"Blind pad" in PCB library?

[Ragorh]

Hi all!

This challenge arose today:

We want to define drill length on pads in the PCB library, so that the holes are only drilled down to specific layers when the part is used in the PCB layout.

It's not a problem to do this when making vias directly in the PCB. But the challenge steps up when we want to define drill length on pads in the library!

How can we do that? If we use vias in the library it's not possible to add the needed designator...

Tips & tricks highly appriciated!

[Mikekoz13]

I **think** this might be what you are looking for:

http://www.altium.com/documentation/17.0/display/ADES/((Controlled+Depth+Drilling,+or+Back+Drilling))_AD

[Ragorh]

Thanks Mikekoz13!

Checking it out now

[Ragorh]

Hi again!

This was not what we were looking for.. Any more tips?

Thanks!

[exmadscientist]

In the past I have had some success getting objects that aren't "supposed" to be in a PCB library into one by copying and pasting the desired object from a PCB document. I have no idea how reliable this method is over the long term or how many things it works for, but it may be a useful trick for you.

[MMGuy]

I had the same issue and I believe there is not a solution currently.

I asked the following question to Altium's Tech Support:
"I am attempting to create a PCB library document (a footprint) with a via that does not simply extend between the top and bottom layers. While I can modify the Layer Stack Manager (Tools -> Layer Stack Manager) in the PCB Library Doc environment, when I click on the "Drill Pairs" option everything is grayed out. In other words, I can't seem to include a via with my component unless the via goes through all layers. Is this an option? Am I doing anything wrong?"

Their response was:
"Unfortunately, it is not an option to add Drill Pairs to the library. This is a legacy tool that was intended to be removed. I apologize for the inconvenience. You would need to create the drill pairs on the PCBDoc itself."