Hi, In the last months I have not worked with zones, but I did it in the past.
In pcbnew I used to do this: Connect all signals to VDD and Ground as though no zone is to be created, but having in mind the area where I will create it. Only after all the circuit was routed, I created the zones. All the extra tracks I used are now covered by the zone. Regards, Pedro. > Yeah, that was my posting a month or so back. I tried (or thought I tried) everything that was suggested, but nothing has worked. > > I have not tried hand-routing all of the VSS-layer vias together and all the VDD-layer vias together. That seems to be a very error-prone proposition. > > Maybe I just don't understand the intent behind zones? Maybe DRC is just broken when it comes to zones? I hope the problem lies with me and not DRC as I need to get this board finished ASAP. > > thanks, > Greg > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Andy Eskelson <andyya...@g0poy.co.uk> > To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 7:11:16 PM > Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC > > I think I recall seeing a post on this matter before... > > If my memory is working correctly: > (I've never done this myself) > > I think the trick is to connect the vias together with > tracks, (obviously on your VDD of VSS layer) Then create your zone, that > should then merge the lot together and well as giving the DRC something > to work on. > > > Looking back through the archive I've found the thread... > > Apparently with the latest version of the software things should connect > up without the need for tracks, the thread started at > > [kicad-users] PLEASE help....Anyone out there??? from gregory.dyess on > 15 jun 2009 > > Might be worth a read. > > > > > Andy > > > > > > On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:19:45 -0700 (PDT) > Greg Dyess <gregory.dy...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > OOOPS, this only partially went out earlier, so please accept my appologies for the resend. This problem is becoming a major stumbling block and is holding up a project I need to get moving. > > > > I am seeing this very strange issue when using zones (at least it seems strange to me).I have a 4-layer board with almost all surface mount. L1 is almost entirely dedicated as my "VDD layer" by creating a zone connected to my VDD net on that layer. L2 is the same thing with my VSS (Ground) layer. > > > > When I want to connect a pad or trace to VDD or VSS, I simply place a via in the trace. According to the 3D view of the board, the hole plating is connected to the VDD or VSS layer as I would expect. The photoplots (Gerber) files seem to indicate the connections are there as well. I can export the file and run the online router and it sees the connections. > > > > The problem is when I run the DRC, it complains that the pads are not connected and throws several errors. With almost 500 connections to VSS or VDD, hand-routing all of them to the inner layers would be extremely cumbersome and error-prone. Just ignoring all of the errors isn't a good option either as I could easily miss legitimate problems. > > > > I have tried doing a refill on all zones (which DRC is supposed to do automatically) and no differences. > > I have tried starting a trace from the component pad, switching to the L1 or L2 layer and continuing the trace. > > Nothing seems to work. It's as if DRC doesn't recognize connections to inner layers on anything other than feed-through pads. > > > > Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could be doing wrong? > > Is this a bug in the DRC? (I admit I don't know where or how to check for bugs, so pointers to this information would be greatly appreciated as well.) > > > > Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is now the critical point in getting this board completed so I can start working on the firmware. I have attached a simple schematic and board to demonstrate the problem. > > > > BTW, I am running what I think is the latest version from February of this year on an Ubuntu 9.04 platform. I will try the project later on my Windows XP system to see if it is any different. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Greg > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. > Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. > Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. > For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links > > > > >
