Bug? NPTH hole library elements - there's no way to create a Top and Bottom copper restrict

[anthonyEX9NB]

I feel like I have described this issue before, maybe in relation to NPTH slots.

Anywho, I want to create a NPTH hole in the library but there is no way to put a copper restrict area around the hole on any layer except the top layer. This is what I did, and it doesn't work:

• Created a hole in the library and drew a circle around the hole on the tRestrict layer. In the properties for that circle I set the Restrict Layers field to Top, Bottom.
• Placed this library element hole in my design. This design has copper planes on both the Top and Bottom layers.
• The copper is only restricted in accordance with the circle drawn in the library on the Top layer in the 2D PCB. But I want the copper on BOTH the Top and Bottom to be restricted.

The ONLY way I have found to get around this issue is to NOT make NPTH holes in the library at all. You have to draw them from scratch in the 2D PCB every time you need one. That's the only way that Fusion will actually restrict copper on both Top and Bottom layers (or whatever layers you define in the RestrictCopper field in the properties).

I haven't really used other EDA software but I believe you can create "padstacks" where you can define features on any layer. I Fusion going to implement padstacks or at least if I draw something on the tRestrict layer in the library and tell the library I want that feature on the Top and Bottom, that the feature is actually honoured on both layers?

[nnovotney]

So NPT holes are already available directly from the Fusion menu.   Would it be great to have a restrict checkbox & radius entry in that menu?  

that would handle most of the generic needs

maybe restrict choices:  skip, top, bottom, all

[anthonyEX9NB]

I would prefer to be able to design NPTH holes and slots in the library so that I can have different keepouts and restricts for the same drill size holes and same slot dimensions.

The only way at the moment of getting exactly the dimensions I want is to create a hole or slot directly in the electronics design 2D PCB.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @anthonyEX9NB ,

The tRestrict and bRestrict layers were replaced with the RestrictCopper layer whose objects can then be scoped to restrict on any other layer. I think this issue has already been addressed but I'll confirm with the developers.

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

Best Regards,

[anthonyEX9NB]

Hi Jorge. Thanks for responding.

I feel like I'm beating an animal to death on this one, but what you said is only partially true.

In the library footprint editor, the tRestrict layer is the only layer available to define shapes to keep copper out of. If you draw a shape on this layer and then open the shape's Properties, in the Restrict Layers box you only have the option of "ct Top" and/or "cb Bottom". As I understand it, the footprint editor is layer-agnostic to the design which is probably why these are the only 2 choices.

In the Electronics Design, 2D PCB editor, yes, you are correct. You can draw a shape in the "e3 RestrictCopper" layer, then open the Properties for the shape just drawn and select any or all of the available copper layers for that shape to exist.

You can try the above yourself.

I want to be able to create "things", such as NPTH holes and slots, in the library such that I can define shapes on the Copper Restrict layer and then assign that shape to the copper layers of my choosing. I want to be able to do this for design re-use.

[C.Nicks]

wouldn't it be nice if we could just draw shapes/polygons on the copper layers and then set them to be restrict instead of copper? Just bypass the whole layer nonsense and change it to an object attribute.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @anthonyEX9NB,

OK, I follow what you are saying now. Please confirm if I am understanding correctly. The problem, is that in the library you can only assign RestrictCopper to Top and Bottom. In the library you can not assign it to any arbitrary copper layer. This is what you are reporting correct?

Now I also want to clarify that the restrict copper objects from the library can not be edited once you place them on the 2D PCB. I think you know that but I wanted to clarify it.

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

Best Regards,

[nnovotney]

some updates on holes
https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/september-2026-major-product-update-whats-new/

[C.Nicks]

My coworker also noticed another issue with the restrict copper in libraries. He said using a circle did not work, but a polygon did. Make sure in the support ticket they need to test and confirm all drawing type objects (line, circle, rectangle, polygon).

[Closed-Loop-Bot]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We're investigating the issue, and you can reference ticket FUS-274892 when communicating with Autodesk to find out more. Once the status of this will change, there will be a follow-up forum post made.