Here's a summary of what I was working on: Planning PCB layout
I'm considering moving the layout inside and cleaning up any traces. I could use the placement tool to preserve the board while deleting dangling traces. The user asked for an 8x8 matrix, though I currently have four 4x4 modules arranged in a 2x2 grid, plus the MAX chip on the far right. The board is quite large at 120x100, so I shouldn't resize it. I need to compact the matrix in the center with the controller nearby and update my to-do list.
The Files tab is empty because this project currently has 0 project documents saved there. There is only one asset in the project, a .glb file named liquid-diffuser-acrylic.glb, and it is not marked as a thumbnail, footprint, 3D model, or board shape.
So nothing was deleted by the recent routing attempts — there just aren’t any markdown/spec/report files in the Files tab right now.
I’ll create a concise project-related file in the Files tab summarizing the 8x8 MAX7219 LED matrix module, current layout intent, and known routing cleanup items.
This project is a modular 8x8 LED matrix display board based on the MAX7219 LED driver. The intended PCB should represent one compact 8x8 LED matrix module, not an oversized carrier or unrelated layout.
Intended Architecture
Display: 8x8 LED matrix implemented as four 4x4 LED matrix sections arranged in a 2x2 grid.
Driver IC: MAX7219EWG+ LED display driver.
Control Interface: Serial DIN, CLK, and LOAD/CS style interface for connection to a host controller.
Power: 5 V LED/logic supply with local bulk and decoupling capacitance.
Current Setting: External resistor on the MAX7219 ISET pin sets segment current.
Layout Intent
The PCB should be physically organized around the 8x8 LED matrix.
The four 4x4 matrix blocks should form a tight 2x2 square grid.
The MAX7219 should be placed near the matrix to keep segment and digit routing short.
Connectors should sit at an accessible board edge.
The board should not be enlarged to work around routing issues; misplaced/off-board objects should be fixed instead.
Known Cleanup / Routing Items
Previous routing attempts were blocked by layout issues, including reported off-board objects and stale/dangling routing.
The correct fix is to identify and move or remove misplaced layout objects while preserving the intended 8x8 matrix board size.
After cleanup, route all matrix, power, ground, and interface nets.
Run layout review afterward and resolve remaining airwires or DRC errors.
Bring-Up Checks
Verify 5 V and GND continuity before powering.
Confirm MAX7219 V+ and GND pins are correctly connected.
Check the ISET resistor value and connection.
Confirm DIN, CLK, and LOAD/CS reach the input connector.
Power the board with current limiting for first test.
Send a simple MAX7219 initialization sequence and light one row/column at a time.
Confirm all 64 LEDs illuminate in the expected physical order.