How can I create a custom board outline? – DesignSpark Support

The following shows the steps to create a board outline which has a part circular edge and a cutout. It illustrates the basic methods that can be used for any board outline.

The board outline to be created is the following.

Preparation is key to being able to easily create the design, so ensure you have the required dimensions available. For this design we need the following.

For the first stage of creating a board outline we require the dimension shown in yellow, i.e. the "Top width" and the "Diameter".

The initial step is to create a rectangular board outline of width equal to the "Top width" shown above. The other dimension of the rectangle is irrelevant for the method shown as it will be collapsed onto the arc once produced.

We now change the lower edge to an arc of the required diameter.
This achieved by selecting the edge and from the the right click options select Arc - Angle Free.

You can now drag the arc to any size you wish, but while selected right click and select Arc- Enter Radius or Enter Diameter whichever is more convenient.

For this example we set the diameter to 1.55" or 1550 thou.

The circular part of the PCB is now created at the required diameter. Next we click on the top edge of the board and drag it down to align with the ends of the arc.

The cutout is now produced in the straight segment.
The easiest method for accuracy is to use the "=" shortcut to allow the coordinates to be entered.

For this we set the relative origin at a convenient reference point. This is done using the right click options as shown in the image for the selected line.
Note. If the relative origin is placed at the opposite end of the selected line, simply select the other intersecting line and it will be placed at the required intersection.

With the relative origin placed we now select the segment to edit.

The segment is now in edit mode and by moving the cursor the segment can be manipulated freehand, however for precise design press the "=" shortcut key to get the "Type Coordinate" window. This will display the current coordinates, overtype the entries to get the required coordinates and clicking "OK" will place the line.
Note. The "Rel" checkbox must be ticked to work from the relative origin previously set.
For more complex designs move the relative origin to new reference points as the design progresses.

Completing the cutout we achieve our desired board outline.

The board outline may be changed during the PCB layout of components at anytime. It can also be deleted and a new one produced and moved as required by selecting every segment of the board and dragging to a new position.

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