- Mechanical Layer Pairs | Altium Designer User Manual | Documentation

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Printer-friendly version. Found an issue with this document? Contact Us Contact our corporate or local offices directly. We're sorry to hear the article wasn't helpful to you. Jumpstart Your Next Design Your project is complete and you are ready to move onto the next project. But a lot of the same properties in the new project are already completed in the previous project. There must be a quick and simple way of bringing these properties over to your next projects.

Looking back on my own experiences as a student, I am amazed at the depth of subject matter in most electrical engineering courses. Distance learning in a hands-on Read Article. Mechanical Layer Pairs. Using Altium Documentation. Summary This dialog allows the designer to configure the required mechanical pairs for the board.

Each mechanical layer pairing consists of a First Layer and a Second Layer. Add - click this button to manually add a new mechanical layer pair to the list.

A common approach to managing mechanical layer usage is to assign a dedicated layer number for each required mechanical layer function. This approach requires all designers to adhere to the same layer assignment and numbering scheme. It can also create difficulties when components are obtained from other sources that do not follow the same assignment and numbering scheme. If a different scheme has been used, the design objects must be moved from their current mechanical layer to the mechanical layer assigned for that function.

This issue is resolved with the introduction of the Layer Type property. When a component is placed from a library into the PCB editor, or copied from one library to another, or created by the IPC Footprint Wizard , existing Layer Type assignments are automatically matched, regardless of the mechanical layer number s assigned to those Layer Types.

The objects are relocated on the correct layer s according to their Layer Type. If the software is unable to match by Layer Type, it will fall back to matching by Layer Number. For both individual mechanical layers and Component Layer Pairs, you can select a Layer Type from a pre-defined list of types. The images below show the list of available Layer Types. You can access the dialogs shown below by right-clicking on an individual layer, then selecting the Edit Layer or Add Component Layer command from the menu.

Select the Layer Type from the pre-defined list of Types; individual mechanical layers are shown on the left; Component Layer Pairs are shown in the middle and a new Component Layer on the right. When a Layer Type is assigned, the layer automatically has its Layer Name property changed to be the same as the Layer Type.

This can be overridden, if needed, by typing in a user-defined name. There is one exception to the naming behavior just described when a Layer Type is assigned — a user-defined name is not permitted when the Layer Type is set to Route Tool Path. The reason for this is that older versions of the software use the name of the Route Tool Path layer to identify the layer that contains the route information also referred to as rout information.

Fixing the naming of this layer ensures that the design will continue to function correctly in an older version. The Route Tool Path layer type is used to indicate the layer that contains the mechanical routing information.

A typical approach to using this layer is to place tracks and arcs around the outer edge of the board shape to define the machining path and width.

Solid sections are left to hold the board within the panel, then a series of small holes are placed across each solid section to create perforations often referred to as mouse-bites , allowing the board to be snapped out of the panel once the assembly process is complete.

 

Edit Layer (Mechanical Layer) | Altium Designer 22 User Manual | Documentation.Add Mechanical Layer | Altium Designer User Manual | Documentation

 

Even the simplest board needs design detail beyond the tracks and pads that implement the circuit. It might be the board dimensions or the fabrication detail, it might be the component courtyards, or it might be the 3D component models. In Altium Designer, this type of additional information is detailed on Mechanical Layers.

These layers can be included in printouts or in fabrication outputs, as required. Mechanical layers are added, edited and removed in the View Configuration panel.

Their display state is also configured in the panel. Use the button at the bottom-right of the workspace, or press the L shortcut key, to display the panel. Even though older versions of Altium's PCB design software are limited to 32 mechanical layers, newer PCB files that contain more than 32 layers can be safely opened and edited in an older version.

There are several layer types that can be specified when adding a mechanical layer. In the Edit Layer dialog that opens, use the Layer Type drop-down to select the required layer type. Available layer types are defined below. They are a pair so that there is one layer for top side components, and the partner layer for bottom side components.

Detail is only placed on the top Component Layer Pair in the library editor, that detail is automatically moved to the bottom layer in the pair when the component is placed on the bottom side of the board.

When a layer pair or mechanical layer is added, if the default Name is not edited then the software will automatically define the name based on the selected Layer Type. Single Layer Mode is a handy display control feature, where all other layers are hidden apart from the active current layer. When the display is in single layer mode the non-active layers can be: completely hidden; set to gray; or set to monochrome. In some situations the extra detail included on a mechanical layer is only needed once, for example assembly notes that detail the component load order and important assembly instructions.

In this situation a standard mechanical layer is added, named, and where possible, has its Layer Type assigned more on this below. If the extra detail is required for a component, for example component courtyard outlines, there needs to be two mechanical layers assigned, one layer holding the courtyard detail when the component is placed on the Top side of the board, the other mechanical layer holding that same courtyard detail if the component is flipped to the bottom side of the board.

In this situation a pair of mechanical layers is added, as a Component Layer Pair. When mechanical layers are added as a Component Layer Pair, they are displayed in the Component Layer Pairs section of the View Configuration panel, as shown below. A number of user-defined Component Layer Pairs have been added. Note the last pair, it does not have a Layer Type assigned, so the layer numbers are displayed.

A common approach to managing mechanical layer usage is to assign a dedicated layer number for each required mechanical layer function. If a different scheme has been used, the design objects must be moved from their current mechanical layer, to the mechanical layer assigned for that function.

This issue is resolved with the introduction of the Layer Type property. When a component is placed from a library into the PCB editor, or copied from one library to another, or created by the IPC Footprint Wizard, existing Layer Type assignments are automatically matched, regardless of the mechanical layer number s assigned to those Layer Types. The objects are relocated on the correct layer s , according to their Layer Type. If the software is unable to match by Layer Type, it will fall back to matching by Layer Number.

For both individual mechanical layers and Component Layer Pairs, you can select a Layer Type from a pre-defined list of types. The images below show the full list of available Layer Types.

Select the Layer Type from the pre-defined list of Types, individual mechanical layers are shown on the left, Component Layer Pairs are shown on the right. When a Layer Type is assigned, the layer automatically has its Layer Name property changed to be the same as the Layer Type. This can be overridden if required, by typing in a user-defined name.

If an individual mechanical layer or a Component Layer Pair have a Layer Type assigned then the mechanical layer number is no longer displayed, reflecting that the software will manage and map the layer by Type instead of number. There is one exception to the naming behavior just described when a Layer Type is assigned, a user-defined name is not permitted when the Layer Type is set to Route Tool Path.

The reason for this is that older versions of the software use the name of the Route Tool Path layer to identify the layer that contains the route information also referred to as rout information. Fixing the naming of this layer insures that the design will continue to function correctly in an older version.

The Route Tool Path Layer Type is used to indicate the layer that contains the mechanical routing information. A typical approach to using this layer is to place tracks and arcs around the outer edge of the board shape to define the machining path and width. Solid sections are left to hold the board within the panel, and then a series of small holes is placed across each solid section to create perforations often referred to as mouse-bites , allowing the board to be snapped out of the panel once the assembly process is complete.

When the board is displayed in 3D mode, objects detected on the Route Tool Path layer are displayed as a routed slot in the board, as shown below. Objects detected on the Route Tool Path layer are used to visualize the routed board, in 3D display mode. Enable the Route Tool Outline option in the dialog to have the objects placed outside the board shape, rather than centered along its edge. Some designers prefer to add the fabrication information when they use the Embedded Board Array feature to create an assembly panel , rather than including this detail in the actual board file.

Where possible, it is recommended to edit the source library and assign Layer Types. When a component footprint is placed or copied from a library, mechanical layers and Component Layer Pairs of those Layer Types are automatically created in the target board or library if they do not exist. If those Layer Types already exist in the target board or library , the layer contents are automatically mapped to the correct layer.

User layers with a Layer Type assigned are automatically created or mapped, when the component is placed onto a board hover the cursor over to show the component on the board. Mechanical layers are used for a broad variety of tasks, detailing information used during: board design, fabrication, assembly, and product documentation. To support all of these requirements, mechanical layers can be excluded or included in all forms of layer-based output generation, including printing and output file generation.

Any of the layers that are present in the design can be included in the specification of a PCB Printout, including mechanical layers. Printouts are configured by adding the required layers and setting their order, in the PCB Printouts dialog.

Highly detailed fabrication and assembly drawings can be created by placing objects on mechanical layers. The software also includes an advanced, yet flexible graphical editing environment for creating board design production documents, called Draftsman. Complete with a dedicated set of drawing tools, the Draftsman drawing system provides an interactive approach to bringing together fabrication and assembly drawings with custom templates, annotations, dimensions, callouts, and notes.

Mechanical layers can be plotted, or they can be added to all plots if required. Using Altium Documentation. Now reading version For the latest, read: Working with Mechanical Layers for version Layer Types were added in Altium Designer version Printer-friendly version.

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- Altium designer 17 add mechanical layer free

   

Selecting a currently defined mechanical layer pair and clicking the Mechanical Pair Properties button. The Mechanical Layer Pairs dialog is accessed by right-clicking on a layer tab at the bottom of the main design window and choosing the Configure Mechanical Pairs command from the context menu. Printer-friendly version. Found an issue with this document? Each mechanical layer pairing consists of a First Layer and a Second Layer. Add - click this button to manually add a new mechanical layer pair to the list.

The Mechanical Layer Pair dialog will appear, from where to determine the first and second layers for the pairing. The chosen layers in the pairing must be different. These same commands are also available on the right-click menu, accessed over the Mechanical Layer Pairs list.

You can access the dialogs shown below by right-clicking on an individual layer, then selecting the Edit Layer or Add Component Layer command from the menu. Select the Layer Type from the pre-defined list of Types; individual mechanical layers are shown on the left; Component Layer Pairs are shown in the middle and a new Component Layer on the right.

When a Layer Type is assigned, the layer automatically has its Layer Name property changed to be the same as the Layer Type. This can be overridden, if needed, by typing in a user-defined name. There is one exception to the naming behavior just described when a Layer Type is assigned — a user-defined name is not permitted when the Layer Type is set to Route Tool Path.

The reason for this is that older versions of the software use the name of the Route Tool Path layer to identify the layer that contains the route information also referred to as rout information. Fixing the naming of this layer ensures that the design will continue to function correctly in an older version. The Route Tool Path layer type is used to indicate the layer that contains the mechanical routing information.

A typical approach to using this layer is to place tracks and arcs around the outer edge of the board shape to define the machining path and width. Solid sections are left to hold the board within the panel, then a series of small holes are placed across each solid section to create perforations often referred to as mouse-bites , allowing the board to be snapped out of the panel once the assembly process is complete.

When the board is displayed in 3D mode, objects detected on the Route Tool Path layer are displayed as a routed slot in the board, as shown below. Objects detected on the Route Tool Path layer are used to visualize the routed board, in 3D display mode. Enable the Route Tool Outline option in the dialog to have the objects placed outside the board shape rather than centered along its edge. Some designers prefer to add the fabrication information when they use the Embedded Board Array feature to create an assembly panel , rather than including this detail in the actual board file.

Where possible, it is recommended to edit the source library and assign Layer Types. When a component footprint is placed or copied from a library, mechanical layers and Component Layer Pairs of those Layer Types are automatically created in the target board or library if they do not exist. If those Layer Types already exist in the target board or library , the layer contents are automatically mapped to the correct layer. User layers with a Layer Type assigned are automatically created or mapped when the component is placed onto a board.

Hover the cursor over to show the component on the board. Add a mechanical layer of the Sheet type to define the outer document drawing template border. There must be a quick and simple way of bringing these properties over to your next projects.

Looking back on my own experiences as a student, I am amazed at the depth of subject matter in most electrical engineering courses. Distance learning in a hands-on Read Article. How does Altium fit into the picture? Hear from Altium Designer Customers directly and see their engineering journey up close, and learn a little more from these happy customers on Youtube: Why Altium?