Re: gEDA-user: PCB square pin suggestion

[Karel Kulhavy <clock@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, Apr 02, 2006 at 09:03:28PM -0400, DJ Delorie wrote:
> 
> > Why?
> 
> It may keep a polygon island from getting disconnected or necking down
> below DRC parameters.  It may allow for an extra trace between pins.
> If the pin is intersected by a 45 degree line, it prevents notches
> from being cut out of the clearance:
> 
> http://www.delorie.com/pcb/notches.html
> 
> It does get ugly when you have a row of square SMD pads, though.  You
> end up with lots of little triangles cutting into an otherwise
> straight clearance edge.  I think, if we decided to use rounded-corner
> clearances, we'd need to be intelligent about rows of pads with
> overlapping clearances, and join them into a single rounded-corner
> clearance that covered them all.  That might speed up display and
> reduce gerber file sizes, too, even if we implemented it for
> square-corner clearances.

I wouldn't do this. It just takes off unnecessary copper. If you have
something squeezing in from the other side you might be happy for the
extra bit of copper.

CL<