How to Lay Copper in OrCAD
(1) Shape / Polygon
To start laying copper, go to the "Shape" menu and select "Polygon." This allows you to create custom copper areas on your PCB layout.
(2) Option Column Settings
Once you've selected the polygon tool, the option column will show various settings. Here are some important options:
1) Class and Subclass
Choose the appropriate class (e.g., Copper) and subclass (e.g., Power, Ground, Signal) for your copper area.
2) Copper Type
- Dynamic: When using dynamic copper, it will automatically create a hollow area around the shape.
- Static Solid: This creates a solid copper fill without any hollowing.
- Static Crosshatch: This fills the area with a grid pattern, which is useful for avoiding unwanted connections.
- Unfilled: This is a static shape without any copper fill. It's suitable for drawing board outlines, package geometries, or room boundaries. However, it cannot be used on electrical layers.
3) Assign Net Name
Click the expand button next to the net name field, then select the appropriate network from the list, or manually enter the net name. Click OK to apply the changes.
Note: When assigning power attributes to a network, make sure to specify the voltage value.
Logic/Identify DC Nets: For example, if the net is GND, its voltage should be set to 0.
(3) Copper Layout
After setting up the options, drag your mouse across the workspace to draw the copper shape. Right-click and select "Done" to complete the shape.
(4) Editing the Copper Boundary
To modify the boundary of an existing copper area:
- Go to "Shape / Edit Boundary" or click the corresponding icon.
- In the option column, choose "Segment Type" as "Line Orthogonal" for straight lines.
- Click on the copper area you want to edit.
- Click on the edge of the copper and drag the mouse to redraw the boundary.
- Right-click and use "Toggle" to change the direction of the line.
- Make sure that the end of the line is placed exactly on the boundary; otherwise, it won’t be accepted.
Note: The end of the line must be a point on the boundary, or it won't be placed correctly.
If the copper was drawn but no net name was assigned:
(1) Go to "Shape / Select Shape or Void (Cavity)"
(2) Select the copper area, right-click, and choose "Assign Net."
(3) In the option column, assign the net name by clicking the expand button and selecting the appropriate network.
(4) Right-click on the workspace and choose "Done" to complete the operation.
This is the full process of copper plating in OrCAD. With these steps, you can efficiently design and manage copper areas in your PCB layout. Always double-check your settings before finalizing your design to avoid errors.
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