Creating a Constraint Area

A constraint area is a space reservation used for different purposes such as allowing/forbidding the routing or placing of components etc.

This feature is available on both the board and the manufacturing panel.

1. Choose the Insert > Body menu item (optional).
   Body.2 is created, belonging to the interactive board component.

2. Click Sketch .

3. Select the board to define the working plane.

4. Click Profile and draw the contour of the constraint area.
   

5. Click Exit workbench to return to the 3D world.

6. Click Pad .
   The Pad Definition dialog box appears.

7. Enter 5mm in Length.

8. Click OK to validate.

9. Select Create Constraint Area .

   The Constraint Areas dialog box opens.

   The constraint area types are:

   ROUTE OUTLINE : an area where routing electrical connections is allowed PLACE_OUTLINE: an area where component placing is allowed OTHER_OUTLINE: other area type defined by an outline, cutouts and a thickness VIA_KEEPOUT: an area where via placing is forbidden PLACE_KEEPOUT: a mechanical space reservation where the component height is limited PLACE_REGION: an area where placing is limited to component of certain types ROUTE_KEEPOUT: an area where routing electrical connections is forbidden

9. Choose PLACE_KEEPOUT and click OK.

The place keepout area is displayed in transparency.

The pad is more than a simple pad: it has technological properties.

• When you create a constraint area interactively, the body is not automatically renamed with the constraint area type (as it works on import). However, you can change its name using the Properties contextual menu.
• To create cutouts in a constraint area, you have to create/modify the sketch of the constraint area pad accordingly, instead of achieving the same using Pocket, Hole etc. features.