A copper object is a copper area on a PCB. A copper area can be used for high power currents or to provide electromagnetic shielding. Copper areas can be fully filled or a filling pattern can be selected.
You can draw a copper area of any shape or you can create a copper object by copying its shape from another object.
Commands for the copper object
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
|
PCB » Copper » Filling » Polygon
|
To draw a copper area. |
|
PCB » Copper » Filling » Rectangle
|
To draw a rectangular copper area. |
|
PCB » Copper » Filling » Ellipse
|
To draw a circular or elliptical copper area. |
|
PCB » Copper » Filling » Polyline
|
To draw a copper area as a polyline. |
|
PCB » Copper » Filling » Copper Plane
|
To create a copper area that covers the entire surface of the board. |
|
PCB » Copper » Filling » Paste shape
|
Creates a copper area from the geometry of the object copied to the clipboard. |
|
PCB » Copper » Split » Split area
|
Divides a copper area into electrically separate areas. |
|
PCB » Copper » Split » Cutter width
|
Sets the thickness of the boundary line that divides a copper area. |
How to create a copper area
To draw a rectangular copper area
To draw a circular or elliptical copper area
To draw a copper area as a polyline
To create a copper area covering the entire board
To create a copper area by copying the geometry of another object
How to modify a copper area
To divide a copper area into electrically distinct zones
To change a copper area using a dialog box
To erase internal areas of a copper area
Recalculation of copper areas
By activating the Auto copper relaculation option in the Copper menu, copper areas are automatically recalculated during PCB editing. If this slows down the PCB editing operation too much, it is advisable to disable this option and perform manual recalculation by selecting the Recalculates copper areas command in the Copper menu.
Visibility of copper areas
The visibility of copper areas is set in the Views. You can show or hide copper areas regardless of the view settings by selecting the Always visible or Always hidden command in the Copper menu.