About through Vias

[mulfycrowh]

I defined a preferred through via size/hole size as 0.45 mm/0.2 mm.
I've got a big disk around it.
It is far much bigger than the solder mask.
What is it ?

Thanks.

[qdrives]

Does this topic help: https://designhelp.fedevel.com/forum...9539#post19539

[WhoKnewKnows]

Which disk shape around the via are you referring to? The violet color. That looks like solder mask. It's difficult to tell with what's captured in the image. You could try switching to 3D view mode, then adjust the transparency of the solder mask layer to be able to see what's copper and what's solder mask.

[mulfycrowh]

Here attached the 2D and 3D views.
The grid is 0.1 mm.
The diameter of this disk is about 1.4 mm.

[WhoKnewKnows]

Looks like a normal via with a slightly too large solder mask expansion. 🤷

[mulfycrowh]

I don't think so.
The solder mask is highlighted on the attached screenshot.
It is 0.102 mm.
What we are speaking about has a diameter of 1.4 mm ...

[mulfycrowh]

I have 8 layers.
I noticed something interesting:
When I unchecked both Layers 2 & 7, the via is OK with its solder mask.
The purple color is the color of Layer 2.
When I uncheck Layer 2, the purple color is replaced with Layer 7 color (green).
When I uncheck Layer 7, everything looks OK.

Where does it come from ?

[robertferanec]

this is probably clearance (space without copper) around the via on power layers (?)

[WhoKnewKnows]

Yeah, I think clever color choice might have led me astray. It appears an internal plane layer color is the same as a surface solder mask layer color. Altium doesn't usually make copper layer colors the same as solder mask layer colors. The attached images show my updated guesses.

[WhoKnewKnows]

Here's a great color selection resource. It's a nice guide when you need a large number of distinctive colors.

https://sashamaps.net/docs/resources/20-colors/

[qdrives]

This is the second time in a short while that I see a similar question. I never use planes, but could it be that Altium has changed the default setting for plane clearance?

[mulfycrowh]

I replaced both planes on layers 2 and 7 with Signals.
The issue with the vias is gone.
Thanks a lot !