How to Lay Copper in OrCAD
(1) Shape / Polygon
To create copper areas, use the "Shape" or "Polygon" tool. This allows you to define custom copper regions on your PCB.
(2) Option Column Settings
When working with copper shapes, several options are available:
1) Class and Subclass
Choose the appropriate class (e.g., Copper) and subclass (e.g., Power, Ground) based on your design needs.
2) Copper Type
- Dynamic Copper (Dynamic Positive): This type automatically creates a hollow area around the shape, useful for power planes.
- Static Solid: A solid copper region that does not change during routing.
- Static Crosshatch: A grid-like copper pattern that doesn’t automatically remove material. It’s often used for non-critical areas.
- Unfilled: A static shape without copper fill, suitable for board outlines, package geometry, or room definitions. Note that this type cannot be assigned to an electrical layer.
3) Assign Net Name
Click the expand button to select the network or manually enter the net name. Confirm by clicking OK.
Note: When assigning power attributes to a network, voltage values must be specified. For example, GND is typically 0V.
Logic / Identify DC Nets: This helps identify nets such as GND, VCC, etc., which can be assigned specific voltages.
Segment Type: This defines the line style when drawing boundaries (only valid when using the Polygon tool). Options include:
- Line: A straight line in any direction.
- Line 45: A 45-degree corner.
- Line Orthogonal: A right-angle line.
- Arc: A curved line.
(3) Copper Drawing
Use the "Copper" tool to draw on the workspace. Click and drag the mouse to outline the copper area, then right-click and choose "Done" to complete the shape.
(4) Editing the Copper Boundary
To modify the boundary of a copper area:
- Use "Shape / Edit Boundary" or click the corresponding icon.
- In the option column, select "Segment Type" as "Line Orthogonal".
- Click on the target copper area, then click and drag along the edge to redraw the boundary.
- Right-click to toggle the direction of the line.
- Ensure the end of the line is placed exactly on the boundary; otherwise, it may not be accepted.
Note: If the copper was drawn without a net name, you can assign one later.
Steps to Assign a Net Name After Drawing Copper:
(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, enter or select the desired net name
(4) Right-click on the workspace and choose "Done" to finish.
This completes the process of copper plating in OrCAD. Whether you're creating power planes, ground areas, or custom copper shapes, following these steps ensures accuracy and efficiency in your PCB design.
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