2.2 KiB
4-layer wide-power autoroute — run on your Mac, then hand me the .ses
The board is now 4-layer. Stackup: F.Cu / In1.Cu (GND plane) / In2.Cu / B.Cu (JLC standard 1.6 mm). GND is a solid inner plane, so wide power stops fighting for space — this is the fix for the 2-layer congestion (51 unrouted at 1.0/0.8 mm).
File: hbox-watchdog-v3-PROD-4layer-wideclass.dsn — current placement, unrouted, with:
| Class | Width | Nets |
|---|---|---|
| PWR_HI | 1.5 mm | BAT_PLUS, SW_BAT, MAIN5V, VEH5V, SYS5V, VIN_SW |
| PWR_MID | 1.0 mm | SW_5V, 3V3_MODEM, 5V_FAN, 24V, 24V_IN, IGN_IN, SW_FAN, SW3_NODE, FAN_RET |
| kicad_default | 0.2 mm | signals |
| GND | — | In1.Cu plane (routed as a plane, not traces) |
Routing layers = F.Cu + In2.Cu + B.Cu (+ In1 gaps), GND on the In1 plane. Plenty of room for 1.5 mm power now.
1. Route it
cd "~/Documents/Claude/Projects/Drogheda/03-Architecture-Hardware/kicad"
java -jar freerouting-1.9.0.jar
File → Open Design → hbox-watchdog-v3-PROD-4layer-wideclass.dsn. Let it route; watch the
incomplete count — on 4 layers it should drive to 0 (or single digits), not stall.
Then File → Export Specctra Session File → hbox-watchdog-v3-PROD-4layer-wideclass.ses.
Headless alternative:
java -jar freerouting-1.9.0.jar -de hbox-watchdog-v3-PROD-4layer-wideclass.dsn \
-do hbox-watchdog-v3-PROD-4layer-wideclass.ses -mp 100
2. Bring it back
Tell me the .ses is ready and I'll import it → refill the In1 GND plane → DRC → render, same
as before. (Backups: …bak-pre4Lroute-*, …bak-preAutoroute-*, …bak-postAutoroute-*.)
3. When you order at JLCPCB
Select 4 layers (JLC 4-layer 1.6 mm, ~a few $ more than 2-layer). The stackup in the board is the standard one JLC applies automatically. Worth it here: solid GND for the three switchers
- the 4G modem, and it's why the power routes.
Notes
- Widths are conservative-but-real (≥ guide spec, comfortably routable on 4 layers). Want the
original 2.5 mm on PWR_HI? Edit
(width 1500)→(width 2500)in the.dsn— there's room now. - Still a fresh full route, so expect a few sensor/GND opens to close interactively after import.