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Documentation Altium NEXUS Documentation ... EOL - Design Objects PCB Design Objects

Embedded Board Array

Created: December 10, 2020 | Updated: April 05, 2022 | Applies to version: 4

This document is no longer available beyond version 4. Information can now be found here: Board Panelization for version 5

This documentation page references Altium NEXUS/NEXUS Client (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

 

Parent page: PCB Design Objects

A 2 x 2 board array that references a single PCB design
A 2 x 2 board array that references a single PCB design

Summary

An embedded board array is a primitive design object. It allows you to create a PCB panel (representing the physical board from which the PCB is to be manufactured) as part of your PCB design project. This is also known as panelization. You can use this panel to hold an array of PCBs by using the embedded board array command. This command links the panel to the original PCB design files, stepping it out the specified number of times. You cannot edit the PCBs directly from the board array, only through their original files.

Multiple embedded board arrays can be placed and each can reference a different PCB file. By spacing out the boards in each array and then overlaying, rotating, and flipping the different embedded arrays, any panelization arrangement can be created. This can be used to reduce manufacturing costs by maximizing the number of PCBs per panel of PCB material.

If you are building a panel consisting of different PCB boards, it is important that you ensure the layer stackup for each board is compatible. On placement of an Embedded Board Array, you will be notified of any layer stack discrepancies. A status message about stack layer compatibility is also available in the Embedded Board Array mode of the Properties panel.

Availability

Embedded Board Arrays are available for placement in the PCB Editor in one of the following ways:

  • Choose Place » Embedded Board Array/Panelize from the main menus.
  • Right-click in the design space then choose Place » Embedded Board Array/Panelize from the context menu.

Placement

  1. After launching the command, the cursor will change to a crosshair and you will enter embedded board array placement mode. The location of the crosshair decides the lower-left corner of the board array.
  2. Position this corner of the array at the required location then click or press Enter to place.
  3. Continue placing further embedded board arrays or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.
If a placed array does not yet reference a PCB document, there will be only a red crosshair to represent the blanket array.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement while the embedded board array is still floating on the cursor and before the embedded board array is anchored are:

  • Press the Tab key to pause the placement and access the Embedded Board Array mode of the Properties panel from where its properties can be changed on the fly. Click the pause button overlay ( ) to resume placement.
  • Press the Spacebar to rotate the embedded board array. Rotation is counterclockwise.
  • Press the L key to flip the embedded board array to the other side of the board.
While attributes can be modified during placement (Tab to bring up associated properties panel), keep 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.

Graphical Editing

This method of editing allows you to select a placed embedded board array object directly in the design space and change its location or orientation graphically.

When an embedded board array object is selected, it is distinguished by a light gray background. The below images illustrate an un-referenced board array (first image) and a 2 x 2 array that references a single PCB design (second image).

An un-referenced board array
An un-referenced board array

A 2 x 2 array that references a single PCB design
A 2 x 2 array that references a single PCB design

Click anywhere within the boundary of the array then drag to reposition it. The array is automatically 'grabbed' by its lower-left corner and the board array's location is used as the anchor point to the cursor. The embedded board array can be rotated or flipped while dragging in the following ways:

  • Press the Spacebar to rotate the embedded board array. Rotation is counterclockwise.
  • Press the L key to flip the embedded board array to the other side of the board.
If attempting to graphically modify an object that has its Locked property enabled, a dialog will appear asking for confirmation to proceed with the edit. If the Protect Locked Objects option is enabled on the PCB Editor – General page of the Preferences dialog and the Locked option for that design object is enabled as well, that object cannot be graphically edited. Double-click the locked object to select it then disable the Locked property in the Properties or List panel or disable the Protect Locked Objects option to graphically edit the object.

Non-Graphical Editing

The following methods of non-graphical editing are available.

Editing via the Embedded Board Array or Properties Panel

Properties page: Embedded Board Array Properties

This method of editing uses the associated Embedded Board Array dialog and Properties panel mode to modify the properties of a Embedded Board Array object.

The Embedded Board Array dialog (the first image) and the Embedded Board Array mode of the Properties panel (the second image) 
The Embedded Board Array dialog (the first image) and the Embedded Board Array mode of the Properties panel (the second image)

During placement, the Embedded Board Array mode of the Properties panel can be accessed by pressing the Tab key. Once the Embedded Board Array is placed, all options appear.

After placement, the Embedded Board Array dialog can be accessed by:

  • Double-clicking on the placed Embedded Board Array object.
  • Placing the cursor over the Embedded Board Array object, right-clicking then choosing Properties from the context menu.

After placement, the Embedded Board Array mode of the Properties panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:

  • If the Properties panel is already active, select the Embedded Board Array object.
  • After selecting the Embedded Board Array object, select the Properties panel from the Panels button at the bottom right of the design space or select View » Panels » Properties from the main menus.
If the Double Click Runs Interactive Properties option is disabled (default) on the PCB Editor – General page of the Preferences dialog, when the primitive is double-clicked or you right-click on a selected primitive then choose Properties, the dialog will open. When the Double Click Runs Interactive Properties option is enabled, the Properties panel will open.
While the options are the same in the dialog and the panel, the order and placement of the options may differ slightly.
Press Ctrl+Q to toggle the units of measurement currently used in the dialog/panel between metric (mm) and imperial (mil). This only affects the display of measurements in the dialog/panel; it does not change the measurement unit specified for the board, which is configured in the Units setting in the Properties panel when there are no objects selected in the design space.
The Embedded Board Array properties can be accessed prior to entering placement mode, from the PCB Editor – Defaults page of the Preferences dialog. This allows the default properties for the Embedded Board Array object to be changed, which will be applied when placing subsequent Embedded Board Arrays.

Editing Multiple Objects

The Properties panel supports editing multiple objects, where the property settings that are identical in all currently selected objects may be modified. When multiples of the same object type are selected manually, via the Find Similar Objects dialog or through a Filter or List panel, a Properties panel field entry can be edited for all selected objects. If values of a property are different for objects in the selection, the appropriate field will be shown as an asterisk (*) – a new property value will be applied to all selected objects.

Editing via a List Panel

Panel pages: PCB List, PCB Filter

A List panel allows you to display design objects from one or more documents in tabular format, enabling quick inspection and modification of object attributes. Used in conjunction with appropriate filtering – by using the applicable Filter panel, or the Find Similar Objects dialog – it enables the display of just those objects falling under the scope of the active filter – allowing you to target and edit multiple design objects with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Notes

  • The embedded board array(s) used to create a representation of the manufacturing panel should be placed on a separate PCB document within the existing or alternate PCB project. This document should be considered the manufacturing 'hub' for other PCB documents that contain the actual designs.
  • You can place additional objects to support panel manufacturing (for example, free pads as tooling holes), however, it is not advisable to place any other objects that would represent the actual physical design within the same document as the embedded board array(s).
  • Since the embedded board array object references a PCB design file rather than containing a pasted copy of it, the source PCB design may be modified at any time. Once the reference file is saved, refresh the view of the panel document in order to bring the panel up-to-date.
  • Gerber, NC Drill, ODB++, and printed output can be generated from a panel of embedded board arrays.
  • When using the Design » Board Shape » Create Primitives From Board Shape command's Route Tool Outline option, you also can select the Include Cutouts option to simulate tool paths that contour board cutout edges.
  • The software automatically attempts to resolve layer stack compatibility issues. The automatic layer stack synchronization process will attempt to:
    • Ensure that all required child board layer stack ordered layers exist in the parent board (the PCB file containing the embedded board array).
    • Modify the parent board layer stack in an attempt to achieve synchronization - a child board is never modified.
    • Make only additive or layer type modifications to the parent board, layers are never removed.

 

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