tuddypat
11 years ago
Permalink
Hi,
Here is how I do it, using Freeroute.

In Kicad, with a copper plane selected as the working plane, use filled zones to mark the protected areas.

The filled zones should be connected to <no net>.

Once the board is finished, export to DSN

Edit the DSN using notepad..look for entries similar to this:

(plane @:no_net_0 (polygon Copper 0 8822.8 -5578.7 8822.8 -2940.9 6618.1 -2940.9 6618.1 -3019.7
8783.5 -3019.7 8783.5 -5578.7))
(plane @:no_net_0 (polygon Component 0 8822.8 -5578.7 8822.8 -2940.9 6618.1 -2940.9 6618.1 -3019.7
8783.5 -3019.7 8783.5 -5578.7))

(The above defines areas on the copper and component side opposite each other, other planes may be defined, all planes are independent.)

Edit the line to change 'plane @:no_net_0'
to keepout, for example:

(keepout (polygon Copper 0 8822.8 -5578.7 8822.8 -2940.9 6618.1 -2940.9 6618.1 -3019.7
8783.5 -3019.7 8783.5 -5578.7))

When imported to freeroute the required areas are protected.

You can do it in Freeroute but every time you change the board you need to redefine the keepout areas, I find doing it in kicad is much easier.

regards John