DipTrace PCB Layout Evaluation

In my evaluation, I got up to the point of testing out autorouting, but this is where I encountered a problem.

I was trying to evaluate the program by laying out two BGA devices from Lattice Semiconductor.

TODO FINISH

The freeware edition of DipTrace only allows you to have two signal layers. That would be the top and bottom layers. You can add power or ground planes freely, however.

DipTrace is very affordable, if you need to design PCBs with more internal layers.

The following article will describe some nuances of designing four+ layer boards and dense (BGA) layouts.

You really need to follow the tutorial first with the simple example designs first before attempting more complicated boards.

Let's begin.

In the tutorial, you are instructed to go into the Shape Router Setup and set the Top Layer to "OFF". When you start more complicated boards, remember that this option can turn on or off traces on one of the layers. Make sure to set it to Vertical if you want traces to be auto-routed on that layer.

The autorouter does not place components under other components automatically. Sometimes, unpopulated pads are placed under components in case the original component is not installed. In this case, just place the unpopulated pads under the component there manually.

If you add more layers to your PCB layout, be sure to create blind vias if your vendor supports them. Blind vias have to be added manually from all the different possible layer to layer combinations.