kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Dick Hollenbeck <dick@...>]

jean-pierre charras - INPG wrote:
> Dick Hollenbeck a écrit :
>
> > Jean-Pierre,
> >
> > I am running into a problem filling a zone container that is on an inner
> > layer under a BGA. There are no pads in the zone, only (fan out) vias
> > which in turn are connected to some BGA smt pads on the top layer. The
> > message I get is
> >
> > No pads or starting point found to fill this zone outline
> > Zone Outline (47B3E237) [V1.8A] on Inner L1
> My previous updates used only pads to start filling, but my last update 
> look for a pad, a via or a track end point inside the zone outline to 
> start filling.
> (a track crossing the area without any end point inside this area is not 
> view).
> All items found are used to start filling.
> I tested it with a zone without pad but a through via or a micro via or 
> a track end within the area and it works for me.
>
> So, if you have vias (or track end points) inside the defined copper 
> area i do not understand what happens.
> If the problem persists, can you send me your board ?
>
> Regards,

I found my problem. I've been so busy writing kicad code that I forgot 
what each zone under my CPU was for. I had the net name wrong. It 
works fine now. 

Nice job on the zone container support! 

We can all now go back into our designs and add these zone containers, 
and that is what I am doing now. That was the largest problem in 
Kicad, not having remembered zone borders.

The next biggest problem on my list is having to route power tracks, 
even when there is a zone container (copper area) under the power pin. 
This stands tall among all other short comings of the software. It is 
in a class of its own, the same class as the zone border issue was, 
IMO. For complex boards, it simply costs too much time.

Once that issue is addressed, then I think we can all expect to see an 
in rush of professional designers start to consider this software seriously.


Thanks,

Dick