Ultiboard (v12.0.0): How to create unusual footprint for screw-down header?

[Kleven]

Hi,

I spent a fair amount of time trying to create a footprint in Ultiboard for a SAMTEC TFM family part with the -DS (screw-down) option.

This is a surface mount, dual row, 50 mil pitch header.  The signal pins are easy.  The ends, where the screw-down mounts are located, have proven challenging.

I've attached the SAMTEC footprint documentation and an Ultiboard 12 project file with my footprint.

I've had two main issues:

1.  Screw support pins - to get a plated hole with a spec'ed anular ring, you have to make it a pin.  This means it must have a name, and then there are interesting effects to the DRC checker.  Is this the only way to do this or am I missing something? 

2.  The strange little copper 'spokes' on the plated holes - as soon as I move these connectors onto the board, they fire off a DRC about an unconnected pin being connected to copper.  This is sort of annoying.  Is there any way to turn this off?  Or do I need to change how I designed this to get the right result?

Thanks!

Kleven

[Sharanya_R]

Hello Kleven,

You can create a plated hole by doing the following;

1. Select Tools»Database»Database Manager

2. Select Create a new part (found under All types)

3. Select PCB Part

4. Select Place»Pins

5. Change the settings and shapes according to your preference.

Another way to create a plated hole;

1. Right-click select Place»Hole

2. Check Plated

You can remove warnings in your DRC tab, by right-clicking the error and selecting Add to Filter.

Hope this helps.

[Tayyab_R]

Hi Kleven,

Are these holes connecting to ground. I see that you have some copper areas around the holes. What you can do to avoid any DRC's is in Multisim when you create the part, you can add a pin and asign all these holes to that pin. You can then connect that pin to ground. Your copper areas can then be assigned to ground as well and that will remove the DRC errors. 

Hope this helps.

[Kleven]

Tayyab,

I was originally planning to not connect these to ground but after considering it a while I don't think it will be a problem in our application.

I definitely don't want to filter that type of DRC because I need to see those types of issues for copper areas.