When is the time for copper pour in PCB?

[umery2k75]

copper pour

I'm trying to make a Layout right now. About copper pour it's been said it covers unused area with a one specific net that would some how protect the board from interference.
Do we do copper pour before routing or after routing or in between routing, means when routing of complete board has not been done?

 

[Chris56000]

pcb copper pour

Hi!

It really depends upon wether you've any heatsinked power transistors or ICs, or connectors whose physical position on your design is fixed or not, but generally its easier and preferable to deal with more intricate routing of the signal layers first before you add the polygons/fills etc., for your copper pour areas.

Most packages will do copper-pour with a one-click menu entry or a dedicated toolbar button so actually doing the pouring itself is the easiest part of the work as a rule!

Chris Williams

 

[abhi002]

pcb pour

most of the cases ,it is done in the last

 

[vaibhav.k]

what is copper pour

Better way after completion of placement and layout and verification of layout copper pour is done.There are various types of copper pouring.

 

[anjanadev]

copper pour pcb

I use Cadence Allegro PCB Editor and have found that it is best to do copper pouring towards the end of the layout.
Ususally GND or critical power nets are poured.
If using Cadence, it is difficult to edit or create new routes over existing copper pour areas. Hence it is always better to plan which nets need to be poured, allocate areas during component placement and tackle copper pours towards the end of the layout.
But, certain critical pours like that of a heat sink under an IC can be done earlier itself, so that it acts as a reminder to you not to run routes or vias in that place.
Also, if it is a multi-layer PCB, you may assign the inner layers for GND or power. these can be copper poured and take care not to form too many copper pour islands in these inner layers. Else, the idea of a dedicated GND or power plane is compromised.