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Once schematics are complete, board layout allows the designer to decide the physical locations of components and route connections between them. All annotations on the schematics will be incorporated into the layout tools Altium provides, enforcing that your physical implementation does not breach requirements set in the schematics!

CONTENTS

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Workflow

 Click here to expand...

{to be written}

Importing Changes

As mentioned in the workflow above, importing changes instructs Altium to determine changes to the schematics and implement them in the layout. Altium has this rigid barrier between the two to allow the designer to preview and confirm the impact to the board before changes are made via an ECO (engineering change order).

In the normal day to day, you should always import changes to the layout such that you minimize major changes that accumulate in schematics.

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE

{explain how to do it}

{explain the minor variations (import to schematic and such)}

Basics of Layout

Before going deep into a layout, make sure design rules are all setup!

For controls basics, check out https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/153026566/Intro+to+Altium#Layout-View

This section will provide a cursory look at how to create a PCB layout. Covered in this will be all you need to make and manage connections. The following section, design rules, is also quite important for forming a successful layout!

As always, check out the Vault Guidelines for requirements in NER projects and Quick Reference & Tips for quick tips.

Altium is a massive piece of software and even more is covered in the Advanced Layout page.

Arranging Components

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Adding Traces

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Using Polygons

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Design Rules

Design rules and DRC are one of the key features of PCB layout software. It allows the designer to program rules based on engineering requirements and allow the software to complete checks for compliance across the thousands of interactions that may occur within the board. Some examples include:

  • Clearance and creepage distances needed to maintain isolation

  • Copper width needed for current/power

  • Transmission impedance for high speed signals

  • And so much more!

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Defining Rules

{talk about the standard NER template and link to standards}

{give a quick list of critical/frequently used rules. Perhaps we treat this list as “template will set it but you should confirm it matches your needs”}

Design Rule Check (DRC)

{explain difference between rules being live checked (“Online”) and only via reports (“Batch”)}

{show how to change which are which, and strategies for when it’s best to enable or disable certain checks}

Export for Fabrication (Out Jobs)

Typically when ordering plain boards or simple assembly fabrication houses will require fabrication files in Gerber format. To simplify this process we have created “Out Jobs” which are a feature of Altium allowing automatic generation of Gerbers, BOMs, STEP files, and other useful exports. Additionally, releasing via out jobs creates a “release” in the version control system.

Some nicer (more expensive) “turn-key” PCBA companies will take direct Altium files and do all the processing for you.

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Out Job Configuration

{include reference to template files. Maybe we’ll add to the guidelines page}

{brief overview of what it should look like and how to tweak things}

Creating a Release

{explain out job release process}

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