PlaceFill

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to place a Fill object onto the active document. A fill is a rectangular object that can be placed on any layer. When placed on a signal layer, a fill becomes an area of solid copper that can be used to provide shielding or to carry large currents. Fills of varying size can be combined to cover irregularly shaped areas, and can also be combined with track or arc segments and be connected to a net.

Fills can also be placed on non-electrical layers. For example, place a fill on the Keep-Out layer to designate a 'no-go' area for autorouting. Place a fill on a Power Plane, Solder Mask, or Paste Mask layer, to create a void on that layer. In the PCB Library Editor, fills can be used to define component footprints.

Access

Fills are available for placement in both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose Place » Fill from the main menus.
  • Click the  button on the Wiring toolbar.
• PCB Library Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose Place » Fill from the main menus.
  • Click the  button on the PCB Lib Placement toolbar.
  • Right-click in the workspace and select Place » Fill from the context menu.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter fill placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following sequence of actions:

1. Click or press Enter to anchor the first corner of the fill.
2. Move the cursor to adjust the size of the fill, then click or press Enter to anchor the diagonally-opposite corner and complete placement of the fill.
3. Continue placing further fills, or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement are:

• Press the L key to flip the fill to the other side of the board – note that this is only possible prior to anchoring the fill's first corner.
• Press the + and - keys (on the numeric keypad) to cycle forward and backward through all visible layers in the design respectively – to change placement layer quickly.
• Press the Tab key to access the Fill dialog, from where properties for the fill can be changed on-the-fly.

Tips

1. A Fill can be placed as a layer-specific keepout object, or an all-layer keepout to act, for example, as a placement or routing barrier. Objects defined as keepouts are ignored during output generation, such as photo plotting and printing. A layer-specific keepout fill is simply a Fill object with its Keepout property enabled, an all-layer keepout is a Fill that has been placed on the Keepout layer.
2. While attributes can be modified during placement (Tab to bring up associated properties dialog), bear in mind that these will become the default settings for further placement unless the Permanent option on the PCB Editor – Defaults page of the Preferences dialog is enabled. When this option is enabled, changes made will affect only the object being placed and subsequent objects placed during the same placement session.

Applied Parameters: Keepout=True

Summary

This command is used to place a Keepout Fill object onto the active document. A Keepout in PCB design is a user defined area or perimeter placed in the layout that copper objects cannot intersect. Typically included to control the area used by automated copper placement actions, such as polygon pours and interactive routing, a Keepout also represents an invalid location when manually placing copper objects. 

As specified ‘no go’ areas during design layout, Keepout objects use the existing Clearance Constraint Rules to control routing and detect placement violations, but unlike other placed objects, cannot be assigned to a Net and are not shown in generated Outputs or printouts. In its simplest sense, a Keepout acts as an ‘interference’ object that prevents other copper objects from intersecting its area, as specified by the global Clearance Rule.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and the PCB Library Editor by choosing the Place » Keepout » Fill command, from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter fill placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following sequence of actions:

1. Click or press Enter to anchor the first corner of the fill.
2. Move the cursor to adjust the size of the fill, then click or press Enter to anchor the diagonally-opposite corner and complete placement of the fill.
3. Continue placing further fills, or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement are:

• Press the L key to flip the fill to the other side of the board – note that this is only possible prior to anchoring the fill's first corner.
• Press the + and - keys (on the numeric keypad) to cycle forward and backward through all visible layers in the design respectively – to change placement layer quickly.
• Press the Tab key to access the Keepout - Fill dialog, from where properties for the fill can be changed on-the-fly.

Tips

1. To place an all-layer keepout, make the Keepout layer the active layer, then place keepout fill on that layer. Alternatively, after placement, select the keepout fill and set its Restricted for Layer field to All Layers. Keepouts are indicated by the current Keep-Out layer color. Keepout objects set to a specific signal layer are outlined by the Keep-Out color, whereas Keepouts set to All Layers show as solid color – and appear on the Keep-Out Layer itself.
2. When editing the properties of the placed keepout fill, the associated Keepout Restrictions options determine which object types will be restricted by the Keepout. Deselecting an object type will cause the Keepout to allow transgressions by that type of object (not kept out), by not imposing the applicable Clearance Rule.
3. Keepouts are automatically restricted to the Layer they are placed on, so Keepouts applied directly to the Keep-Out layer will become All Layer Keepouts. When the Keepout Layer is changed, the Keepout will be limited to, and appear on, the specified Layer. Note that a conventional (non Keepout) object cannot be placed on the Keep-Out Layer.
4. While attributes can be modified during placement (Tab to bring up associated properties dialog), bear in mind that these will become the default settings for further placement unless the Permanent option on the PCB Editor – Defaults page of the Preferences dialog is enabled. When this option is enabled, changes made will affect only the object being placed and subsequent objects placed during the same placement session.