Discover Tour / Managing a PCB Layer Stackup Completed Sign In To Save Your Progress
Click if you find this content useful

Discover Tour

Managing a PCB Layer Stackup

You can keep working with your project or open it from the Workspace and continue from where the previous step is completed.

The PCB will contain four layers. Let's set up its structure with the Layer Stack Manager using the Design » Layer Stack Manager command. You can learn more about the Layer Stack Manager here. The Layer Stackup is supposed to look like the one shown below.

Fig. 22 - Layer Stack Manager

 

To add a new layer, right-click the layer where the new layer will be placed, then select the Insert Layer Below or Insert Layer Above command.

If you have the Stack Symmetry checkbox selected in the Layer Stack Manager Properties panel, a pair of layers will be added to maintain the board stackup symmetry.

Fig. 23 -  Properties panel in the Layer Stack Manager

 

Do not forget to specify the Dk parameter – we’ll need it, since there is a differential pair in the project.

Note: To quickly generate a board stack with the right number of layers, you can also use templates from the Tools » Presets menu. You can also change materials as needed or adjust their physical parameters in the table to meet your requirements.

In our project, all signal routes are 50 ohms, and the differential pair is 90 ohms. We will place them on the outer layers. The parameters of such lines are calculated in the Layer Stack Manager. It is necessary to switch to the Impedance tab, which is located at the bottom of the Stackup document.

Fig. 24 - Impedance tab

Then press the button Add botton and set the values in the Properties panel as shown below.

Fig. 25 - The values in the Properties panel

The second and third layers should be excluded from the calculation.

Fig. 26 - Excluded layers

 

Press the +Add button again and set values as shown below.

Fig. 27 - Adding differential pairs impedance profile

 

It will be the differential pair. Don't forget to click Save and Save to Server.

Good job! Article is now completed!
Sign In To Save Your Progress

Read Again

CAPTCHA
Was this article useful?
Yes No
Thank you Glad to hear it