Xpedition® xPCB Layout Introduction

Student Workbook

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Part Number: 073180
 Table of Contents
Module 1
xDX Designer to xPCB Layout Process Flow
Phases of Design .........................................................................................................................3
Library Management ...................................................................................................................4
Library Management — Creating Symbols ................................................................................5
Library Management — Creating Cells ......................................................................................6
Library Management — Creating Parts ......................................................................................7
Schematic Design ........................................................................................................................9
Schematic Design — Creating the Schematic ..........................................................................10
Schematic Design — Packaging the Schematic........................................................................14
Schematic Design — Constraint Editor System .......................................................................15
PCB Layout — Creating the PCB Database .............................................................................16
PCB Layout — Setting Up for Layout ......................................................................................17
PCB Layout — Setting Constraints ..........................................................................................18
PCB Layout — Placing Parts ....................................................................................................19
PCB Layout — Setting Up for Routing ....................................................................................20
PCB Layout — Generating Output ...........................................................................................21
Switching Between Releases ....................................................................................................22
Module 1 Lab ............................................................................................................................23
Module 2
Using Libraries
xPCB Layout Libraries .............................................................................................................26
Partitions ...................................................................................................................................27
Central Library Folders and File Names ...................................................................................28
xDM Library Tools ...................................................................................................................29
Launching Tools From xDM Library Tools .............................................................................30
Partitions ...................................................................................................................................31
Partition Editor ..........................................................................................................................32
Library Manager Tools .............................................................................................................33
Module 2 Lab: Using Libraries .................................................................................................34

Module 3
Creating Padstacks
What Are Padstacks?.................................................................................................................38
Padstack Editor..........................................................................................................................39
Holes .........................................................................................................................................40
Pads ...........................................................................................................................................41
xPCB Layout Introduction
 Table of Contents
Padstacks ...................................................................................................................................42
Custom Pads and Drill Symbols ...............................................................................................46
Module 3 Lab: Creating Padstacks ...........................................................................................47

Module 4
Creating Cells
What Are Cells? ........................................................................................................................51
Cell Editor .................................................................................................................................52
Creating a New Cell ..................................................................................................................54
Graphic Environment ................................................................................................................61
Adding Graphic Elements .........................................................................................................62
Verification ...............................................................................................................................63
Module 4 Lab: Creating Cells ...................................................................................................64

Module 5
Creating Parts
What Are Parts? ........................................................................................................................67
Part Editor .................................................................................................................................69
Creating a Part ...........................................................................................................................70
Pin Mapping ..............................................................................................................................71
Associating a Symbol ................................................................................................................72
Logical Tab ...............................................................................................................................73
Multiple Symbols ......................................................................................................................74
Associating a Cell .....................................................................................................................75
Multiple Cells ............................................................................................................................76
Physical Tab ..............................................................................................................................77
Supply and NC Tab ...................................................................................................................78
Module 5 Lab: Creating Parts ...................................................................................................79
Module 6
Creating Layout Templates
What Is a Layout Template? .....................................................................................................83
Copying Layout Templates .......................................................................................................84
Layout Template From Existing Project ...................................................................................86
Template Concepts ....................................................................................................................87
Template Setup Possibilities .....................................................................................................88
Copying Cells and Padstacks ....................................................................................................90
Library Services ........................................................................................................................91

xPCB Layout Introduction

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Module 6 Lab: Creating Layout Templates ..............................................................................92
Module 7
Using the xPCB Layout Editor
Start Page ..................................................................................................................................95
PCB Editor Interface .................................................................................................................96
Pull-down Menu ........................................................................................................................97
Toolbars.....................................................................................................................................98
Toolbar Personalization ............................................................................................................99
Toolbar Docking .....................................................................................................................100
Window Auto Hide .................................................................................................................101
Window Tabbing.....................................................................................................................102
Tooltips and Videos ................................................................................................................103
Saving Toolbar Configuration.................................................................................................104
Panning and Zooming .............................................................................................................105
Mouse Strokes .........................................................................................................................106
Modes ......................................................................................................................................107
Select Mode.............................................................................................................................108
Specialized Object Handling Features ....................................................................................109
Context Sensitive Menus ........................................................................................................110
Context Sensitive Features ......................................................................................................111
Selecting Parts .........................................................................................................................112
Selecting Parts — Area Select ................................................................................................113
Selecting Nets..........................................................................................................................114
Selecting Draw Objects ...........................................................................................................115
Selection ..................................................................................................................................116
Select by Area .........................................................................................................................117
Selection List ...........................................................................................................................118
Highlighting Objects ...............................................................................................................119
Locating Objects .....................................................................................................................120
File Viewer ..............................................................................................................................121
Obtaining Help ........................................................................................................................122
Module 7 Lab: Using the PCB Layout Editor .........................................................................123
Module 8
Display Control
Display Control Dialog ...........................................................................................................127

xPCB Layout Introduction

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Display Control — Search Bar ...............................................................................................128
Display Control — Edit Tab ...................................................................................................129
Display Active Layer Only .....................................................................................................130
Global View and Selection......................................................................................................131
Display Control Personalization .............................................................................................133
Display Control — Objects .....................................................................................................134
Display Control — Graphic Tab .............................................................................................135
Display Control — Net Names ...............................................................................................137
Dim Mode ...............................................................................................................................138
Display Control — Net ...........................................................................................................139
Display Control — Fab Tab ....................................................................................................140
Display Control — DRC .........................................................................................................141
Module 8 Lab: Display Control ..............................................................................................142
Module 9
Setting Up for Layout
Design Source .........................................................................................................................145
Schematic Capture to Xpedition PCB Flow............................................................................146
Creating a PCB Job .................................................................................................................147
xDX Designer to Xpedition xPCB ..........................................................................................149
Project Structure ......................................................................................................................150
Project Integration ...................................................................................................................151
Setting Up Parameters .............................................................................................................155
Setting Design Layers .............................................................................................................156
Default Via ..............................................................................................................................157
Layer Stackup..........................................................................................................................158
Setting Plane Layer Definitions ..............................................................................................159
Split Planes ..............................................................................................................................160
Editor Control .........................................................................................................................161
AutoSave .................................................................................................................................162
Design Backup ........................................................................................................................163
Restoring From Backup ..........................................................................................................164
iCDB Project Backup ..............................................................................................................165
Creating a Desktop Shortcut ...................................................................................................166
Module 9 Lab: Setting Up for Layout .....................................................................................167

xPCB Layout Introduction

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Module 10
Creating Board Geometries
Draw Mode..............................................................................................................................170
Draw Mode Elements ..............................................................................................................171
Other Graphic Editing Commands ..........................................................................................175
Composing Polygons ..............................................................................................................176
Board Outline ..........................................................................................................................183
Modifying the Board Outline ..................................................................................................185
Route Border ...........................................................................................................................188
Manufacturing Outline ............................................................................................................189
Test Fixture Outline ................................................................................................................190
DXF In ....................................................................................................................................191
IDF Import ..............................................................................................................................194
IDF Import Issues ....................................................................................................................195
Mounting Holes .......................................................................................................................196
Fiducials ..................................................................................................................................198
Board Origins ..........................................................................................................................199
Placement Obstructs ................................................................................................................200
Route Obstructs .......................................................................................................................201
Module 10 Lab: Creating Board Geometries ..........................................................................202
Module 11
Placing Parts
What is Constraint Manager? ..................................................................................................206
Constraint Manager in the Design Flow .................................................................................207
Invoking Constraint Manager .................................................................................................208
Constraint Manager – Main Window......................................................................................209
Setting Up General Clearances ...............................................................................................210
Setting Up Package Type Clearances .....................................................................................211
Setting Up Package Type to Package Type Clearances ..........................................................212
Editor Control Placement Settings ..........................................................................................213
Component Explorer ...............................................................................................................214
Hierarchical Groups ................................................................................................................217
Hierarchical Group Planning / Placement ...............................................................................218
Marking Components ..............................................................................................................219
Planning Groups ......................................................................................................................220
Clusters....................................................................................................................................221

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Rooms .....................................................................................................................................222
Placed Circuit Groups .............................................................................................................223
Active Group ...........................................................................................................................224
Placing Planning Groups .........................................................................................................225
Create a New Planning Group.................................................................................................226
Group Placement Settings .......................................................................................................227
Group/Ungroup Command .....................................................................................................228
Freeze Group ...........................................................................................................................229
Other Objects in Group ...........................................................................................................230
Copy Components and Circuits ..............................................................................................231
Paste Map Dialog ....................................................................................................................232
Part Properties .........................................................................................................................233
Key-In Placement Commands.................................................................................................234
Moving Parts ...........................................................................................................................237
Rotating Parts ..........................................................................................................................238
Pushing Parts ...........................................................................................................................239
Aligning Parts .........................................................................................................................240
Color By Net ...........................................................................................................................241
Part Swapping .........................................................................................................................242
Automatic Part, Gate, and Pin Swapping ................................................................................243
Manual Gate Swapping ...........................................................................................................244
Manual Pin Swapping .............................................................................................................245
Forward/Back Annotation .......................................................................................................246
Back Annotation......................................................................................................................247
Managing Forward/Back Annotations ....................................................................................248
Synchronization Status ............................................................................................................249
Placing Mechanical Cells ........................................................................................................250
Module 11 Lab: Placing Parts .................................................................................................251
Module 12
Verifying the Layout
Two Types of DRC Checking .................................................................................................255
Online DRC.............................................................................................................................256
Editor Control — Online DRC Options ..................................................................................257
Batch DRC ..............................................................................................................................258
Connectivity and Special Rules ..............................................................................................259
Advanced Element to Element Rules ......................................................................................260

xPCB Layout Introduction

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Batch DRC Schemes ...............................................................................................................261
Online DRC Hazards...............................................................................................................262
Reviewing DRC Hazards ........................................................................................................263
Measure Commands ................................................................................................................266
Measure Modes .......................................................................................................................267
Measuring Minimum Distance Example ................................................................................268
Measuring Distance Example .................................................................................................269
Design Status ...........................................................................................................................270
Design Library Verification ....................................................................................................271
Module 12 Lab: Verifying the Layout ....................................................................................272
Module 13
Setting Up Routing Constraints
Constraint Manager – Main Window......................................................................................275
Constraint Manager – Toolbars ...............................................................................................276
Constraint Manager – Navigator .............................................................................................277
Constraint Manager – Spreadsheets ........................................................................................278
The Clearances Spreadsheet ....................................................................................................280
Constraints Setup Overview ....................................................................................................281
Constraint Manager – Window Docking ................................................................................282
Creating a Net Class ................................................................................................................283
Assigning Nets to a Net Class .................................................................................................285
Setting Up Trace Properties ....................................................................................................286
Setting Up Via Assignments ...................................................................................................287
Creating a Clearance Rule .......................................................................................................288
Power Net Controls .................................................................................................................290
Setting Up Class to Class Clearances .....................................................................................291
Creating a Scheme...................................................................................................................292
Using Schemes in xPCB Layout ............................................................................................293
Topologies ...............................................................................................................................294
Timing Properties ....................................................................................................................296
Updating Design With Actual Values .....................................................................................297
Differential Pairs .....................................................................................................................298
Phase Matching Constraints ....................................................................................................299
Updating the iCDB..................................................................................................................300
Constraint Editor .....................................................................................................................301
Constraint Editor GUI Overview ............................................................................................302

xPCB Layout Introduction

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Constraint Editor GUI — Bars ................................................................................................303
Constraint Editor Tasks ...........................................................................................................304
Constraint Editor Clearances ..................................................................................................305
Constraint Editor Width ..........................................................................................................306
Constraint Editor Match Groups .............................................................................................307
Keep in Mind ..........................................................................................................................308
Module 13 Lab: Setting Up Routing Constraints ....................................................................309
Module 14
Interactive Routing
Routing Overview ...................................................................................................................312
Routing Command ..................................................................................................................313
Interactive Routing — Plow....................................................................................................314
Interactive Plow ......................................................................................................................315
Interactive Routing Configurations .........................................................................................316
Interactive Routing Control.....................................................................................................317
Delayed and Dynamic Push & Shove .....................................................................................318
Hockey Stick and Segment Mode ...........................................................................................319
Angle Mode.............................................................................................................................320
Plow Modes — Multiplow ......................................................................................................321
Editor Control .........................................................................................................................323
Editor Control — Plow ...........................................................................................................324
Editor Control — Edit and Route Controls .............................................................................325
Editor Control — Vias and Fanouts ........................................................................................326
Editor Control — Net Rules On/Off .......................................................................................327
Editor Control — Net Filter ....................................................................................................328
Editor Control — Layer Settings ............................................................................................329
Editor Control — Diff Pairs ....................................................................................................330
Editor Control — Pad Entry....................................................................................................331
Editor Control — Expand Traces ............................................................................................332
Editor Control — Grids...........................................................................................................333
Net Explorer ............................................................................................................................334
Creating Net Planning User Groups ........................................................................................336
Marking Nets ...........................................................................................................................337
Netline Visibility Management ...............................................................................................338
Dynamic Netline Filtering.......................................................................................................339
Changing Layers / Widths .......................................................................................................340

xPCB Layout Introduction

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Changing Trace Widths...........................................................................................................341
Active Clearances....................................................................................................................343
Prohibit Violations ..................................................................................................................344
Message Window ....................................................................................................................345
Fixing Traces and Vias............................................................................................................346
Moving Traces and Vias .........................................................................................................347
Pushing Traces ........................................................................................................................348
Toggle Curve...........................................................................................................................349
Rounding Traces .....................................................................................................................350
Conductive Shapes ..................................................................................................................352
Teardrops.................................................................................................................................353
Module 14 Lab: Interactive Routing .......................................................................................354

Module 15
Tuning
Tuning .....................................................................................................................................358
Manual Tune ...........................................................................................................................359
Manual Saw Tune ...................................................................................................................360
Phase Tuning ...........................................................................................................................361
Target Length ..........................................................................................................................362
Module 15 Lab: Tuning ..........................................................................................................363
Module 16
Auto Active Routing
Semi-Automatic Routing ........................................................................................................366
Fanout Patterns ........................................................................................................................368
Auto Active Router .................................................................................................................371
Sketch Router ..........................................................................................................................372
Message Window ....................................................................................................................373
Select and Route......................................................................................................................374
Draw Sketch Path ....................................................................................................................375
Sketch Path Options ...............................................................................................................376
Select, Draw and Route ...........................................................................................................377
Selecting Netlines....................................................................................................................378
Drawing Sketch Path ...............................................................................................................379
Routing Sketch Path ................................................................................................................380
Sketch Route Styles ................................................................................................................381

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Packed Style ............................................................................................................................382
Unpacked Style .......................................................................................................................383
Post Sketch Route Glossing ....................................................................................................384
Hug Router ..............................................................................................................................385
Sketch Router – Via Patterns ..................................................................................................387
Module 16 Lab: Sketch Routing .............................................................................................390

Module 17
Auto Routing Traces
Automatic Routing ..................................................................................................................393
Auto Route Dialog Box ...........................................................................................................394
Auto Route Setup ....................................................................................................................395
Interrupting the Router ............................................................................................................396
Auto Routing Status ................................................................................................................397
Auto Routing Schemes ............................................................................................................398
Module 17 Lab: Auto Routing Traces ....................................................................................399

Module 18
Test Points
Test Point Definitions .............................................................................................................403
Test Point Cells .......................................................................................................................404
Setting Test Point Parameters .................................................................................................405
Setting Test Point Clearances .................................................................................................406
Assigning Test Points..............................................................................................................407
Auto Assignment.....................................................................................................................408
Required Test Points ...............................................................................................................409
Interactive Test Points .............................................................................................................410
Placement and Output Options ...............................................................................................412
Editing Test Point Placement ..................................................................................................413
Add to Select Set .....................................................................................................................414
Checking Test Points ..............................................................................................................415
Module 18 Lab: Test Points ....................................................................................................416
Module 19
Generating Planes
What Are Planes? ....................................................................................................................420
Setting Plane Layer Definitions ..............................................................................................421
Processing Planes — Clearances ............................................................................................422

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Plane Shapes ...........................................................................................................................423
Plane Shape Properties ............................................................................................................424
Merging Same-Net Plane Shapes ............................................................................................425
Modifying Plane Shapes .........................................................................................................426
Split Planes ..............................................................................................................................427
Dynamic Plane Data ................................................................................................................428
Plane Data State ......................................................................................................................429
Plane Editing Sketch ...............................................................................................................430
Plane Graphics ........................................................................................................................431
Planes Class Parameters ..........................................................................................................432
Place Via .................................................................................................................................436
Add Stitching Vias ..................................................................................................................437
Generate Negative Planes .......................................................................................................438
Deleting Plane Data.................................................................................................................439
Placing Thermal Override .......................................................................................................440
Routed Plane Pins ...................................................................................................................441
Verifying Plane Data ...............................................................................................................442
Module 19 Lab: Generating Planes .........................................................................................443

Module 20
Creating Silkscreens
What Is a Silkscreen? ..............................................................................................................446
Renumbering Reference Designators ......................................................................................447
Moving Reference Designators ...............................................................................................450
Adding Nomenclature and Graphics .......................................................................................452
Generating Silkscreen Graphics ..............................................................................................453
Module 20 Lab: Creating Silkscreens .....................................................................................456
Module 21
Gerber and Drill Data
Gerber Machine Format ..........................................................................................................460
Photoplotting Output ...............................................................................................................461
Output File Contents ...............................................................................................................464
Padstack Holes Review ...........................................................................................................465
NC Drill...................................................................................................................................466
Output and Drill Chart Graphics .............................................................................................469
Setup ODB++ ..........................................................................................................................470

xPCB Layout Introduction

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Export General Interface .........................................................................................................474
Module 21 Lab: Gerber and Drill Data ...................................................................................475
Module 22
Dimensions and Documentation
Dimensioning Overview .........................................................................................................479
Dimensioning Mode ................................................................................................................480
Dimensioning Configuration...................................................................................................481
Place Dimension Along a Linear Element .............................................................................484
Place Dimension Between Two Elements ..............................................................................485
Place Stacked Dimension ........................................................................................................486
Place an Ordinate Dimension ..................................................................................................487
Angle From X-Axis of Linear Element ..................................................................................488
Angular Dimension Between Two Linear Elements ..............................................................489
Place a Radius or Diameter Dimension ..................................................................................490
Editing Dimensions .................................................................................................................491
Drawing Cells .........................................................................................................................493
DXF Output .............................................................................................................................494
Module 22 Lab: Dimensions and Documentation ..................................................................496

Appendix A
Mentor Graphics Support
Mentor Support Plan ...............................................................................................................500
Expert Product Support ...........................................................................................................501
Comprehensive Online Solutions............................................................................................502
Flexible Training .....................................................................................................................503
Mentor Productivity Services ..................................................................................................504
Productivity Services Categories ............................................................................................505

xPCB Layout Introduction