When designing flexirigid PCBs, I use separate mechanical layers for outlining the flexible and rigid regions (top FR4, polyimide.) This is also useful when conforming to IPC-2223, such as keeping a minimum distance between plated holes from rigid to flex, as I can clearly identify where the overlaps are. Sometimes I let the manufacturer decide what's best, but other times I might want a specific clean edge in a certain location. I have a separate mechanical layer for the outline of the PCB (File > import > DWG is a highly used command) as well as keep-outs.ĭepending on the manufacturer and the board, I have a specific layer for the cutting outline, ie the path the 2mm routing tool should take. Component-housing collisions and interferences are not fun.

I use Mech 1 for 3D component bodies - both simple extruded primitives for things like passives, but also more detailed, manufacturer-provided step models. I might will definitely argue about the board outline, screw-holes, general space etc, and as such I need dedicated places to convey this information to my colleagues, my suppliers, but also myself. This will unpair any selected mechanical layer with NO loss of primitives.It's a give-and-take relationship, but as a PCB designer I'm mostly given mechanical constraints to work with from mechanical engineers as they stake their claim to available space. Youcan then find some icon to use or just leave it as a text on the toolbar Text=Var B C I P M begin B:=PCBServer.GetCurrentPCBBoard P:=B.MechanicalPairs C:=B.CurrentLayer for I:=1 To 1024 do begin M:=LayerUtils.MechanicalLayer(I) if P.PairDefined(C, M) then begin P.RemovePair(C, M) ShowInfo('UnPaired Mech Layers :' + Layer2String(C) + ' & ' + Layer2String(M)) break end end B.ViewManager_UpdateLayerTabs end Then paste the below text into Parameters: Right click on the toobar and select Customize Then when you are actively on one of the layers of the mechanical pair (the tab is selected on the tabs along the bottom) and you run this tool bar button you just created, it will separate the pair but NOT delete any primitives (lines arcs, etc) on those layers.

What you do is to set up a custom toolbar button and copy the data in that he shows. This is from Brett on the official Altium forum.

Mechanical layer altium