Routing and copper pour

Making PCB Layouts, Manual routing, Auto-routing, Copper pouring, Updating from Schematic, Manufacturing Output
Post Reply
Message
Author
steve65
Posts: 33
Joined: 14 Jun 2010, 05:59

Routing and copper pour

#1 Post by steve65 » 14 Sep 2017, 03:53

I have my board laid out in PCB Layout. I haven't routed it yet, still have ratlines.

My plan is to have a copper pour on the bottom of the PCB and tie the copper pour to the GND net.

What should I do first -- the copper pour or routing?

Yes, I'm new to this. :)

Thanks.

Steve

Tomg
Expert
Posts: 2028
Joined: 20 Jun 2015, 07:39

Re: Routing and copper pour

#2 Post by Tomg » 14 Sep 2017, 08:19

steve65 wrote:"...What should I do first -- the copper pour or routing?..."
It doesn't really matter. Try both methods and use the one that feels more comfortable for you. While routing your signal traces save the GND connections for last (after pouring the ground plane). This will make it easier to drop GND Static Vias around the board that will connect the appropriate top layer pads to the ground plane on the opposite side (not necessary with through-hole pads, of course).

p.s. Don't forget to update the copper pour after a pad or via has been placed in it. To make things a little easier, you can assign a hotkey to Update All Copper Pours if you are using DipTrace version 3.
Tom

Post Reply