Edge Plating

[peterhawk]

Hi!

I'm trying to do edge plating for stacking two PCBs, just like Bluetooth modules, except I'm doing the module myself.

I've created a PCB component with a board ouline and placed custom shaped vias on the edge of the outline. In multisim I've created a component that allows me to connect the different signals to the different pads.

I am experiencing a few problems however:

1) When moving components around in Ultiboard, I easily get to select the board outline "component", which sould be fixed and non-selectable. Maybe I'm doing the board outline wrong?

2) I get DRC errors: Net xx connected to Board Outline - Because the vias/pads are placed on the outline!

3) Even if I filter the DRC errors, I get problems allowing to route nets.

Any help to solve this is appriciated, I'm running out of good ideas.

Thanks,

Peter

[peterhawk]

I've been digging further. Having THT pads at det outline edge seems to mess up a lot. Nets get connected etc. I seem a solution could be to let the outline go outside the THT pads and create a shape on the mechanical layer that cuts through the THT pads, don't know what the PCB manufacturer says to though.

A different thing. In the ultiboard outline shapes, like PCI, it seems that the "connectors" are actual parts within the outline. How do you create that? When I try to edit an outline, I'm only able to add pads and maybe group them, but how do you create an acutal part witin the outline?!? It would also be great if you could select the outline from within Multisim as a plain component with connections, but again, how to do it?

Again, please come with input to try out

Thanks!

Peter

[yyao]

Hi Peter,

I don't have a solution for your castellated via issue, but I do have an answer on creating board outlines with components.

Essentially, the outlines in our database are saved from Ultiboard designs. Generally, if I need to create a board outline in the database, I do the following:

1. Create all custom landpatterns that are required in the design
2. Create a new design
3. Place a board outline
4. Place all components in the correct locations
5. Place other features (silk screen, keep-in/keep-out, etc)
6. Select all
7. Click Tools>>Database>>Add Selection to Database

From there on, you will be able to place board outlines from your database just like ordinary components.

Hope that helped.