What controls the display of thermal reliefs?

[matt@strat]

I am relatively new at this so bear with me if this is a simple question!!!
I am about finished laying out a two layer board. The top layer is the primary signal layer and the bottom layer is signal/gnd. None of the vias/pins that go to gnd show a thermal relief on the bottom layer, and when I run DRC it fails all those points. When I do the flood the copper stays away from all pins and vias. But the program seems to know they are the same net because all the pads/vias are a secondary color.(How do you set color based on net??) In case it matters I have the no frills version of the program.

I appreciate the help.
Matt

[randychase]

Matt,

Welcome to the forum!

Are you using Split/Mixed or Copper Pour? If you go to SETUP, LAYER Definition..is the bottom layer assigned as SPLIT/MIXED or NO PLANE?

One common area of confusion is this, now PowerPCB handles planes. There are three methods, CAM planes (unfortunately named)...which are negative image planes. Split/Mixed which are a type of intelligent pour of copper. And Copper Pour.

There are different icons on the drafting tool bar for Split/Mixed and Copper Pour.

To assign colors by net.. Pulldown VIEW, then NETS. Click on the net and ADD it to the right side list. Click on it on the right side and then click on a color and hit OK or APPLY.

[matt@strat]

I have tried using both the split/mixed plane and the no plane option. It didn't seem to make a difference. I do NOT have the Split/mixed plane option in the software but the selection comes up on the screen!?

Yet another question.. Once you select the shape of the area you want to flood, using the right click pop up menu, you can flood or hatch. What is the difference and when might you use one over the other?

Thanks again!!!

[phillipr]

The difference between hatch and flood is-

Flood - Pours the area again so if you've removed any or modified any copper it will be lost.

Hatch - just re-hatches the outline so its in the same state it was before. You will not loose any mods that you have done.

Hope this helps

Phillip restall

[randychase]

Originally posted by matt@strat
I have tried using both the split/mixed plane and the no plane option. It didn't seem to make a difference. I do NOT have the Split/mixed plane option in the software but the selection comes up on the screen!?

Oh, the icon muct be grayed out then?

So you are using copper pour then and you created copper pours.

You will not see thermal connection indicators with Copper Pour. You will see the actual spokes once you Flood.