Pads, Vias, Drill holes

To place pads select the corresponding mode with the button from the left toolbar: 

Sprint Layout offers several shapes for pads. The current shape is displayed on the button. To select another shape, click to the arrow button right from pad button.

 If the option THROUGH PAD is selected the pad will appear on both sides of the board automatically. This is indicated by a hatched display and a red colored hole.

 Move the mouse cursor to the board while pad mode is selected. Every click will add a pad to the layout. The pad mode may be aborted by pressing the right mouse button.

Notice:

Pads are always combined with a drill hole. Drill holes are always punched free from copper. This makes it easy to add pads on copper zones or wide tracks.

Tip:

Hold down the CTRL key if you have to place pads that are off the grid.

 

The outside and drilling diameter of the pads is adjustable at the left toolbar:

 

If you prefer certain diameters for your layout, you may store these values to a local popup menu that opens if you click to the button that is on the left of the diameter fields. Select ADD to add the current diameters to the popup menu. You may now easily recall the stored values from the popup whenever needed. To remove a value from the popup menu, select the value and then call REMOVE from the local popup menu.

 

Modifying existing pads

Whenever you select a pad the diameters and the shape of the pad are displayed in the left toolbar. You may now select another shape for the pad or adjust the inside diameter or outside diameter. Changes will be made to all selected pads, in case that more than one pad is selected.

 

Whenever you have selected a pad, the diameter fields will be displayed in red. This indicates, that any changes to this value will immediately change your layout.

 

Trough pads (vias)

A trough pad (also called via) is a pad that appears on both sides of the board automatically. A trough pad is used to connect tracks from both sides of the board. Trough pads are indicated by a hatched display and a red drill hole.

 

If you have to draw a through pad, select the option THROUGH PAD from the popup menu of the pad shape button. Drawing and editing through pads is exactly like editing ordinary pads.

You may also select an existing pad and change the TROUGH PAD option.

 

Tip:

Use the key F12 to change the THROUGH PAD status immediatlely.

 

Drill holes

Drill holes are simple holes that are normally used to mount components on the board. Set the inside diameter and the outside diameter of a pad to identical values to create a drill hole without copper. Such drill holes are indicated clearly by a cross