Hallo Alex,

Are there any plans to have a Tear Drop Pad Option?

Thanks,

Jim Mahoney

Yes, we plan to implement that feature.

What is the roadmap time frame for "Teardrop" pad junction option?

* http://electronics.stackexchange.com/qu ... n-pcb-pads

* http://www.delorie.com/pcb/teardrops/ (scroll down for 5 drawings)

We don't have roadmap, just implement frequently requested features. Teardrops have not implement yet, but we plan it.

Would love to have support for tear drops as well.

Assaf

Questions for my own education: what is the purpose of teardrop-shaped pads? Is is mosty aesthetic? Or does it provide some stress relief where the trace goes into the pad (i.e. essentially a 2-dimensional 'fillet'?) Or some other reason(s)?

Also, how would you implement a teardrop-shaped pad in the Gerber output process? Is there a gerber "Flash" for a teardrop shape, or would you have to draw it using a very fine aperture. Seems like that could get tricky, to be able to cover any track/pad size combination.

Edited to add:
Google is my friend. On one hand, teardrops are used to reduce stress at the point where the track joins the pad. While I see that the benefit of this is argued on rigid boards, it is a standard practice on flex circuits, since they are...well... more flexible.

It is also used to provide some safety factor for misalignment of the drill hole. As you imagine the drill hole moving toward the track entry point, if there is a teardrop shape, then you have more margin before the drill hole actually destroys the annular ring and essentially cuts off the track. (Although the argument there is: if your manufacturer is THAT far off, then you should be resolving the problem in another way...)