ANN: Pulsonix Version 2.1 released

Hi Leon,

I downloaded it and had a look at the routing demo file which has a large number of amazing vias 0.015" diameter with 0.010" holes (same pad size on all layers I think). It may be that I only use cheapo board manufacturers but I don't think I know any one who would undertake to fabricate a multilayer board with those rules.

So I looked in the demo to see how to modify the via - and it seems that you have to graphically edit all the layers together or each one individually. Please tell me I'm wrong and that I missed the text based pad stack editor. I use Edwin 32 (pretty old version from 2000 ish) and it has a text based editor which is pretty much essential if you want to check quickly that a via outer layers are one diameter and the inner layers a different one.

I quite fancied Pulsonix till now but I can't see myself forking out this kind of money if it does not easily support basic design requirements. I had been hoping for parametric pad definer where you spec the basic outer layer sizes and the expansion/contraction of the other layers as a % of that (like Protel99 I think).

Is it me being picky (or dense) ?

Michael Kellett

Is that routingdemo7? Vias smaller than that are routine these days. Laser-drilled microvias go down to 5 mils or less, IIRC. Expensive, though.

You can alter the vias globally in a design in the Technology dialogue:

Setup>Technology>Pad Styles

Select the pad you want to change in the table and click on Edit.

The report generator gives a text report on which via sizes are used, by layer.

You can have different pad sizes on different layers with Pulsonix (there is a button on the dialogue box I mentioned above to change them by layer), but I don't think that many of the mid-range packages do a % change automatically.

Leon

No they are not. A quote from PCB-POOL (which could be considered a routine PCB supplier)

"Thanks for your interest in the PCB-POOL(R)! In Our Prototype service the smallest drill size we accept is 0.3mm (12mil) with a smallest pad of 0.6mm (24mil)for Multi layers. There is no maximum drill size."

So the smallest they accept is 60% larger with twice the annulus of that used on the routing demo file (never mind your claim of even smaller being routine).

No gold plating, maximum 4 layers, 6 thou design rules, FR4 only, only one copper weight, only one board thickness... no, they are a specialist in easily made PCBs.. which is why they are cheap and good for prototypes.

Paul Burke

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Hello Leon,

Thanks for your reply - I checked out the method you suggest and it does work.

To return to the more general issue of pad/hole sizes - 10 thou holes are often produced with a 12 or bigger drill - not too hard or special. On the example file it's the pad diameter that is crazy. With only 2.5 thou around the hole you are in effect asking for 2.5 thou track width and inter layer registration of better than 0.5 thou - possible but VERY expensive. The example file doesn't really need those tiny vias.

If you want to show off the quality of the layout tools it would be much more impressive to use a cheap via - 26 thou diameter and 10 thou hole which would probably half the cost of a 4 layer board in reasonable (200 batch) quantities.

Michael Kellett

Not much good for prototypes when designs *routinely* exceed their capabilites.

I think they were just showing off with that example. The other examples use much more relaxed design rules. HDI (high-density interconnect) is getting popular - that uses incredibly thin tracks and very small micro-vias.

I often make my own single-sided PCBs at home and usually use 15 mil tracks with 60 mil pads. I'm working on a 4-layer board that uses 8 mil tracks and 40 mil dia. vias - that is routine for most low-cost PCB prototype suppliers like PCB-Pool.

IMHO Pulsonix is easily the best of the mid-range packages like Orcad and Protel.

Leon