Creating Basic Data with PCB Layer Stack Editor
This tutorial will explain the basics of using PCB Layer Stack Editor - how to create some basic data (a simple layer stack model).
This tutorial assumes that you have already downloaded and installed IDA-STEP v4 with the PCB Layer Stack Editor component.
Tutorial contents
- Opening the PCB Layer Stack perspective
- Creating a dataset for PCB layer stack data
- Creating a design stack model
- Customizing displayed data
- Creating stratums
- Setting the order of stratums
- Stratum properties
- Creating passages
- Passage properties
- Viewing design cross-section
- Further tutorials
Opening the PCB Layer Stack perspective
When IDA-STEP v4 is launched for the first time, it uses the default 3D View perspective. In this tutorial we will use the provided PCB Layer Stack perspective. A perspective is the arrangement of application controls on the screen. They can be easily customized according to personal needs.
The upper right part of IDA-STEP v4 contains a perspective chooser control. Expand the drop-down menu and choose PCB Layer Stack perspective - the views and controls of the screen are arranged for a convenient work with PCB layer stacks.
Note: the views arrangement can be customized and will be saved when you open the same perspective the next time.
Creating a dataset for PCB layer stack data
IDA-STEP v4 stores data in datasets, which are stored in repositories, respectively. Data can be shared between datasets, as they are logical structurization of data. A repository is a physical storage for data and represents whole data file.
First, create a new repository:
- In the main menu choose File » New.
A new repository is created - it appears with a name Repository in the Datasets view. This repository represents an untitled file. Do not forget to save this file constantly when creating data.
When a repository is created, create a new dataset to store PCB layer stack data. The largest data object used in the PCB Layer Stack Editor is a design stack model. Create a dataset to store design stack models:
If IDA-STEP v4 was launched without any data, we need to create a data storage.
- Right-click on the Repository repository and choose New Dataset;
- In the opened dataset creation wizard, enter the name of new dataset, e.g. Design stack models;
- Choose the type of the new dataset - Design Stack Model;
- Click Finish - the new dataset is created and displayed in the Datasets view.
Creating a design stack model
A design stack model contains indicated layers and other stratums, passages and other related data. Before defining stratums and passages, first create a design stack model to which they belong:
- In Design Stack Models view click on empty design stack model row (the one with asterisk (*));
- Enter the ID for new design stack model, e.g. S4L for a standard 4 layer model.
When you leave the editor, a new design stack model is created. It can already be used to store layers and passages, however first we might want to set some properties to the whole model:
- Enter the name for the design stack model in Name column, e.g. Standard 4-layer;
- Assign Id owner and Creator:
- Create a new dataset for organization data (Persons and Organizations);
- Create a new organization, e.g. LKSoft;
- Drag-and-drop or copy-paste the organization to Id owner and Creator fields of the design stack model;
After these steps, basic information for design stack model is set. Conductive layers and Total Thickness values are calculated from when layers are added to the model.
To edit stratums and passages of the created design stack model, select it:
- In the Design Stack Models view select the target design stack model, e.g. S4L.
Without the context desin stack model selected, Stratums and Passages views are inactive and stratums/passages cannot be edited.
Customizing displayed data
It is possible to add additional fields to the data - if you have some additional data to enter or want to display data, which is not displayed by default. To do this, add new column for this data:
- Right-click on some field and select Insert column;
- Enter the name of column;
- Choose a role of data (a single row contains multiple data roles);
- Choose data field type;
- Click Finish - a new column is added.
Note: adding of new columns is possible for almost all views - explore the customization possibilities.
Creating stratums
When a design stack model is selected and Stratums view is activated, this view is used to edit layers and other stratums. In this example we will create a simple design with 4 conductive layers and additional required stratums.
Create new stratum:
- In Stratums view click on empty stratum row (the one with asterisk (*));
- Enter the Name for new stratum, e.g. core1 for the first core layer;
- Choose purpose of the stratum in the Purpose field, e.g. Core material for the first core layer.
These steps create basic stratum with a specific purpose. Repeat these steps to create other stratums, e.g. s1 and s2 signal layers (purpose Signal).
Setting the order of stratums
The order of stratums in the Stratums view represents the actual stratum order (from top to bottom). The order can be changed using the mouse - drag the target stratum to the required place.
In this example we will create two groups of laminates (e.g. laminate1 and laminate2) - consisting of a core layer (e.g. core1) with two signal layers (e.g. s1 and s2) - with a couple layers (e.g. prepreg1 and prepreg2) to join them. Continue reading for more information on sequences and layer bases.
Sequences
Stratums can be grouped into sequences - a sequence represents a group of stratums, which are produced together, and later are used together in the further production. To create a sequence do the following steps:
- Right-click on a stratum and select Add sequence (before/after);
- Enter the name of the sequence, e.g. laminate1 for the first sequence containing two signal layers with a core;
- Drag-and-drop existing stratums into the created sequence, e.g. move s1, core1 and s2 stratums into laminate1 sequence;
- If necessary, it is possible to add stratums directly to the sequence:
- Right-click on a sequence and select Insert element;
- Right-click on a new stratum row (with *) and select Move to root to add stratums to root afterwards.
Stratum base
Some stratums need to based on other stratums, e.g. a signal layer must be based on a core layer, as it cannot exist independently. To indicate how the stratums are based one on another, use the Based on field for each stratum:
- Double-click the Based on field for a stratum, which needs to based on other stratum and select Up or Down to indicate which stratum it is based on;
- Set the value to Independent to indicate that the stratum does not need to be based on other stratums.
Stratum properties
The provided fields for stratums can be used to set stratum properties. They can be set individually for each stratum or applied as macros. This tutorial will not examine macros any further - PCB Layer Library and macros are explained in the Using macros / PCB Layer Stack Library tutorial.
We will examine some of the provided fields:
- Gerber field allows specifying the related GERBER file, which contains the actual design of the stratum, e.g. artwork1.gbr;
- For Thickness, Min Feature, Min Spacing and similar fields, it is possible to enter numerical value with unit or even indicate value tolerance, etc - e.g. 0.7500 +/-3% mm;
- Material field allows specifying the material for a specific stratum (e.g. copper) - once a material is indicated, it is available in the combo-box for future selection.
Creating passages
Creating passages requires a design stack model to be selected. When a design stack model is selected, Passages view is activated and is used to edit passages. In this example we will add two passages (vias) to our simple layer design.
Create new passage:
- In Passages view click on empty passage row (the one with asterisk (*));
- Enter the Id for new passage, e.g. microvia1 for a micro-via;
- Choose passage Type, e.g. Via for a micro-via;
- Indicate the passage start and end stratums:
- From Stratums view drag start stratums to From and To fields, e.g. s1 and s2 stratums, respectively;
These steps create a via from stratum s1 to s2 with no additional properties set. Repeat these steps to create other passage, e.g. a passage via2 (type Via), which goes through all layers (from stratum s1 to s4).
When a structure under indicated passage is expanded, its passed stratums are listed in their respective order.
Passage properties
The PCB Layer Stack Editor allows setting different properties for passages. The default fields provide capabilities to set passage plating information, various measurements, etc.
Add additional fields (see Customizing displayed data) to indicate passage deposition/filling materials, their properties and other required passage information.
When setting connected/unconnected ring sizes, it is possible to indicate them not only for the passage itselft, but also for specific stratums. To do this - expand the passage structure and edit the fields on respective stratums.
Viewing design cross-section
When a design stack model is selected, the Stratums Cross-section view displays a schematic layout of the current design. It displays a cross-section of existing stratums as they are defined in the stratums, as well as indicated passages. This view considers different properties of stratums and passages, their order, layout, etc.
This view allows the PCB modeller to quickly preview the created design stack model and perform adjustments if needed.
By default the stratums are displayed exploded (separated from each other), however using a Toggle Collapsed/Expanded View button it is possible to view the collapsed view (picture above).
When a stratum or a passage is selected in their respective view, Stratums Cross-section view highlights the selected element in the design layout.
Further tutorials
Continue the PCB Layer Stack Editor usage tutorials with Using macros / PCB Layer Stack Library tutorial. In this tutorial you can learn how to use macros and the PCB Layer Stack Library to define common stratum/passage properties and avoid entering the same data multiple times or making synchronization mistakes.
Moreover, you can watch the Basic PCB Layer Stack Editor usage (video) tutorial - it goes through the whole example using a Flash video.