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Autoroute in 17.2? and a few other orcad related questions.

StepscanDarcy

Hey guys, haven't posted in a couple of weeks, so things are obviously going a bit better(Thanks to you folks), but I have run into some issues that I'd like to ask about.

1.)  Does orcad 17.2 have autoroute?   I am having a nightmare of a time with a new microsd connector that has a different footprint than our last one.   I made a new footprint, but i'm having trouble finding a path for my traces.   Just out of curiosity I thought i'd like to try autoroute, and see if it helps even with 1 or 2 connections, but unfortunately I can't seem to find it in 17.2.   Is autoroute in 17.2?  has it been replaced with something else?

2.)  Randomly, 'place via' is now greyed out, and I can't seem to add via's anymore unless I copy and paste one in.

3.)   I'm running into all sorts of DRC errors, but some of them existed before the file was past on to me.   Obviously, no drc errors would be ideal, but are they sometimes ok?   Obviously, not all DRC errors are created equal, and are based on rules put in place by the previous designer, but can I leave some of them in place?   Some of them seem unfixable (at the moment, with my current skill level).    

4)    How do I avoid 'Differential pair phase tolerance'.   I've run into 4 on the current board, and I can't seem to figure out how to fix that issue.

5)    Is there a step that I can do at the end to check the integrity of the board before I send it off for prototype?

  • StepscanDarcy

    6)    The outline of the microSD connector disappeared, but the footprint(pads) is still there.   What happened?   Is there a shortcut that causes this?

  • Robert Finley

    The specctra autorouter is external to Orcad and Allegro.  You export the other kind of DSN file from Orcad/Allegro then run the Specctra program on it.  Route, then import the file (.rte) back to Allegro/Orcad.

    MicroSD connector, have an  MPN?  There's nearly 100 of them on Digikey.

    Frequently, those footprints (TE 2290741-1) have outer layer copper/via keepout areas that may force you to use advanced via sizes to make the connection.

    What is your minimum via?

  • StepscanDarcy
    in reply to Robert Finley

    The connector is this one.   Pretty standard, but the problem is not the odd footprint of this particular connector, but the previous.   Rather than one row of 8 pins, it had 2 rows of 4 on the right and left side of the connector.   The board is very dense, so re-routing is pretty hard for someone this inexperienced.

    I do not know the minimum via.   I didn't design the board, and I'm basically a greenhorn, so I can't even answer that, but I can say, it's not that the via won't appear near the microSD card, it's that it won't appear in MOST places.   It does work occasionally, and i'm sure it's something i'm doing wrong, but the problem is, it's not telling me what i'm doing wrong.   I'm sorry, I sound like a hopeless case.

  • redwire

    1) Yes.  But how you need to access it depends on your license.  If you are OrCAD Pro or higher, it's in the Route menu.  Otherwise, I might try the suggestion to export / import.  Since I have the higher license I don't use that method.

    2)  Makes no sense.  Sounds like you have not clicked on an object first that can take a via such as: shape, cline, via, pin (set your find filter and make sure all objects are on, click on something then the via should drop down).

    3) Yes, you can "waive" vias you don't care about and even leave a message as to why you waived it.

    4) Make sure there is a non-zero setting in the tolerance field of the differential pair.  Sometimes only the positive field needs a value...  Without seeing your board or error message it can't be resolved on here.

    5) Yes:  Tools->Reports->unconnected pins, Tools->Reports->unplaced components, Tools-Reports->Dangling Lines, etc.... Summary will you give you a nutshell but won't tell you where the errors are but it should be a good starting point.

  • redwire

    1) Yes.  But how you need to access it depends on your license.  If you are OrCAD Pro or higher, it's in the Route menu.  Otherwise, I might try the suggestion to export / import.  Since I have the higher license I don't use that method.

    2)  Makes no sense.  Sounds like you have not clicked on an object first that can take a via such as: shape, cline, via, pin (set your find filter and make sure all objects are on, click on something then the via should drop down).

    3) Yes, you can "waive" vias you don't care about and even leave a message as to why you waived it.

    4) Make sure there is a non-zero setting in the tolerance field of the differential pair.  Sometimes only the positive field needs a value...  Without seeing your board or error message it can't be resolved on here.

    5) Yes:  Tools->Reports->unconnected pins, Tools->Reports->unplaced components, Tools-Reports->Dangling Lines, etc.... Summary will you give you a nutshell but won't tell you where the errors are but it should be a good starting point.

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