EasyEDA Std PCB FAQ

PCB

How to solve the PCB very slow issue

Because of v6.3 add two features:

1. All objects support show the ratlines which are containing nets;
2. Solve bottom layer pads will cover top copper issue. These features will make editor slower than before.

There are some methods to try to improve：

1. Via Tools - Design Rule, disable real-time DRC
2. Via Settings - PCB settings, disable Add Teardrop Automatically
3. Via Settings - PCB settings, disable Net Highlighting While Coursor Hover the Track
4. Via Settings - PCB settings, disable The Track's Routing Follows Component's Rotation
5. Via Settings - PCB settings, disable Rebuild Plane Automatically, and using copper area instead of inner plane layer
6. Via Settings - PCB settings, set Canvas Zoom Effect as Speed Priority
7. Hide ratline layer before move footprints at PCB
8. Check footprints which have a lot pad's, and the pads are polygon type, please modify them as Retangle or Oval
9. Suggest PCB doesn't over 300 footprints, Pads and Vias no more than 1500

How to change the Units of PCB from mil to mm or inch.

There is an option for that in PCB canvas attributes:

How to pick and move the components on the PCB canvas quickly.

Before routing the PCB, the components need to be positioned in suitable places on the PCB. In the PCB Editor, it can sometimes be quite difficult to select components by clicking on the silkscreen outline or the pads. To select and move them more easily, please use drag mode (Hot Key D) or click the Move icon in the PCB Tools toolbar:

How to add test point in schematic or PCB?

Schematic: You can place a single pin connector from Commonly Library, and then update its footprint.

PCB: You can place a top/bottom layer pad , and then route it with track.

Can I create a PCB without creating schematic?

Yes but for any but the simplest PCBs, please see:

Layout PCB Without Schematic

How to add more fonts for PCB.

You can refer to Text of PCB section.

How to insert an Image/Logo to PCB.

You can refer to Image of PCB section.

How to insert a DXF as board outline.

You can refer to Import DXF File of Import section.

How to create non rectangular pcb outline such as round?

You can import a DXF file for the board outline. For a round board outline, you can use an arc to do that, you just need to change to the board outline layer, then draw 1 arc like in the image below (need to adjust a bit later), you can use lines and arcs to create complex board outlines.

How to add a slot and cut out.

Please use solid region https://docs.easyeda.com/en/PCB/PCB-Tools/index.html#Solid-Region

Or draw a track and right-click it, use the "Convert to Board Cutout" option.

How to measure dimensions on a PCB.

https://docs.easyeda.com/en/PCB/PCB-Tools/index.html#Measure-Dimension

use Hotkey M

How to add more layers.

Click the layer options button, then tick the extra layers in the dialog that opens. https://docs.easyeda.com/en/PCB/Layers-Tool/index.html

How to add solder mask aperture.

It is possible to get boards with the copper exposed so that you can apply a layer of solder over those tracks to further increase their current carrying capacity. In this case, you need to add solder mask over a copper (copper area, track, solid region). EasyEDA will add solder mask for pads automatically. Sometimes however, you may need to add an aperture in the solder mask to expose and area of copper.

1. First, add a top or bottom solder mask layer, as required.
   

2. Next, draw a region in the solder mask layer over a copper item as illustrated in the image below. This in effect draws an aperture in the solder mask so that the copper item inside the region, in this case the track, will be not be covered by the green film of solder mask.
   

A common mistake is to just draw a solder mask, without a copper area, like the track pointed to by the yellow arrow. That is incorrect and does not produce the desired result.

Or you can click the track, and then click the Expose Copper button at the right-hand panel.

How do I set the dimensions of my PCB in the layout?

PCB's dimension/size depends on the board outline, you can create your board outline, please refer to Board Outline of the PCB section.

My PCB is complex, how can I be sure that I have routed all of the tracks?

Please refer to Design Manager of PCB section.

I need to start my layout again, how can I remove all of the tracks?

You can use "Menu - Route - Unroute All" and "Menu - Edit - Global Delete".

How to put a component on the bottom layer?

There are two ways to do this.

1. If your active layer is the bottom layer, then every component you place will be placed on the bottom layer automatically.
2. You can place a component then select it and change its layer attribute to Bottom layer in the right hand panel.

How to panelize the PCB

Please refer at PCB: Panelize

What does Warning copper area do not allow self intersection

Please refer at Forum: What does Warning copper area do not allow self intersection

Why can't the pad number be directly seen in the EasyEDA Std PCB?

Details

Because the system is invisible by default, it can only display the network, or view it in the right property bar, so we need to open it in the pcb setting

How to batch modify pad network in pcb?

Details

First select the pads you want to modify in bulk, click the right mouse button and select ‘Find Similar Objects’.

And then look up the rule and delete the network here. You can customize the shape of the pad object you want to batch select according to your needs, etc.

After clicking "find", it will help you find all the pads that match the requirements, and then modify the network you want in the properties bar on the right.

How to change the line width?

Details

First way: After the wiring is done, select the wire and change the width in the properties bar "Width" on the right.

The second method: in the process of wiring, first pull out a wire, and then press the "tab" key, a prompt box will pop up to change the wire width.

If you want to change the width of the wire from the beginning, you can change the rules for the wire width inside the design rules.

If you need to change all the wire widths in bulk, you can do this: The first step is to check "Track" separately for filtering.

Then box the entire pcb and the system screens out all the wires individually.Finally, change the line width in the properties bar on the right.In this way, all the wires will change the wire width at once.

How to add or remove Suture vias?

Details

How to add: You need to select the copper, and then you can add it in the properties bar on the right. It is also possible to customize the size and distance of vias.

How to remove: Also need to select the copper, and then in the right property bar can be removed. It should be noted that the correct size and distance of the vias must be filled in when deleting, otherwise it cannot be deleted.

How to solve DRC spacing errors?

Details

Elements that are too close to each other will get an error if they exceed the design rules.

You need to change the space between the values in the design rules to be smaller, or make the space between the two elements larger in the diagram.

One thing to note: If it's the spacing between the footprints of the system libraries that is reported as an error, this is an error that can be ignored. This is because the footprints need to be drawn this way due to the needs of the physical device.

How to change the opacity of a layer?

Details

The layer manager can be accessed from the floating toolbar or the top menu bar.Then you can change transparency。

What if the copper area is not displayed after placing the copper area?

Details

First: do you place other elements of the same network in the copper area, if not then the copper area will not appear. Second: Check whether board outline is completely closed.

Third: There is no element corresponding to the same network in the scope of the copper area, but you still want to keep the copper area. You can click the copper wire frame, modify the property "Keep Island" in the right property panel and set it to "yes".

Fourth: When the same layer has more than one copper area at the same time, you can move the copper that is not shown up to the large copper through the copper manager.

How to replace components without rewiring them?

Details

You can remove the unneeded components from the schematic and then replace them with new ones. Then click on the "Reset Component Unique ID" function at the top of both the schematic and the pcb.(Note: Click on both schematic diagram and pcb)

Second, go back to the schematic and click Update pcb.

Finally, no global rewiring is required, only the wiring of the replaced component needs to be reconnected.

How would you change the sizes of all prefixes in bulk?

Details

First, select prefix separately in Object.

Next, select the entire selected area, and the prefix will be filtered. Finally, go to the right property bar and change things like font size or Angle.

How to make a ring pad?

Details

Using the two-point arc wiring method, draw two semicircles and then turn them into pads individually.

How to set the position of component Designator or Name in bulk?

Details

Firstly, you need to box the board in its entirety.Next, select the “prefix position” Tools in the top menu bar.

How to modify the “plated”of the pad?

Details

Select the pads to select them in the Properties column on the right.

It should be noted that once the ‘plated’ setting of the pad is set to ‘no’, the pad loses its electrical properties and the inner wall of the through-hole is copper-free. It is often referred to as "Nine plated though hole (NPTH)".

How to change the color of a layer?

Details

Go to the layer manager from inside the settings in the top right corner and we can see the colors of each layer.Note that the colours modified in the Layer Manager are for all elements of this layer.

Currently, there is no way to modify the colour of an element individually in the Standard Edition, so if there are designers who need this feature, they can use the Professional Edition.

How to flip the footprint?

Details

Inside, the standard version does not support one-sided mirrored packages, only the footprint can be switched top or bottom. If you want to place components on the back of the board, you can switch layers. The top layer is the front side and the bottom layer is the back side. Components placed on the bottom layer will have a mirrored effect, which is only a normal view phenomenon.

How to bind and change footprint?

Details

When we find that a component has no footprint, we can click on the component and click on the footprint manager in the properties bar on the right.

In the footprint manager, you can help components bind the footprint of the system and replace the footprint. In addition, if the system library does not have the footprint you want, you can choose to draw your own footprint to bind.

How to Expose Copper to Wire？

Details

Click on the wire, click on ‘Expose Copper’ in the right property bar, and finally you can see the effect in the 3d preview.

How to draw the Slot Region?

Details

It will become this effect displayed in 3d preview.

How to modify the connection between the copper area and the pads?

Details

First select the copper-laying area, and then you can modify the connection method in the property column on the right.

How to expose the copper skin in the copper laying?

Details

It is only necessary to overlay a layer of solder mask on the copper to leak out the copper.

How to set up automatic teardrops for wires?

Details

Find ‘System Settings’ in the settings on the top menu bar and then tick the option to add teardrops automatically in the pcb.

How to highlight and unhighlight networks in PCB?

Details

Just select the web element and click the right mouse button.

How to set the text to remove the green oil leaking out of the copper skin?

Details

Place two texts at the same time in the top layer and the top soldermask layer and then overlap them. Then you can see the effect in 3d preview, the yellow text indicates the leakage of copper skin.

How to batch delete wires on the same network?

Details

Find Network Tools on the left, select the network you want to delete, click on it and after you see all the network wires highlighted, move your mouse over the canvas and click the right mouse button to delete it.

How do I batch change the size of the via?

Details

We can use the ‘object’ toolbar to individually select perforations or other elements, and then sift through all the selected objects after selecting the area, and finally make batch modifications in the right property bar.

How do I set up different network rules?

Details

Find the ‘Design Rule’ menu in the top menu bar. Once you are there, you can add the design rule you want and then select a different network to use the new rule on the right. Then you can select different networks to use the new rule. It is important to note that the design rules are network based, they can only be categorised by network.