Distributing aligned objects does not give proper spacing

Making your own components and patterns, organizing and using libraries.
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3pak
Posts: 2
Joined: 19 Jun 2021, 12:00

Distributing aligned objects does not give proper spacing

#1 Post by 3pak » 22 Jun 2021, 12:45

I am following the DipTrace tutorial using the 4.1.2.0 Freeware version. When following section 4.1.3.1 of the tutorial (designing a resistor pattern manually), I used the Align Objects tool to distribute two through-hole pads 0.4 inches apart. Instead, they end up being 0.4591 inches apart. Similarly, when I distribute them 0.3 inches apart, they end up 0.3591 inches apart.

It's pretty obvious that this is somehow related to the pad width, which is 0.0591 inches. I'm not sure why the pad width is being added to the distance specified in the align objects tool.

Is there a setting somewhere that causes this? I just want to make sure that distributing pads 0.4 inches apart actually results in them being 0.4 inches apart.

Here are some screenshots showing exactly what I am doing. In the last image you can clearly see pad 2 is not quite aligned with the grid.
one.png
one.png (70.17 KiB) Viewed 237 times
two.png
two.png (75.42 KiB) Viewed 237 times
three.png
three.png (57.02 KiB) Viewed 237 times

Serg
Technical Support
Posts: 519
Joined: 09 Jun 2010, 01:12

Re: Distributing aligned objects does not give proper spacing

#2 Post by Serg » 24 Jun 2021, 10:14

The "Spacing" value will align objects by them edges, not by center.
align.png
align.png (5.03 KiB) Viewed 225 times

3pak
Posts: 2
Joined: 19 Jun 2021, 12:00

Re: Distributing aligned objects does not give proper spacing

#3 Post by 3pak » 25 Jun 2021, 13:06

Serg wrote: 24 Jun 2021, 10:14 The "Spacing" value will align objects by them edges, not by center.
Oh, that explains it. I think the tutorial needs to be updated. It contains a screenshot showing the pads 0.4 inches apart after setting spacing to 0.4 inches, which I see now is incorrect.

Thank you for the explanation Serg!

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