4 Replies Latest reply on Oct 28, 2010 1:57 PM by STHBRDG

    Component Outline Area Study

    nicholas.presnell
    nicholas.presnell Oct 21, 2010 1:39 PM

      I have a method to determine the area of a component that has a polygon or circle geometry.  I do not have a method to determine the area for a combination polygon with arc segment.  I am stuck on how to determine which portion of the circle is closed in the geometry.  I read the using point array guideline however, it does not specify if the point array is always provided in a clockwise or counter clockwise order.  Does anyone have a method to find such an area?

       

      Thanks -

      Nick

        • 1. Re: Component Outline Area Study
          john_dube
          john_dube Oct 21, 2010 5:11 PM (in response to nicholas.presnell)

          Hi Nick,

           

          I recommend that you look at the Mask Engine automation, documented in the Automation Pro Batch Engines Reference manual.

           

          You can can perform boolean operations on shapes, or create a shape from a points array, and have the engine calculate the area.

           

          John

          • 2. Re: Component Outline Area Study
            STHBRDG
            STHBRDG Oct 27, 2010 8:58 AM (in response to john_dube)

            Hi John,

             

            Thanks for the response - I took a look at the path you described and from what I can tell the area method can only be implemented with automation pro (which my IT dept assures me is out of the cards).  I think what I'll do is consider the points on the arc as a segment of a polygon and then either add or subtract the portion of the circular area created by the arc based on whether or not the outline contains the origin of the circle using the geometry.ispointinside method.

             

             

            Do you know if Mentor provides statistics or rules of thumb for component/board outline area ratios for successfully placed/routed PCBs.  It seems to me from my experience that even reaching 50% is too difficult to route.  Is the number typically 30% - 40%?

             

            Cheers,

             

            Nick

            • 3. Re: Component Outline Area Study
              jduquette
              jduquette Oct 27, 2010 9:17 AM (in response to STHBRDG)

              I always use 25% as a goal for an easily routed board with two layers.  With a bit of work 25% can be routed on 1 layer.  I'd expect multilayer boards are pushing well past the 50% board/component area ratio.

              • 4. Re: Component Outline Area Study
                STHBRDG
                STHBRDG Oct 28, 2010 1:57 PM (in response to jduquette)

                Thanks Jduquette -

                 

                Nick