DesignSpark PCB works in an XY orientation but this does not restrict placing components precisely on a circular pitch as required for a dial or direction indicator, analogue clock face, countdown timers etc.
The following illustrates the simple steps to achieve this.
Note. You do not require a circular PCB to use this method or have all the components placed on the same fixed circumference.
Below we illustrate a simple 12 LED layout on a fixed angle and diameter circle.
First set your PCB window to suit your design, here we have a 0.1" grid to match standard through hole LED's.
As a visual reference we have added a normal pad to highlight the centre of our pcb.
Draw the board outline of the required size. Next add two documentation layer circles to indicate where the components or pads are to be positioned. We also add a vertical line to illustrate the process.
On a vertical centre line placed on the documentation layer we can see the required position at the intersection of the circles to place our components.
Add the components as normal either from "Add Components" or if you have translated from a schematic position the footprints.
Here are the first two LED's placed in the required position.
Using a selection box, select the complete layout. Right click and from the options select "Rotate By" and in the window enter the required angle, in this case 30 degrees.
The image is rotated and now in the correct XY orientation to add further components.
As the components are added and positioned, simply select the complete layout and rotate, here it is shown with six LED's.
Finally with all the LED components.
Important points to note are, the grid and snap to grid allow precise locating of the footprint in the current XY orientation. When adding tracks if you wish those to radiate precisely from the LED it must be orientated using the PCB rotation for the required alignment.
More approximate results can be quickly generated with tracks in the "Free" Segment Mode.
Slots and cutouts can also be made to be precisely radial using this method.
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