Handy tip for that can be helpful with some aurorouters: Rroute your power / grounds / bypass caps / critical signals and save the board before turning the autorouter loose. Better AR's will have a strategy to setup the routing directions per layer, cost per via, etc.
I used to autoroute PCBs every time and then optimise by hand, saved a load of time because the autorouters were fairly OK in in early PCB packages like EasyPCB but as component density got higher they never really seemed to keep up, these days I route almost everything manually
I tried the auto router in DIPtrace then imported the results into KiCAD for final cleanup a few times. Without fail, it took me as long to clean up the resulting messy traces and multiple DRC errors as it would have to do it by hand. THE first step to a successful board layout is proper component placement.
The automatic routing finish tools and routing of signal groups in the new kicad version are nice additions. Select a footprint and hit shift-f to route all remaining traces from it. Or just f to auto-finish routing the trace you're currently routing
there are some libraries in the tree that settle the name "debate", one of them is called kiway ("key way", "key face", used elsewhere), other names contradict the other interpretation like KIID. there's actually a bunch of puns based on keys and stuff too
I use EasyEDA which also has a built-in "auto" router - it technically gets the job done but I end-up with many extra vias and the aesthetic is...well...non-existent :)
Can you also please do a video with KiCad explaining the impedance traces, let's say you want to have two traces that should be 50Ohms and he should figure out making them same length. Like those multiple S shapes you see near Memory chips for example.
The lack of reasonable auto router why I haven't switched to KICAD from Diptrace. Once you set the rules up on the Diptrace autorouter it does a reasonable good job. That being said one does not just kick it off and order the boars when done. In my process, once placement is done I kick off the router just to get an idea of where I got problems, make placement adjustments and try again. After several rounds of this I unroute everytingg do my grounds, power, copper pours, clocks and critical traces by hand routing. After saving a backup copy, the auto router is run again, to see what it looks like. Likely I will not be happy and do more hand routing. Eventually the auo-router will do all the remaining traces good enough but there will always be traces that need adjusting by hand. I just another tool the process. And forget about autorouting analog. This is only possible because Diptrace has a good and fast autoroter allowing fast iterations. You also need to do some tuning of the routing parameters.
![Natanael Cano x Oscar Maydon - Giza [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eXCS6-MSQ_Y/mqdefault.jpg)
I enjoy optimizing PCB routing without auto!! As long as it's not an FPGA or RAM I/O block - Always enjoy your videos 🙂
Handy tip for that can be helpful with some aurorouters: Rroute your power / grounds / bypass caps / critical signals and save the board before turning the autorouter loose. Better AR's will have a strategy to setup the routing directions per layer, cost per via, etc.
I have had access to autorouters costing thousands of dollars and still hand routed the submitted design. Quality matters.
Glad i haven't tried to use the KiCad 6 auto router for an RF board 😂
Very nicely put....cheers.
I used to autoroute PCBs every time and then optimise by hand, saved a load of time because the autorouters were fairly OK in in early PCB packages like EasyPCB but as component density got higher they never really seemed to keep up, these days I route almost everything manually
I tried the auto router in DIPtrace then imported the results into KiCAD for final cleanup a few times. Without fail, it took me as long to clean up the resulting messy traces and multiple DRC errors as it would have to do it by hand. THE first step to a successful board layout is proper component placement.
The automatic routing finish tools and routing of signal groups in the new kicad version are nice additions. Select a footprint and hit shift-f to route all remaining traces from it. Or just f to auto-finish routing the trace you're currently routing
It should create the shortest path of least resistance with round edges 😊, kind of Art. Let's hope it gets better maybe with the help of AI 😊
McAfee has its hooks in your computer!? Damn thing
The KiCAD people even sell the 'never trust the autorouter' T-shirt.
there are some libraries in the tree that settle the name "debate", one of them is called kiway ("key way", "key face", used elsewhere), other names contradict the other interpretation like KIID. there's actually a bunch of puns based on keys and stuff too
I use EasyEDA which also has a built-in "auto" router - it technically gets the job done but I end-up with many extra vias and the aesthetic is...well...non-existent :)
Why would anyone use an autorouter? Imho, the routing process is the most relaxing process in the entire board design.
with modern digital chips and very fast rising edges on the digital signal, I think as a general rule "Don't use autoroute"
Can you also please do a video with KiCad explaining the impedance traces, let's say you want to have two traces that should be 50Ohms and he should figure out making them same length. Like those multiple S shapes you see near Memory chips for example.
45° is good for limiting inter trace capacitive coupling
The lack of reasonable auto router why I haven't switched to KICAD from Diptrace. Once you set the rules up on the Diptrace autorouter it does a reasonable good job. That being said one does not just kick it off and order the boars when done. In my process, once placement is done I kick off the router just to get an idea of where I got problems, make placement adjustments and try again. After several rounds of this I unroute everytingg do my grounds, power, copper pours, clocks and critical traces by hand routing. After saving a backup copy, the auto router is run again, to see what it looks like. Likely I will not be happy and do more hand routing. Eventually the auo-router will do all the remaining traces good enough but there will always be traces that need adjusting by hand. I just another tool the process. And forget about autorouting analog. This is only possible because Diptrace has a good and fast autoroter allowing fast iterations. You also need to do some tuning of the routing parameters.
It might be flawed, but it didn’t create any acute angles 😁
KiCad is a top notch PCB package which can match the best in the industry. But the autorouter is less than ideal.