I updated my KiCAD from 8 to 9. Then I opened my project using the KiCAD 9 and made some modification to my PCB. I am using a INA260AIPWR IC in my circuit. Other than some minor modifications the entire circuit stayed the same. Once manufactured, I found that the moment I solder a INA260AIPWR IC on the board it connects certain pins to other pins.
I can’t figure what could be reason for them connecting to each other. The only difference I noticed between the PCB from ver. 8 and ver. 9 is the pad clearance. In the ver. 8, I put a pad clearance of 0.12mm. In the next one, I didn’t put any.
Can pad clearance make pin touch each other?
This is from KiCAD 8 with no pad clearance
This is from KiCAD 8 with 0.12 mm pad clearance
This is from KiCAD 9 with no pad clearance
Clearance is not the issue here. It’s normal that clearances overlap as in the first screenshot. But I also see changes in the purple stuff. Looks like differences in solder mask expansion. If you combine that with shorting tracks in the way you did with pads 1, 2, 3, and with 14, 15, 16, then it’s indeed more likely that solder also jumps the very small gap. On itself this is not directly a problem, but it does look “ugly”, and it can cause confusion during inspection. Often such shorts are made outside of the pads, for example by routing the tracks from pads 1, 2 and 3 directly to the via.
On you last screenshots, there are darker circles in the purple, but not in the earlier. What happened there? It can have something to do with fallback graphics.
It seems there are two different sized purple rectangles over each pad. I’m not sure what those are.
I do not see transparency in the pads themselves though.
The last screenshot didn’t happen, as I forgot to check pad clearance before sending it out. The screenshot shows pad clearance using KiCAD 9 with 0.12mm clearance. No clue what those circles are around the edges of all pins. No such thing is visible in KiCAD 8.
I just wanted to know if I make this change in KiCAD 9 then will the issue be over?
