How to route a track with wide clearance to a connector with tight pads?

[leoheck]

I’m facing an issue and I’m unsure how to handle it properly. I have a netclass with a 3W spacing requirement to ensure proper track clearance. However, I have a connector where the pads are closer than the 3W spacing. This makes it impossible to route the traces while adhering to the 3W spacing rule set for this netclass.

Is there a way to temporarily disable the clearance rule specifically for the traces ending at that connector, so that I can complete the route?

I attempted to change something on pad properties of the connector and start routing from the pads, but unfortunately, it didn’t work since the netclass still enforces the 3W spacing for those nets.

The only solution I found to finish these tracks is to temporarily modify the netclass rule to a smaller value, let’s say 2W. This allows me to route some initial tracks from the connector. After that, I can revert the rule back to 3W and complete the traces with proper spacing.

Just to provide some context, the pads have dimensions of 0.2 mm with a spacing of 0.4 mm, while the tracks themselves are 0.1122 mm wide. The track spacing is set to 3 times the track width (0.3366 mm).

Is there a better way of doing this? Perhaps this is a bug? Maybe it would be necessary to have custom net spacing settings like the ones for custom trace widths.

[3Dogs]

Either ignore the error, or use a net-tie.

[leoheck]

I can ignore the error, but Kicad does not allow me to connect the track if the clearance is bigger than the pad-to-pad distance.

[leoheck]

For instance, I can connect this one, but the track is shifted right since it is somehow conflicting with the GND.

But I cannot even start/end a new track, if the spacing is wider than the pad-to-pad distance.

[mf_ibfeew]

The only solution I found to finish these tracks is to temporarily modify the netclass rule to a smaller value

You could change the router settings (Route–>interactive router settings. If you use it regularly assign a convenient hotkey) temporary to use “Highlight collisions mode” with checkbox “allow drc violations” enabled.

[leoheck]

Hm, I am currently using Shove. This is indeed an interesting approach that works.

[davidsrsb]

That is why it has the option to allow DRC violations. You are intending to violate clearance at the connector, so the software simply reminds you

[leoheck]

@mf_ibfeew I could find exactly what you said at random, now by looking at the PCBNew manual to get more info about the interactive routing, here (routing_tracks)

Anyways, thank you for the tip.