control with MCU and LED drivers. I have an input voltage of 24 V and a DCDC converter to 3.3 V for the MCU. Each LED controller will have an output current of 1 A. I searched all over the Internet and could not…
Urban
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What are standard design rules for a Flex Printed Circuit (FPC)?

For an FPC made out of Kapton (polyimide), what are the: min trace width min trace-trace separation min distance from a trace to the edge of the FPC min drill hole diameter min distance from a drill hole to the edge of the FPC min distance from a…
AlcubierreDrive
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3 answers

Is it important that vias are plated on a PCB?

As in the title. I've noticed several PCBs of mine have vias which are not plated - they do not have a characteristic "gold" shine to them. I suspect this is because I was pushing the limits of drill sizes - my fab specifies 12 mil and I used 15 mil…
Thomas O
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4 answers

Is it possible to repair a PCB which has suffered a DRC failure?

Okay, so I was a bit of an idiot while designing my PCB. The specifications of my PCB fab were 6/6 mil trace/space, and the boards did not meet this. So, below is the design for the PCB: The trace going to C16 (a ground) is way too close to the pad…
Thomas O
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Suggested schematic check DRC settings for Tools>Verify in DxDesigner

I am using DxDesigner for the first time (9.2). When running a Design Rules Check (DRC) there are many rules that can be applied. Many of them make sense to check, e.g. "Property name exceeds maximum length". Others are giving me trouble, e.g.…
Brian Carlton
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Altium - Hole to hole clearance rule that only applies when nets are not the same

Our PCB manufacturer specifies that there should be a minimum clearance between holes of 0.5mm when nets are different. I am getting a lot of errors when I have thermal pads with embedded vias closer than 0.5mm, but the nets are all GND. How can I…
TripleAntigen
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Do PCB routing vias require soldermask expansion?

Most recommendations I've come across regarding solder mask expansion state that it is required so that misalignment between the copper pad and the solder mask opening do not interfere with the solder connection to a mounted component. However,…
rothloup
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3 answers

Need for DRC for Gerbers?

In reference to this question , do you actually perform DRC on Gerbers? Or do you do it for the PCB (post-design or interactive) and trust that the generated Gerbers will be OK?
Federico Russo
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Altium - Change Color of Error Text in HUD

I had this set up on my PC a few weeks ago but lost it when I had to switch computers. I am trying to remember how to change the color of the Online DRC Errors shown in the HUD when hovering over the segments causing the error. I do not want to…
DerStrom8
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Need Feedback on first PCB Design

This is my first time making a PCB. I need some feedback and guidance. This is a buck converter to go from an 8S4P 18650 Cell pack to a 20V line. Eventually, I will use this in a larger circuit to be the 20V line for a USB-C 3.0 PD design. For USB-C…
Brighton Sikarskie
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How to create in Kicad pads with different diameter on top and bottom

This is for a two layer design using Kicad 7. I need to create a footprint with 4 circular PTH pads that have larger diameter on the bottom layer than on the top layer. This is to satisfy mechanical requirements at the bottom and routing…
zapta
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Kicad DRC Error "Footprint has no courtyard defined"

At the final stage of the PCB design, I performed an ERC check. I got the message: Footprint has no courtyard defined @(156,718mm, 78,296mm): Footprint RV1 on Front This is a picture of my custom footprint: What is the meaning of this message?
user1584421
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Altium: Design rule to highlight a plane that is not assigned to a net

In Altium Designer 20.1.14.287 I tried to create a design rule that would highlight that a plane is not assigned to any net after running the DRC. But in the PCB Rules and Constraints Editor I only find rules for plane clearance and connect style.…
Thomas
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