Help with Zone Creation

[tlwkicad]

I am a newbie and trying to modify an existing design I found on GitHub. I have a question about creating zones with pads included. I would like to create a zone that includes the cathode of D1, the left side of L2, and two upper left pins on the AL8843 chip. I want to exclude R1 and C3 from the zone (see attached photo). I have tried using the Zone tool, but need help.
Thanks

Application: KiCad (32-bit)

Version: (6.0.2), release build

Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.1.5
libcurl/7.78.0-DEV Schannel zlib/1.2.11

Platform: Windows 10 (build 19042), 32 bit, Little endian, wxMSW

Build Info:
Date: Feb 12 2022 14:48:06
wxWidgets: 3.1.5 (wchar_t,wx containers)
Boost: 1.76.0
OCC: 7.6.0
Curl: 7.78.0-DEV
ngspice: 36
Compiler: Visual C++ 1928 without C++ ABI

Build settings:
KICAD_USE_OCC=ON
KICAD_SPICE=ON

[JeffYoung]

The zone tool just draws the outlines (and specifies a net). The schematic needs to say that those pads are connected to the same net and then the zone will automatically connect to them.

[tlwkicad]

Thanks for the help- will try that soon

[tlwkicad]

I named the net on the schematic view to L2_2.

I started to create the zone on the board view

Drew the Zone

Started to fill the zone

Then all the zones and traces disappeared

HELP

[Piotr]

With L2_2 zone I suppose that you have so big “Thermal relief gap” that it is possible that zone can’t be connected to the only pin it is around. Not connected zones are deleted.
About the other zones - if you press ‘B’ before doing any changes to the project (I understand it is not your project) do zones are filled good or also disappear?

Edit.
My idea about L2_2 is probably wrong - it should be possible to connect at least along the track from L2.

[eelik]

Check that you have the correct zone visual mode active in the left hand toolbar to show fills – it may be outlines only.

[mf_ibfeew]

The mentioned display zones normal/outline icon (see @eelik ):

These buttons change only the display, they don’t do refill/unfill-action!

Additonally:
@tlwkicad : set zone-priority higher. All intersecting/overlapping zones must get a different zone priority.

Also: as this seems to be a switching regulator you probably want to set the “Pad connection” to “SOLID”

[tlwkicad]

I tried creating a zone on top of the GND zone. The new zone was assigned priority “1” and I expected to see it on top of the GND zone. I pressed "B’ to fill all zones, and then all of the other existing zones and some traces were changed to the outline mode. Also, the zone tools on the left side of the screen stopped working. My only recourse was to undo the new zone in order to get back to my start screen. I think the original design was done in version 5.x and I am using version 6.09. Could it be that this version of KiCad has a bug?

[mf_ibfeew]

using version 6.09.

I bet this is a typo. But you could clarify: v6.0.2 (current stable version) or v6.99 (development version)?

Could it be that this version of KiCad has a bug?

No one can exclude the possibility of a bug. But given that you are starting with kicad my first guess would be user failure", than “bug in v6.99” , than “bug in v6.0.2.”

It could be helpful if you upload the project archive zip-file (Kicad-manager → File–>Archive Project) into this thread.

[tlwkicad]

Here is the zipped file. I really appreciate all the help. Thanks
tim.zip (114.3 KB)

[tlwkicad]

Here is my version info:
Application: KiCad (32-bit)

Version: (6.0.2), release build

Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.1.5
libcurl/7.78.0-DEV Schannel zlib/1.2.11

Platform: Windows 10 (build 19042), 32 bit, Little endian, wxMSW

Build Info:
Date: Feb 12 2022 14:48:06
wxWidgets: 3.1.5 (wchar_t,wx containers)
Boost: 1.76.0
OCC: 7.6.0
Curl: 7.78.0-DEV
ngspice: 36
Compiler: Visual C++ 1928 without C++ ABI

Build settings:
KICAD_USE_OCC=ON
KICAD_SPICE=ON

[mf_ibfeew]

The uploaded project helped. Without this we would search for months for the “zone filling disappears” symptom.

Result:
No bug regarding zones. But a user error from you or the original pcb-designer. There are 2 board-outline-graphics on the edge.cuts layer. The inner edge.cuts-lines are forming a cutout, so there is essentially no board at all. Try to view the board in 3D (hotkey ALT+3) and I think you will recognize the problem.

solution:

• activate the edge.cuts layer at the layer-panel
• change display-mode to dimmed - now you should see the outer rectangle and the inner rectangle (only lines).
• delete one of them

Now recalculate the zone-fills (“B”), be sure to have zone-display on (see answers above), look at the zones, scream “halleluja” and perform an dance around the computer.
Now add again your zone to L2_2. Don’t forget the priority and the solid-setting.

[tlwkicad]

Thanks- I will try your suggestions, and yes I did try to change the board outline, so it is probably related to that. Also I forgot to mention that the 3D view was not showing correctly (probably after I edited the outline). I saved the original down load from GitHub and the 3D and everything else I checked seemed to be OK.

[tlwkicad]

Deleted the inner outline and 3D works now again and the existing layers are back. Can’t dance around the computer because it is on a desk which is in the corner of the room… Thanks again!

[tlwkicad]

Life is GOOD again. THANKS!!!