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I have the following footprint in my PCB library with 6 through hole pads: PCB Screenshot

When I add the purple keep out area (to either the Keep-Out layer or the top layer), I get a bunch of short circuit warnings when I validate the footprint:

[Warning] Component Validator Shorted Copper Connection Between Pad Free-6(150mil,25mil) on Multi-Layer And Pad Free-4(100mil,25mil) on Multi-Layer

I tried unchecking both vias and through-hole pads in the keepout fill properties, but the warnings still appear. If I remove the keepout fill, the warnings go away.

I'm fairly new to Altium but I don't understand how a keep-out area could cause a short circuit. Does anyone have any ideas of what might be happening?

cvanbeek
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1 Answers1

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Your pads are inside the keep-out area. You can modify the keepout to be object-specific or you could just place a small track-like keepout horizontally between the pins (not touching them) which will keep you from routing tracks between the pins on your footprint.

The latter way is how I did it on a similar Tag-Connect footprint. Possibly older versions of Altium lacked the feature to make keepouts object-specific, I don't really recall why it was done that way.

Spehro Pefhany
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  • If it's upset about the Pads, how come unchecking SMD Pad and TH pad in the keep-out options doesn't make the error go away? – cvanbeek Aug 26 '21 at 15:35
  • The DRC uses clearance constraints so it will complain about the design you have. Not sure about the component validator. – Spehro Pefhany Aug 26 '21 at 16:01
  • Thank you for your response but for this question my concern is the component validator – cvanbeek Aug 27 '21 at 17:55