PCB - How best to create wide traces covering multiple pads

[lukeLCUFD]

Hello, new user here with a basic question regarding traces please.

I have tried to create wide high current traces that cover multiple pads where pins are common - the signal shars the same name, the only way i have found so far is to use multiple overlapping wide traces between pads adjoining to single wide traces where space allows. pleas see picture of board. Traces in the middle.

I have finallay managed to remove the many wire stubs this workflow has left me with and also the ocasional wirwire not connected even though it is covered by a trace with the same signal name so it leaves me thinking this is not the right workflow / I presume there must be a better method for trying to achieve wide iregular shaped high current traces? I tried polygon pour but couldnt get it to work to create a trace only the ground plane.

Any tips appreciated.

Also i would like to mirror some of these traces onto the bottom plane but could only achieve this by tracing new traces - can they be copied from top to bottom?

Thanks

[jorge_garcia]

Hello @lukeLCUFD,

Welcome to the forums! So first, a couple of things to note. The best way to avoid stubs is to always route to the center of pads and vias. Center to center always will avoid stubs. Just in case you are not aware of it you can type in any value of the width of traces so you don't have to lay any traces side by side  to get the width you want.

If you need a special copper shape then polygons are the way to do it. Just make sure the pads are enclosed within the boundary of the polygon.  You'll then have to make sure to name the polygon the same name as the net of the pads you want it to connect to.

You should be able to mirror the trace, but keep in mind when you do that, Electronics will add in vias to transition the layer change. Besides mirror you could also just change the layer in the inspector.

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

Best Regards, 

[lukeLCUFD · Accepted solution]

Hello Jorge,

Thank you for the guidance; i had been changing the trace width as needed but it sounds like i need to try again with the polgons for unusually shaped traces.

Many thanks,

Luke