Working with a Split Line Object on a PCB in Altium Designer

This document is no longer available beyond version 21. Information can now be found here: Defining Board Regions (Standard Rigid-Flex Mode) for version 22

 

Parent page: PCB Objects

 A board is split into distinct regions by placing Split Lines (blue in color), which run from one edge of the board shape to another edge. A board is split into distinct regions by placing Split Lines (blue in color), which run from one edge of the board shape to another edge.

Summary

A Spit Line is a PCB drawing object used to define Board Regions. Split lines placed across an area of PCB as defined by the board shape outline split that area into two Board Regions. Each Board Region can have a unique Layer Stack assigned to it.

New rigid-flex functionality has been added to the PCB editor, referred to as Rigid-Flex 2, or the Advanced Rigid-Flex mode. This page documents the original rigid-flex mode. The fundamental difference between the modes is that in the original mode, the board shape is split into separate board regions by placing a Split Line, and that Split Line remains as an object defining where one board region ends and another begins. In the Advanced mode each board region is placed separately, or if a larger region is Sliced it becomes two separate region objects. In the Advanced mode, the edges of adjacent board regions define where those two regions meet, not the presence of a Split Line. Because of this difference, there is no Split Line object when the board is in the Advanced Rigid-Flex mode. The required rigid-flex mode is selected in the Tools menu of the Layer Stack Manager.

Learn more about Rigid-Flex Design

Availability

Split Lines can only be implemented in the PCB Editor with the View mode set to Board Planning Mode (View » Board Planning Mode – press the 1 shortcut).

Choose Design » Define Split Line to place a Split Line. A single board region (for example, that of a newly-created board) is split into two regions by placing a Split Line.

Access this command quickly by using the D, S keyboard sequence.

Placement

To place a Split Line:

  1. Select View » Board Planning Mode (or press the 1 shortcut) to enter Board Planning Mode.
  2. Select Design » Define Split Line to enter Split Line placement mode.
  3. Click within the board shape to begin the Split Line definition process. One end of the line will attach to the closest point on the board shape outline to where you clicked, the other end of the line will attach to the cursor.
  4. Position the cursor in the required location then click once to place the second end.
  5. You remain in Split Line placement mode, ready to place another Split Line if required. If not, right-click or press Esc to exit Split Line placement mode.

Board Regions are the areas between the Split Lines, and are assigned a default region name.

Graphical Editing

Within a board layout, Board Regions are defined by the positioning of Split Lines. The Split Line can be graphically edited by manipulating the nodes at the end of each line using a select and drag method.

Moving a Split Line

To move a Split Line:

  1. Select View » Board Planning Mode (or press the 1 shortcut) to enter Board Planning Mode.
  2. To relocate the end of a line, click, hold and drag it to the required location around the perimeter of the board shape. The cursor will be constrained to the current snap grid.
  3. The Board Region will be redefined by the new position of the edited Split Line.
The Split Line will remain blue while dragging to a permitted location that will still result in a valid split. If the new location for the end being moved is invalid, for example, on the same edge of the board shape as the anchored end, the Split Line will turn red. Attempting to place while the line is red will result in the removal of the Split Line.

Select and drag a Split Line end node to redefine
a Board Region area.

Removing a Split Line

To delete a Split Line:

  1. Select View » Board Planning Mode (or press the 1 shortcut) to enter Board Planning Mode.
  2. Click and hold the split line by one of its end points then press Delete. Alternatively, click, hold and move an endpoint to a point around the board shape that results in the split turning red (signifying an invalid split), then release.
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