Insert Breakout is the manual operation to add breakout paths in a footprint from a pad to where there is more room. These breakout paths are potential tracks to be used in the PCB design when adding a track to the pad.
By adding these patterns to a footprint it saves you having to create these difficult track paths every time you use the component in a PCB design.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Breakout
Locating this option
Available from: Insert menu > Insert Breakout option
How To Use Insert Breakout
- From the Insert menu, select Insert Breakout , or use one of the above mentioned shortcuts. This takes you into Insert Breakout Mode.
- Before you select the pad to start the breakout path from, you can right click the
mouse to use the shortcut menu to do the following:-
- Change Layer - Use this to set the layer that you wish the breakout to be on. This layer is used if the picked pad to start from reaches it, otherwise the layer the start item is on will be used. If Draw Current Layer On Top in the Display Options is set, the picture will be redrawn to show all items on this layer on top.
- Change Style
- Use to change the width of the breakout.
- Change Grid - Use to change the grid that the path’s segments will be placed on.
- Select a pad to start the breakout on.
You now have a new breakout dynamically displayed on the screen and are ready to add the segments.
New Breakout Details
Information about the new breakout will be shown on the Status bar.
Pad
The breakout will be started from the picked pad.
Net
The picked pad defines which net the breakout is on. If the pad is not on a net, a new net will be created using the name of the pad as its net name. If this name is already used, an internally allocated net name will be used.
Width (Track Style)
The breakout will use the default breakout style, unless Change Style was used (see above).
Layer
The breakout will be on the default breakout layer unless Change Layer was used (see above). If the picked pad to start from does not reach this layer, the layer the pad is on will be used.
Adding The Breakout Path
Once started, the breakout path’s segments can be added by clicking to add corners. You can right click to use the shortcut menu to access various editing options, some of which are listed here:-
Change Grid to ensure segments are placed on predefined grid points.
Change Layer by inserting vias through the board.
Change Width of individual segments to neck down between close obstacles.
End On Via to add breakouts for stub tracks from a pad to a power plane using a via. Note, there is an Option to protect all vias added using this feature against automatic delete.
End On Testpoint to add place a testpoint on a net.
Use Finish Markers to indicate when you are over an item that the breakout can finish on
Online DRC and Display Clearances to help avoid getting too close to obstacles on other nets.
Change Segment Mode to define if angled, curved or orthogonal segments are added.
Orthogonal Mitre to automatically add mitres or curves between orthogonal segments.
Auto Corner to make it easier to add a path without having to click to add corners.
This procedure, and the options you can use, is described in detail in the Edit Breakout documentation.
How To Finish A Breakout
Double click the mouse in space. The breakout path will end at the position you picked. The breakout will not be connected to anything at it’s end unless the End On feature is being used to end the breakout on a Via or Testpoint.
Adding More Breakouts
You may continue to add further breakouts by repeating the [How To Use Insert Breakout](#insert breakout mode) instructions above. Once you have finished you may exit Insert Breakout Mode by pressing Esc on the keyboard, by right clicking the mouse and selecting Cancel Insert Breakout or by selecting an alternative command from the Toolbar or Menu.
Related Topics
Auto Corner | Orthogonal Mitre | Breakouts Overview | Display Clearances | Edit Breakout | End On | Grids | Online DRC | Remove Loops | Segment mode | Status bar | Technology | Properties