> > Optimal pad size seems as a minimum twice the diameter of the hole, thr= ee > times > > maximum (if board space allows). >=20 > I like to think in terms of the "trace width" of the ring around the hole= ..=20 > Obviously this shouldn't be any smaller than the minimum trace width supp= orted > by the manufacturer, and should generally be significantly larger to allo= w for > easy soldering, and significantly larger again for mechanical strength if > there are heavy components or external stress (connectors) involved. Sin= ce a > "typical" min trace width is 0.2mm, and a typical hole is 0.8mm, your "tw= ice" > allows for a ring width of 0.4mm, which is OK. I usually fiddle with EAG= LEs > DRC parameters when I'm otherwise done, and make the rings as wide as I c= an > without running into clearance issues. OTOH, that's partially because I'= m > aiming at users with less soldering experience. >=20 > EAGLE defaults to 25% of hole size for the ring (1.5x hole diameter for t= he > pad), tempered by a minimum ring width... >=20 Designspark has a drill backoff check as one of the design rule checks. Thi= s=20 checks the following for pad diameter, ring hole and track width connected = to=20 the pad: P is the diameter of the pad, D is the drill diameter and T is the track wi= dth.=20 If T/2 (the radius of the track end) is greater than (P-D)/2 (the track wid= th=20 of the pad) there is a drill backoff error. This is because the track end is rounded (diameter=3Dtrack width) and it is= =20 backed off so the rounded end just touches the hole during the plotting out= put=20 stage. If the track is too wide or the pad diameter is too small, the track= has=20 to be backed of so far that there are two small cuts between the track and = the=20 pad. This can cause over-etching during manufacture. If this would happen, designspark does not backoff the track so the track=20 coveres the drill hole. I don't know if this really is a problem or even if the board manufacturers= =20 does plot the layout with holes in the pad. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Ruben J=F6nsson AB Liros Electronic Box 9124 200 39 Malm=F6 Sweden www.liros.se Tel +46 40142078 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .