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Diptrace question for those of you that use it — Parallax Forums

Diptrace question for those of you that use it

Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
edited 2011-01-02 19:16 in General Discussion
When designing a board layout, in order to get the traces to lay nice and even with the IC pins, do you change your "snap-to" grid spacing to the same spacing as what the IC pins are?

For instance if I am placing a QFP IC package that has lead spacing of .5mm, would I need to set the snap to grid to .5mm in order to make things line up nicely?

Silly question I know but one I need to ask none the less.

Thanks.

Comments

  • max72max72 Posts: 1,155
    edited 2010-12-28 13:38
    this is not an answer, but this generic tutorial is an interesting reading..

    http://alternatezone.com/electronics/files/PCBDesignTutorialRevA.pdf

    Massimo
  • Erik FriesenErik Friesen Posts: 1,071
    edited 2010-12-28 15:32
    No. Make sure you start your trace on the pins, and they will line up. If you finish your trace coming into the pins, then you can get a lineup problem.
  • Erik FriesenErik Friesen Posts: 1,071
    edited 2010-12-28 15:46
    If you set your grid spacing to match, it is a pain to lay out your other components.
  • Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
    edited 2010-12-28 16:00
    I think I figured it out. I downloaded some of Gadget Gangsters Diptrace files from some of his projects and looked to see how it was setup. Thanks for the replies.
  • Lord SteveLord Steve Posts: 206
    edited 2010-12-29 07:17
    When you do finish a trace on a pin, which is bound to happen at some point, you can always drag the trace so it looks how you'd like it.
  • Erik FriesenErik Friesen Posts: 1,071
    edited 2010-12-29 08:51
    Thats right. What I run into though, I use a chip that has .4mm spacing, and I end up having to set the spacing to zero to get it to line up, so I try to start most on the pins.
  • novarmnovarm Posts: 17
    edited 2010-12-31 06:28
    Just press F11 to temporary turn grid off (zero size). Then F11 again to turn on.
  • Erik FriesenErik Friesen Posts: 1,071
    edited 2010-12-31 14:24
    @novarm. Diptrace is serious, isn't it? It is appreciated that you pay attention to assorted forums and what folks have to say. You must spend some time trolling the forums for diptrace comments? :-)
  • novarmnovarm Posts: 17
    edited 2011-01-01 08:59
    We collect DipTrace comments from our community/forum as well as from other places through all the Internet - that helps us to know how things are going and we are making the list of issues/"unclear features" to polish our software and tutorials.
  • TtailspinTtailspin Posts: 1,326
    edited 2011-01-02 19:16
    Please! continue to Troll.:smile:
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