Circular arrangement of multiple copies of a design

[claudio.ray]

Hi all,

I am currently working on a circular design with 1024 independent connections divided into 16 identical blocks, each of these blocks is rotated by  22.5° angles from the previous.

To avoid all the hassle of having to make each of those 1024 connections, my idea is to make only one of the blocks copy it 15 more times, and then arrange it the way I need. My question is, is this possible and if so, how can I do that?

This is one of the pieces which is already done. 

The objective is to end with the complete circumference filled. Something like this:

Thanks for any hint. 

[jorge_garcia]

Hello @claudio.ray,

Save the single section as Designblock with the schematic, then just insert the design block 15 times. That's how I would go about it.

Designblocks allow you to save portions of schematic with their corresponding layout so that you can easily re-use them. Almost like components.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards, 

[claudio.ray]

Hi Jorge, 

Thanks for your reply but sadly I can't make it work.

I create a design block that comprises a whole piece. 

Then I created a new design and placed the first block, all fine. but then when I place the second and I need to start working with it, that is, rotate it and place it in a specific location using the first pad everything starts to get messy.  to the point that I can't.

My idea would be to define each piece as an individual block, place the 16 blocks, and use the arrange tool. but it ended as a disaster. 

[claudio.ray · Accepted solution]

Hey @jorge_garcia , first of all, thanks again for your answer.

So far the only rotation I can do the way I need is when I select the complete design and do a right-click rotation, but still, I can't find a way to rotate only by steps of 22.5°. 

I will deal with the specific coordinates where I need the object later, first I want to rotate them. 

EDIT:

I just tried with EAGLE 9.6.2 and its so easy to rotate the block

How can it be so hard to achieve this kind of rotation with Fusion 360?

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @claudio.ray,

OK I see what's going on. In EAGLE you get this angle field that you don't have in Fusion. So to replicate in Fusion for now place the block where you want it the you can use the ROTATE command separately to put it at whatever angle you want.

I'll report this so that it can be corrected. 

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[claudio.ray]

Hi @jorge_garcia , Thank you for your answer.

I attempted to use the command line, but it only rotates objects and not the traces. Do you have a specific command to rotate a whole group or selection?

Moving on to my next question, I have a complex layer definition in Fusion that Eagle cannot follow (I encountered numerous issues trying to defining it in the layer setup bar).

Eagle              

If I save a .brd file in Fusion and then open it with Eagle, will that definition be read and understood?

In addition to the above. For this project, I have found it very comfortable to work with design blocks but so far if I have to apply corrections, which would mean modifying the block, there is no way to update the whole design. I found THIS thread from 2017 where they address this issue. Is there any update? 

Thanks in advance.

[jorge_garcia]

Hey @claudio.ray,

I hope you're doing well. So the procedure for rotate is pretty simple.

1) Form selection
2) Click on the ROTATE command, in the dialog that pops up enter the angle you want the press enter
3) Now hold ctrl+ right click on a member of the selection. The entire selection will rotate by that amount.

Wherever you do the right click that becomes the reference point for the selection. Once the group is rotated then you can use the move to precisely locate it.

So if you export it to EAGLE the definition should be understood. With that said, I would like to inquire what you have such a complex via stackup. Making a board like this would be EXTREMELY expensive. If you need it, you need it, but I want to make sure you are not under the misconception that you need to have a via config between every possible combination of layers. For example a via that goes from 1-16 can connect all layers, it will isolate from any layers it's not supposed to connect to. Generally, you only really need blind and buried vias for tiny dense layouts. I recognize you have a dense layout but you may be able to do it with fewer via configurations.

For Fusion, we are currently using Electronic Designs sort of like Designblocks. If you use that workflow you have 1/16 of the board as it's own electronic design and then you place it 16 times to get your final configuration. Currently Designblocks within fusion are consumable but they are not editable. We are working on a better replacement for them.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,