PCB Libraries Forum : Courtyard Calculation https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:52:49 +0000 Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:30:06 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.07 360 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=3278 <![CDATA[PCB Libraries Forum]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_images/PCBLForumLogo.gif https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Courtyard Calculation : The default Courtyard settings...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/courtyard-calculation_topic3278_post13074.html#13074 Author: Tom H
Subject: 3278
Posted: 01 Jun 2023 at 8:30am

The default Courtyard settings for 3 Density Levels in Footprint Expert are: 
  • Most - 0.40
  • Nominal - 0.20
  • Least - 0.10 
These settings are proven technology that has worked perfectly for the past 10 years. 

These are slightly different than IPC-7351:
  • Most - 0.50
  • Nominal - 0.25
  • Least - 0.10 
You can change the Courtyard values in "Tools > Options > Terminals > Surface Mount & Through-hole".

Courtyards in PCB design tools are used for assembly Part Placement, Rework, Via site locations. 

Enterprise CAD tools like Allegro and Xpedition have internal part placement rules and the Courtyard values are set to 0.00. They use the courtyard for other things like Placement Boundary to establish the part placement rules in the native CAD tool. 

If you open the IPC-7352 Option file, be sure to save it under a different name because the Footprint Expert installer will overwrite the master file every time.

The CAD_Settings Option file is used to save all your CAD tool interface Options for Layer Assignments, Output Directory, CAD tool version, 3D STEP options, etc. when you select the wrench icon to create a footprint. 

]]> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:30:06 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/courtyard-calculation_topic3278_post13074.html#13074 <![CDATA[Courtyard Calculation : Hi Tom,What is the formula for...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/courtyard-calculation_topic3278_post13073.html#13073 Author: Bharat_Verma
Subject: 3278
Posted: 01 Jun 2023 at 3:32am

Hi Tom,

What is the formula for the courtyard? 

I mean what is the clearance value from pad / outline.

Where can I find it? Is it included in "CAD_Settings" or "IPC-7352" option .opt files?

Is there any standard values defined to draw a courtyard in IPC?

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