New design rules and differenctial pairs

[warren_hawkins57R37]

Looks like the new design rules have been released.  Net Classes says the design rules are not located under the design rules editor. However, I don't see the rules for Net Classes and differential routing anywhere? Where are they exactly?

[warren_hawkins57R37]

Further to this where are the anular ring settings? My pad clearances are broken.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @warren_hawkins57R37,

I hope you're doing well. This video covers where everything has been moved
https://youtu.be/MuU8zYSeJvs?si=aoqlE6-dA4N6Vr6k

All of your netclass based rules are now under the Custom rules of the Design Editor. Annular ring settings are under design preferences.

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

Best Regards,

[warren_hawkins57R37]

So let me get this straight? The new version blows out all previous settings without converting them to new rules? With an added bonus of not being able to look back at old designs as a reference to what the settings should be. Thereby effectivly breaking existing designs?

[warren_hawkins57R37]

I think I've figured it out. Would be nice if you named the rules something that meant something to a human with the net class name.

[warren_hawkins57R37]

I just noticed something. For net classes it used to force a specific size. Now the rule only appears to set a minimum size. Is there no way to set an exact size?

[constantin.popescuXD3CL]

Hi @warren_hawkins57R37,

Regarding your last question: "I just noticed something. For net classes it used to force a specific size. Now the rule only appears to set a minimum size. Is there no way to set an exact size?" - I am not sure I fully understand what you mean. The new design rules including the net-class ones do contain the rule value that used to be defined in the Net Classes dialog and there is also a new Preferred Value. All rules have the same format and same set of values the only differences happen between binary and unary rules. The main additions are the scopes that allow you to customize the objects for which the rule will apply, the rule priorities that allow you to specify the order in which the rules will be evaluated and the ability to enable / disable rules.

If you could provide a simple description with what you are trying to do and seems not to work like it used to and I will try to help you.

Kind Regards,

[warren_hawkins57R37]

In general I like the change. I now can set rules so that I don't get errors when my SMD part has smaller features than my differential pair. The problem is if I want a specific width say 16 mil for an impedance and set the rules for it. I can still make the trace larger than 16 without an drc error. My impedance will be off.

[constantin.popescuXD3CL]

Hi @warren_hawkins57R37,

Thanks for this. I am very glad to see that our work is on the right track. Regarding your comment: "I can still make the trace larger than 16 without an drc error. My impedance will be off." - I assume you are talking about the routing tools that will alow you to go higher than the preferred value you but not smaller. To me it looks like what we are missing is a Maximum value for the rule that will not allow you to go above the value you have set. Would this solve your issue? If not I would be interseted to know more about how would you think this should work.

Please let me know if there is anythign else I can help you with.

Kind Regards,

[warren_hawkins57R37]

Yes a maximum would work perfectly for this.

[constantin.popescuXD3CL]

Hi @warren_hawkins57R37,

Thanks for this. We already have this improvement on our list of Design Rules updates.

Kind Regards,

[aiolus2ZLRU]

Re-post in new topic

[ezekiel.brooks89]

Not being funny or anything, but I just upgraded the software yesterday. Why do you guys keep making considerable changes without any real coms? Its taken me 30mins just to get started 'continuing' where I left off yesterday! The grid is no longer working properly, cant move traces without selecting 'ignore violators'. Took 20 mins to work out why i couldnt now use a certain mm trace width when i could just the day before, this is really getting silly! I need to do a full fusion elec YouTube training course between yesterday and today, because YOU feel like breaking the software? Come ON!

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @ezekiel.brooks89,

The devs and PMs are looking into ways to better communicate what's coming in the next release. In the meantime, the insider version can give you insight into future releases. That may be a way to more gradually see what's coming down the pike.

I made a series of videos to try to explain the changes. The first video covers where everything has moved and how the system interacts now.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmA_xUT-8UlKCpCBFJNu7i46UsMarLDJg

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

Best Regards,

[ferrerCBW3T]

With the new design rules, I can no longer make tented via's (by specifying the minimum drill hole needed before the software automatically adds soldermask). What is the logic here? This is an important feature to us.

[constantin.popescuXD3CL]

Hi @ferrerCBW3T,

The design rules changes that have been released in September Release did not touch the via tenting behaviour at all. If you can explain what exactly is not working for you that would be great. The Masks are still defined in the same place in the old DRC dialog that has been renamed to Design Preferences. Can you please check what value you have set for the Masks / Limit field because if it is 0mil (or a value smaller than your via's drill diameter) there will be no tenting. I have just tried and if I set the Limit to be equal with my via's drill diameter than the via will be tented.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Kind Regards,