DRC has connected unrouted paths

[_Marek]

Hi,

I've got a problem with DRC. DRC claims that there are no unrouted  paths on the board. Marked by yellow line area is not connected to GND because the device installed on top layer can't be soldered at this layer. THT pads are not metalized in this project. The result is: prototype not working. How to avoid these kind of problems? It seems that there is no way to inform DRC that some components in particular board technology can't connect top and bottom layer together. E.g. resistors can do it almost always but transformers, sensors etc. with big plastic packages - not necessarily. 

Regards,

Marek

[rachaelATWH4]

Hi Marek,

The issue are having isn't caused by DRC, it is doing it's job based on the information it has. The issue is your part is defined in a way which implies the top and bottom pads are connected. The simple way to fix this for a one off design would be to place a polygon defined as a cut out around each of those pins on the bottom layer so that the plane that is being connected to them does not reach them.

I'm not sure how you would do this in the library part, maybe you could create a round SMT pad and place a non-plated hole in it. that would likely lead to DRC errors though I would expect. There might be a better way to solve it but as I have never had the issue I haven't had to solve it previously. If I think of a better way of doing it then I will let you know 

Best Regards,

Rachael

[_Marek]

Hi Rachael,

I have already considered using polygons to separate GND pins of components on top layer. It works of course. However, that seemed to me a rather embarrassing solution. When component is shifted to another place, it is necessary to remember to shift all related polygons. I assumed that it must be solved somehow in new versions of Eagle. 🙂

Marek