why Autoplacement don't work in Altium designer?

[stackprogramer]

hi,in Altuim designer 2016 when i update pcb,
when i click tools>component placement >autoplace

it doesn't work?how can start with it!!
it is idle mode and it doesn't any work!!!!

please help me

 

[Kick]

Why are you using auto placement?? it's a bad idea. Manual placement will gives you good result.

 

[stackprogramer]

yes,you are right .but i want to test it only.
i like to see it is bad.i usually manual placement
thanks

 

[marce]

Firstly any autoplacement routine will produce total rubbish, placement of components IS the main skill you develop as a PCB designer, the whole layout will depend on a designers ability to place components correctly.....
Do it manually, learn to read and understand the schematic, this is your guide to the layout.

- - - Updated - - -

Missed the other replies whilst I was typing...

 

[stackprogramer]

Missed the other replies whilst I was typing...

oh o i am star crossed.....
my question auto placer is idle when i clicked it!!:shock:

 

[stackprogramer]

i examine it when i clicked on autoplacer in altuim2016 it is idle.
why my PCB board doesn't work?it is strange....
i even created new pcb and schematics!!

 

[FvM]

I'm not familiar with Altium autoplacement function. Remembering a similar function of Specctra auto router, I guess the problem might be that you didn't set up the necessary rules and constraints for auto placement. Take the time to study the respective Altium documentation.

Generally I agree with marce that the function is mostly useless for usual PCB designs. The function may have been useful 30 years ago when placing regular arrays of logic ICs. The Specctra auto placement examples are also referring to similar designs.

 

[andre_luis]

The function may have been useful 30 years ago when placing regular arrays of logic ICs

Seems like being the only circumstance where the use of autoplacement would be useful. In fact for designing big arrays of LEDs this feature could make sense, athough modern EDA tools provide alignment/spacing funcionality that do the job, with the advantage of being interactive.

 

[FvM]

Auto placement is expected to position specific components in a predefined pattern while minimizing the connection length.

 

[Mattylad]

Agree with the above comments, but if you are after a laugh...

Could it be that it requires you to make a placement grid setting that is not small, on a 1th, or 0.05mm grid etc there will be thousands of points it has to consider so it could be that it is just taking a long time to think.

CADSTAR does this, appears to be doing nothing when autoplacing on a small grid - change the grid to a larger one and it does it in seconds.
Also, have you placed and parts such as connectors etc. ?? these allow the autoplacer to check and see what else is connected to them then place them.

I suspect that Altium is sat there scratching it's head thinking which component to place first.

 

[stackprogramer]

Agree with the above comments, but if you are after a laugh...

Could it be that it requires you to make a placement grid setting that is not small, on a 1th, or 0.05mm grid etc there will be thousands of points it has to consider so it could be that it is just taking a long time to think.

CADSTAR does this, appears to be doing nothing when autoplacing on a small grid - change the grid to a larger one and it does it in seconds.
Also, have you placed and parts such as connectors etc. ?? these allow the autoplacer to check and see what else is connected to them then place them.

I suspect that Altium is sat there scratching it's head thinking which component to place first.

i did it
please see video

it doesn't work any

 

[FlapJack]

CADSTAR does this, appears to be doing nothing when autoplacing on a small grid - change the grid to a larger one and it does it in seconds.

Could you please post a picture or two of what an auto placed layout looks like.

 

[Mattylad]

No because I do not do them.
No autoplacer can place components like us humans can, we consider design rules, EMC, DFA, DFM, DFT, DFR, standards, regulations, directives etc. as well as getting the circuit to work.
No autoplacer is going to be able to do that and it would take too long (if we even could) to input all this data into a router.

So when someone suggests using autoplacement the reply is no, No, NO!


Stack - when you select to use the autoplacer - should you first have selected the components so that it knows what to autoplace?
What it is good for is jigsaw placement where all components are placed on the board to prove that they will fit, then they are taken off and placed by us.

 

[stackprogramer]

Stack - when you select to use the autoplacer - should you first have selected the components so that it knows what to autoplace?

i tested it 10 times,you can see in video
i even set rule placement
i know that autoplace is garbage
but i want to only know why it doesn't work for simple circuit in my altiumdesigner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ArticCynda]

Autoplacers and autorouters usually produce garbage, don't use them unless you have a PhD in autorouter/autoplacer configuration.

 

[stackprogramer]

Autoplacers and autorouters usually produce garbage, don't use them unless you have a PhD in autorouter/autoplacer configuration.

thanks
This one is really talking

 

[stackprogramer]

after examine all below menus works :
arrange with rectangle
arrange with room
arrange with outside
shove
reposition selected component
swap component

but this menu doesn't work
auto placer .....
stop auto placer...