Dk red inner layer assignment

Design Tools and Resources DKRed and PCB Builder
1

I am trying to figure out how to assign the inner layers in a specific order with the DK red pcb builder. I have looked at the stack up documentation for DK Red 4 layer. When I upload my gerber file I can assign the top and bottom layers to a top and bottom on DK red however the inner layers from my gerber files can only be assigned to a non specific DK red inner layer. I would like to specify which inner layer is closest to the top, and which is closest to the bottom.

1 Like
2

Does this answer your quesrion?

3

How I’ve seen a number of people do this is naming conventions like

Filename_Copper_Top
Filename_Copper_Signal_2
Filename_Copper_Signal_3
Filename_Copper_Bottom

Or name them something like

Filename_Copper_1
Filename_Copper_2
Filename_Copper_3
Filename_Copper_4

Or something along those lines that conveys to the board house which order the files get assigned.

4

Thank you for providing this useful information. This does not address the specific question which is how to assign CAD layers to each of the layers defined in the stack up.

5

yes, I use Eagle CAD and it names the layers in numerical order 1 thru 4. When the zip of gerbers is uploaded to the DK read builder the builder automatically assigns 1 as the top and 4 as the bottom. I then can manually assign the two inner layers (named 2 and 3) only as inner layers. Not possible to assign which is closest to the top and which is closest to the bottom.

The stackup documentation numbers the layers as 1 thru 4 so it might not be unreasonable to assume that a CAD layer with a “2” gets assigned to stack up layer 2 and a CAD layer with a “3” gets assigned to stackup layer “3”.

Problem is that this is exactly that, an assumption. I can not find anywhere where it is documented how to specify which CAD gerber file matches up to which inner layer.

This is important because for controlled impedance the distance to the ground plane matters and I would like to know which side of the core my ground plane is going to end up on without assuming.

I’m sure it would be possible to simply put a ground plane on both inner layers in the area of the relevant traces. Would prefer not to have to do that and be able to specify or known which inner layer from the CAD file is where in the stackup.

6

Thank you for your feedback. I’ve passed along this to the team that manages and maintains the PCB Builder service and have recommended it be implemented.