PCB DRC test headache

Hi Raptor UK
You are right, there were a few discrepancies between scheme and PCB. These were due to some changes I made on the symbols and footprints which obliged me to replace the corresponding elements without checking the new annotations. But I assure you that I created first the schematic which has always been my reference and on its basis I created the PCB layout by routing with the tool “route single track” following the connections of the schematic. I now resend the updated schematic Anyway running DRC on PCB with the updated schematic the diagnose is exactly the same. Paulvdh asked me to send the zipped copy of my project together with the error list . But, if I understand well, in a subsequent post he consider it to be no more necessary. I can send i

The effect of the DRC arrows.

Based on that description, and also on your schematic and PCB, I still suspect you haven’t updated the PCB from the schematic (Tools → Update PCB…) but have just followed the schematic visually. If that’s the case, you could have as well used pen and paper for the schematic and are missing critical features of an EDA suite. Please read the Getting Started document (linked above by Piotr) at least once before continuing.

I will ask last time:

Can you answer this simple question to let all of us understand your problem?

And if you don’t know what I am asking then have you read at least ‘Getting Started’ manual?

These both are my diagnose made 15 hour ago and I still think it was correct, but couldn’t get its confirmation by you.

Ultra low power TPH sensor-2025-06-24_113358.zip (44.1 KB)
When you were routing tracks at PCB have you followed connection lines you get after updating PCB from schematic?

For me it is difficult to interpret this setence. It is easier to tell what I did. First I created the schematic, second the symbols, third the footprints, fourth the footprint assignment. That is I followed the standard procedure. Not without problems because I expected the kicad to be more beginner friendly. I did nothing illegal, in the sense of respecting the basic rules. When I ran ERC for schematic i had to adjust something but thi was not complicated, but when I ran DRC on PCB layout I received a lot of identical error message all about solder mask and bridges. Assuming that the reason could be some improper clearance clearance I tried to modify some footprints, mainly modifying the drawings on courtyard layers. But then I restored the footprints as they were before ( I called this “updating the footprints”). I wonder that all the arrows indicate that the problems are located to the points where 0,2 mm wide tracks reach the footprint pads. I am not able to imagine problems in a so simple connection. I have add a zip file which, as I have understood, should include the entire project. This is all can tell.

You have no nets in your PCB layout, at any point did you use the Schematic to update the PCB ? Using F8 or the Tools menu ?

image

OK, I looked at it.
Your “RESISTOR” footprint is borked - no pad numbers!

ETA:
Run ERC on your schematic, and fix all the errors, then update the PCB from the Schematic once you fix your footprints.

And use the standard KiCad supplied symbols and footprints where you can . . . it’s great that you are learning how to make footprints but no need to make work for yourself.

Thanks for explanation, but once more you said no word how you have created PCB in accordance with schematic, what is what I am asking from beginning.
You need not to read the whole schematic manual or PCB manual. You have it explained in Getting Started (following link should open at correct chapter):

And from the far beginning it looks that you just not followed it but did something against KiCad.

When PCB design program knows schematic it draws connection lines showing you what you should connect with what. Knowing if you had these lines was a key to understand your problem here.
It is why I have asked: “When you were routing tracks at PCB have you followed connection lines…” and informed you that these lines “you get after updating PCB from schematic.”

I was sure I was as clear as possible in this my question. But as it looked you may not understand it I asked to read Getting started as after reading it I believe everything should be clear.

I have no KiCad at PC I am writing (as it is Win7) so I can’t simply check your project myself.
But based on:

I have never worked with KiCad having no nets so I don’t know what exactly is happening. Each pad has solder mask opening and track comes to this pad so goes into the same opening.
Normally they both (pad and track) have the same net assigned, but here they don’t.
If they both are ‘no net’ than KiCad should not complain that different net elements are in one opening, but may be it knows that one ‘no-net’ is not the same net as the other ‘no-net’.
I don’t want to investigate it deeper as I don’t expect working that way ever.

I assume there is no link between the Schematic and the PCB. I guess this may have happened by the OP creating the Schematic . . . then creating the PCB by adding the footprints one by one and then routing the tracks . . . rather than using F8 to update the PCB from the Schematic.

But still you didn’t tell if you used the Update PCB from Schematic function from Tools menu. That’s the critical point. Also you haven’t told if you have actually read the Getting Started document.

It’s extremely annoying to try to help you while you don’t answer the clear questions or follow the clear instructions. I understand the situation may feel overwhelming for a beginner, but at least you shouldn’t skip anything in our posts.

I assume the same (at the beginning I assumed there is no schematic at all).
But what happens if at PCB everything is no-net? In soldermask opening there is probably no-net pad and no-net track, but KiCad writes that there are two different nets in one opening.
No-net and no-net is for me the same net :slight_smile:
It is what I have written.

From:

I got 86 and am trying to be extremely understanding.

Yup I agree, but without any net information the DRC is pretty much useless, the OP needs to fix this fundamental issue then report back with any new issues . . .

Thanks for noting, and sorry about impatience if that was relevant for the original poster… He seems to be better at math than me and I didn’t feed the formula to sympy… :smile:

But in any case, we can’t continue fruitfully if we don’t know the exact workflow which led to the problem.

When I get any impression OP is not serious about his own topic I just tune out, and move on to another thread. I reached that point in this thread some time ago, and barely skimmed though the last 15 posts or so. I only saw this remark because Piotr quoted it.

Here is the question: How much time (in a function of your age) you need to read (and understand!) Getting Started if you have never seen it before? For me to not forget next day what I have read it means to make notes of everything I assume is important to remember.

My wise helpers. I apologize for having underestimated the importance of the study before the action. My behaviour has been also against my life experience and my strong attitude to acqire information by means of constant intellectual application. I have used a method dictated by my presumption of quickly learning under the pressure of time shortage. I am glad to tell you that I have read Getting Started with Kicad, I have modified something in the schematic, then I have redone the PCB layout using the tool Update PCB from Schematic and the miracle happened: no more errors with DRC test.
Thank you all for your help … and my compliments.

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