PCB Libraries Forum : Altium Mechanical Layers

Altium Mechanical Layers : Thanks Tom for great your supportJust...

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:26:17 +0000

Author: m.elsayed
Subject: 3573
Posted: 12 Nov 2025 at 12:26am

Thanks Tom for great your support

Just note this is not custom modification, M1 is added as blank by defualt when you pcb, file

before strat run scrpit, so supposed that when scrpit open before load data delet balnk layer which added by default and keep only M layers which result from pcb tool

Altium Mechanical Layers : We don't have any plans on...

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:30:22 +0000

Author: Tom H
Subject: 3573
Posted: 11 Nov 2025 at 9:30am

We don't have any plans on updating the Altium script routine.

It’s a unique custom modification that has never even been suggested by any of our Altium users and may not be benign or welcomed by our Altium customers.

Altium Mechanical Layers : I communicated with Altium and...

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:27:51 +0000

Author: m.elsayed
Subject: 3573
Posted: 11 Nov 2025 at 7:27am

I communicated with Altium and their reply as below. Please advise and support.

"If you create a new footprint (which the script seems to do) or even a new PCB, per default there is a Mechanical Layer 1. But to be honest, all mechanical layers from 1 to 32 are predefined. They already exist. They are not visible in the View Configurations, but they are sort of already there (only visibility is false). So it is basic Altium functionality to have this layer there.

In your Footprint, go to Tools > Export Mechanical Layers. Generate the .stackup file. Now open the stackup file with a text editor. You will find that the Mechanical Layers are there, but visibility is set to false. So there is no issue in having the Mechanical Layer visible.

But to me it seems if you want the mechanical layer to be disabled automatically, make it so in the script that it is removed after the mechanical layers.

Altium Mechanical Layers : Default Altium Layers. Mechanical...

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:26:45 +0000

Author: Tom H
Subject: 3573
Posted: 09 Nov 2025 at 4:26pm

Default Altium Layers. Mechanical Layer 1 = Board Shape

Layers in Altium Designer

The following Altium layer mapping is suggested as astandard. This mapping includes the Layer Type settings available in the EditLayer dialog in Altium Designer for both single mechanical layers as well asfor layer pairs. When there are two consecutive similar layers where the firstlayer begins with TOP…, and the next layer begins with BOTTOM…, these twolayers should be used to create a corresponding layer pair in Altium Designer.For example, Mechanical Layer 9, TOP GLUE, and Mechanical Layer 10, BOTTOMGLUE, would be used to create a Layer Pair called GLUE with the Layer Typesetting set to Glue Points.

Layer Types make it easier to share Altium Designer datawhen different layer numbers have been used for the same layer information bydifferent users. For example, one uses Mechanical Layers 13 and 14 for Top andBottom 3D Bodies, and the other uses Mechanical Layers 14 and 15 for Top andBottom 3D bodies. 3D body data could potentially be lost when sharing betweenthe two users. However, if both users have assigned the Layer Type of the 3Dbody to their respective 3D body layer pair, then when loading data from eachother, the 3D body data will be mapped to the corresponding layer numbers thatmatch the Layer Type. See Working with Mechanical Layers” in the AltiumDesigner online documentation for more information.

This layer mapping also includes some basic layers neededfor Flex and Rigid-Flex PCB designs.

1-8 Board Related Layers
Mechanical 1	BOARD SHAPE	Overall board outline or profile - Layer Type = Board Shape
Mechanical 2	ROUTE TOOL PATH	Mechanical routing information - Layer Type = Route Tool Path
Mechanical 3	DIMENSIONS	Dimensional detail required for the board - Layer Type = Dimensions
Mechanical 4	HOLE DETAIL	Dimensional detail required for special holes
Mechanical 5	DXF IMPORT	Mechanical details imported from DXF
Mechanical 6	V-CUT	V-Groove or scoring details - Layer Type = V Cut
Mechanical 7	BOARD	Detail board-related instructions or details - Layer Type = Board
Mechanical 8		User defined
9-33 Component Related Layers
Mechanical 9	TOP ASSEMBLY	Detail component package outline for assembly - Layer Type = Assembly *Can be used by Draftsman
Mechanical 10	BOTTOM ASSEMBLY
Mechanical 11	TOP DESIGNATOR	.Designator special string layer pair - Layer Type = Designator
Mechanical 12	BOTTOM DESIGNATOR
Mechanical 13	TOP 3D BODY	3D model layer pair - Layer Type = 3D Body
Mechanical 14	BOTTOM 3D BODY	3D model layer pair - Layer Type = 3D Body
Mechanical 15	TOP COURTYARD	Component required placement space layer pair - Layer Type = Courtyard
Mechanical 16	BOTTOM COURTYARD
Mechanical 17	TOP COMPONENT CENTER	Indicate the centroid of the component - Layer Type = Component Center
Mechanical 18	BOTTOM COMPONENT CENTER
Mechanical 19	TOP VALUE	Place the .Comment special string - Layer Type = Value
Mechanical 20	BOTTOM VALUE	Place the .Comment special string - Layer Type = Value
Mechanical 21	TOP COMPONENT OUTLINE	Define the area the component occupies on the board - Layer Type = Component Outline
Mechanical 22	BOTTOM COMPONENT OUTLINE
Mechanical 23	TOP COMPONENT DIMS	Define the dimensional detail required for components - Layer Type = Dimensions
Mechanical 24	BOTTOM COMPONENT DIMS
Mechanical 25	TOP GOLD PLATING	Define component selective gold plating requirements - Layer Type = Gold Plating
Mechanical 26	BOTTOM GOLD PLATING
Mechanical 27	TOP GLUE	Component assembly glue points layer pair - Layer Type = Glue Points
Mechanical 28	BOTTOM GLUE
Mechanical 29	TOP CONFORMAL COAT	Component assembly conformal coating details layer pair - Layer Type = Coating
Mechanical 30	BOTTOM CONFORMAL COAT
Mechanical 31	COMPONENT CAVITY	Embedded component cavity definition
Mechanical 32		User defined
Mechanical 33		User defined
34-40 Board Documentation Related Layers
Mechanical 34	FABRICATION NOTES	Detail important fabrication notes - Layer Type = Fab Notes
Mechanical 35	ASSEMBLY NOTES	Detail component load order and/or important assembly notes - Layer Type = Assembly Notes
Mechanical 36	TITLE BLOCK	Detail the drawing title block and sheet border - Layer Type = Sheet
Mechanical 37	TITLE BLOCK MIRRORED	Detail a mirrored version of the drawing title block and sheet border
Mechanical 38	CONTINUATION BLOCK	Detail a simplified drawing title block and sheet border for sheet(s) 2-n
Mechanical 39	CONTINUATION BLOCK MIRRORED	Detail a mirrored version of the simplified drawing title block and sheet border for sheet(s) 2-n
Mechanical 40		User defined
41-48 Panel Documentation Related Layers
Mechanical 41	PANEL DIMENSION	Detail important panel layout dimensions
Mechanical 42	PANEL FABRICATION NOTES	Detail important panel fabrication notes
Mechanical 43	PANEL ASSEMBLY NOTES	Detail important panel assembly notes
Mechanical 44	PANEL TITLE BLOCK	Detail the panel drawing title block and sheet border
Mechanical 45	PANEL TITLE BLOCK MIRRORED	Detail a mirrored version of the panel drawing title block and sheet border
Mechanical 46	PANEL CONTINUATION BLOCK	Detail a simplified drawing title block and sheet border for sheet(s) 2-n
Mechanical 47	PANEL CONTINUATION BLOCK MIRRORED	Detail a mirrored version of the simplified drawing title block and sheet border for sheet(s) 2-n
Mechanical 48		User defined
49-53 Flex and Rigid-Flex Related Layers
Mechanical 49	TOP PSA	Define areas requiring pressure sensitive adhesive necessary for final assembly
Mechanical 50	BOTTOM PSA
Mechanical 51	TOP STIFFENER	Define areas requiring a stiffener
Mechanical 52	BOTTOM STIFFENER	Define areas requiring a stiffener
Mechanical 53	BEND LINES	Detail flex bend lines

Altium Mechanical Layers : The FPE Altium translator onlywrites...

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:32:23 +0000

Author: Jeff.M
Subject: 3573
Posted: 05 Nov 2025 at 9:32am

The FPE Altium translator only writes mechanical layer 1 to the .pas script when a user assigns Altium eMechanical1 to one of the FPE Footprint layers (like 'courtyard' or 'silkscreen').

Unspecified layers will never appear in a translator script.

If you have a question or issue with layer 1 as applies to your Altium application, then you need to contact Altium.

Altium Mechanical Layers : Tom,This is a customized layer...

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 01:00:10 +0000

Author: m.elsayed
Subject: 3573
Posted: 05 Nov 2025 at 1:00am

Tom,

This is a customized layer option we need.

Mechanical layer 1 appears as blank layer however, we don't need it.

It's in the Script.

Can please check?

Altium Mechanical Layers : Here are the Altium Default Layer...

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:24:11 +0000

Author: Tom H
Subject: 3573
Posted: 04 Nov 2025 at 8:24am

Here are the Altium Default Layer Assignments created in November 2024.

https://octopart.com/documentation/style-guide/altium-designer-specific#layers-in-altium-designer

These are the Default Layers in Footprint Expert.

Here is the Altium documentation information to their Style Guide:

https://octopart.com/documentation/style-guide

In your screenshot, you are assigning Mechanical Layer 11 to the Assembly Outline Top and Bottom. This is not recommended that you use the same layer for both Top and Bottom.

You are also assigning Component Outline, Terminal Outline and Reference Designator to Mechanical Layer 11.

Never seen this before and we don't know any professional Altium user who directs all these elements to the same Mechanical Layer 11.

We highly recommended that you use the Altium Default Layer Recommendations.

Altium Mechanical Layers : Hi m.elsayed,Really interesting...

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:46:40 +0000

Author: dramos
Subject: 3573
Posted: 04 Nov 2025 at 7:46am

Hi m.elsayed,

Really interesting issue. We configure our mech stack in PCBFootprint Expert as well...

is this mechanical 1 the Assembly Bottom layer?

Regards.

david

Altium Mechanical Layers : I setup my Altium output for Mechanical...

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 06:50:14 +0000

Author: m.elsayed
Subject: 3573
Posted: 04 Nov 2025 at 6:50am

I setup my Altium output for Mechanical Layers 11, 13, 15 only.

However, when open in Altium it appears extra layer Mechanical 1