Autorouting Tools
Parent page: Commands
Summary
PCBWorks includes a topological autorouter. A topological autorouter uses a different method of mapping the routing space - one that is not geometrically constrained. Rather than using workspace coordinate information as a frame of reference (dividing it into a grid), a topological autorouter builds a map using only the relative positions of the obstacles in the space, without reference to their coordinates. It does this by triangulating the space between adjacent obstacles. This triangulated map is then used by the routing algorithms to "weave" between the obstacle pairs, from the start route point to the end route point. The greatest strengths of this approach are that the map is shape independent (the obstacles and routing paths can be any shape) and the space can be traversed at any angle - the routing algorithms are not restricted to purely vertical or horizontal paths, as with a rectilinear expansion routers.
PCBWorks also includes surface mount component fanout tools, which also support BGA escape routing. The escape routing engine will attempt to route each pad out to just beyond the edge of the device - making routing connections to them much easier.
Details
Commands relating to use of the Autorouter are available from the Tools | Autoroute area of the Ribbon.
Accessing Autorouter-related commands.
Use these tools to:
| Command | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Autoroute » Setup | This command opens the Situs Routing Strategies dialog, ready to configure and save routing strategies. The top half of the dialog details the Routing Setup Report, this should always be reviewed prior to routing. To learn more about setting up the autorouter, refer to the Situs Routing Strategies dialog page. To learn more about an individual routing strategy, refer to the Situs Strategy Editor dialog page. |
| Autoroute » All | This command opens the Situs Routing Strategies dialog, ready to run the selected routing strategy. |
| Autoroute » Net | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute all connections in the chosen net. |
| Autoroute » Net Class | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute all connections for all nets in the chosen net class. |
| Autoroute » Connection | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute the chosen connection. |
| Autoroute » Area | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute all connections that start within the chosen area. |
| Autoroute » Component | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute all connections that start on the chosen component. |
| Autoroute » Component Class | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute all connections that start on all components in the chosen component class. |
| Autoroute » Connections on Selected Components | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute all connections that start on the selected components. |
| Autoroute » Connections Between Selected Components | Using the Main routing strategy, attempt to autoroute all connections that run between the selected components. |
| Fanout » All | Fanout all surface mount components, in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Fanout » Power Plane Nets | Fanout each net that is connected to a power plane, in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Fanout » Signal Nets | Fanout each net that is not connected to a power plane, in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Fanout » Net | Fanout the chosen net, in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Fanout » Connection | Fanout the chosen connection, in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Fanout » Component | Fanout the chosen component, in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Fanout » Selected Components | Fanout the selected component(s), in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Fanout » Pad | Fanout the chosen pad, in accordance with the enabled Fanout Control routing design rule(s) and the settings in the Fanout Options dialog. |
| Stop | Stop the autorouter at the completion of the current routing pass. |
| Reset | Reset the autorouter. |
| Pause | Pause the autorouter, it can be restarted if required. |