Use where a copper shape of a given size is required on the layout on an electrical layer. If the shape is required on a non-electrical layer, you should use the Insert Doc Shape option.
Note: Insert Copper will not automatically create voids around components, tracks, etc. For this type of copper insertion, you should use the Pour Copper option.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Polygon
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Rectangle
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Circle
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Triangle
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Line
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Spline
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Spiral
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Insert Copper Wave
Locating this option
Available from: Insert menu > Copper options
How To Insert Copper
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On the PCB Edit Toolbar select the Insert Copper Icon. This will only create a Polygon shape by default, although this icon can be changed if required, or;
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Select the Insert menu from the Main Menu bar, select Insert Copperthen select: Polygon, Rectangle, Circle, Triangle, Line, or Spiral as required.
The copper area of the required shape may then be created in the PCB layout.
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Follow the procedure for adding the different shape types within the Insert Polygon, Insert Rectangle, Insert Circle, Insert Triangle, Insert Line, Insert Spline, Insert Spiral, and Insert Wave help pages.
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You can assign the copper shape to a net whilst adding it by using the Add To Net option from the context menu. If you have a similar item preselected the net will be taken from it, and if you preselect a different type of item (a track for example) the net will be taken from that item and a warning will be issued to ask if you want to use that net. If whilst adding the shape you change your mind about it being on a net, use Change Net from the context menu and clear the name in the dialog.
Copying The Shape From Other Item Types
If a non-copper shape in the design has the exact shape you require for your copper item, you can copy the shape from it with the following procedure:-
- Select the required shape and use Copy from the Edit menu to place a copy of the item on the clipboard.
- Enter Insert Copper Polygon (as described above) and before selecting the start point of the polygon, right click the mouse to use the shortcut menu to set up the required Layer, Style, Closed and Filled states.
- Rather than selecting the polygon start point, use Paste from the Edit menu. A copy of the required shape will appear using the Layer and Styles just set up. If the clipboard does not contain a single suitable shape, nothing will be pasted.
- Use the mouse to move the copper shape to the required position and left click to drop it in place.
Inserting Cutouts
Cutouts can be inserted into any Closed copper shape using the
Insert Cutout procedure.
Open shapes can
be made closed by selecting the shape first and then selecting
Closed from the shortcut
menu found from a right mouse click or from the Properties
menu also on the shortcut menu.
Changing The Layer, Style And Hatched Style
All styles for the copper shape can be defined as a default in the Copper Defaults page. These defaults are used whenever a new Copper shape item is added to the design.
All other styles such as Layer, Line Style, Hatch etc. can be changed during insertion by using the shortcut menu from the right mouse button, or from the Properties - Shapes dialog, also on the shortcut menu on the right mouse button. This dialog is displayed for a copper shape selection.
Shrinking And Growing Copper Shapes
You have the ability to be able to ‘shrink’ or ‘grow’ copper shapes to make them smaller or larger than their current shape by a specified overall size. For Shape Growing please refer to the Resize Shape help page.
Related Topics
Insert Polygon | Insert Rectangle | Insert Circle | Insert Triangle | Insert Line | Insert Spiral | Insert Cutout | Resize Shape | Properties - Shapes | Poured Copper