Daily Tips

These tips help improve routing completion rate and trace quality. Beyond powerful auto-routing, PcbAutoRouter is also a powerful interactive router supporting quick adjustments to trace paths, via positions, etc. The entire process doesn't require manually drawing a single trace. Master it and your efficiency skyrockets.

Quick Fixes

Most trace adjustments don't need to go back to EDA and can be completed directly in PcbAutoRouter.

What if traces are messy?

You can drag traces directly in PcbAutoRouter for easy adjustment.

What if via positions are wrong?

Vias can also be dragged directly; connected traces automatically follow without disconnecting.

What if vias are missing?

You can manually place vias. Use Alt+Left Click on any pad, trace, or via to pick via parameters, then Ctrl+Left Click to place the via.

Alternatively, switch to via mode in the left sidebar, then use the same shortcuts: Alt+Left Click to pick via parameters and Ctrl+Left Click to place the via.

What if routing has unreasonable paths?

You can partially delete the problematic traces and then use single-net routing (Ctrl+Left Click) for manual correction. The key technique is routing order.

What if too many traces are affected by mistakes?

Don't worry. You can manually fix the error, then use F5 for full auto-routing to quickly repair.

What's the principle for rule settings?

Start with thin traces and tight clearance to achieve full completion, then gradually increase rules for optimal results.

What if copper is cut?

If you don't want routing to cut through copper pours, click menu: Routing → Ignore Copper Connectivity. Note this may reduce routing completion rate.

Quick Layout Adjustment

  • Use Speed First routing mode to quickly verify layout reasonableness, observe congestion points, and adjust layout quickly. Note this mode has low precision and completion rate; you must switch back to Completion First mode for final routing.
  • For large boards, enable multi-threaded routing mode for acceleration. Multi-threaded mode uses a brand new routing engine and can produce different results even for boards with previously low completion rates.

Batch Via Adjustment

PcbAutoRouter works best with digital PCBs with a main controller. For high-density or overly routed boards, manual via placement can correct the overall appearance.

Manual Via Placement Steps:

  1. Do a quick routing first.
  2. Delete all traces but keep vias (shortcut Ctrl+T).
  3. Delete unreasonable vias and drag remaining vias to ideal positions.
  4. Use Alt+Left Click on any pad, trace, or via to pick via parameters, then Ctrl+Left Click to place a via. Or switch to via mode.
  5. Route again to check if via placement is reasonable.
  6. Repeat steps 2-5 until satisfied.