About Creepage Paths and Short Circuits
A creepage path is the shortest path between two conductive components, measured along the surface of the insulation, the creepage surface. The creepage distance is the length of that path.
An electric current can establish a short circuit across a gap because the air has less resistance than the insulated surface. The maximum width of the gap across which the electric current can short-circuit is called the groove width. If the creepage surface has a groove or a gap on the straight line joining the two conductive components and the width of the gap is not greater than the specified groove width, then the gap is shorted during the calculation of the creepage path.
Similarly, if the creepage surface has a rib on the straight line joining the two conductive components, the creepage path is measured along the contour of the rib. Creo Parametric reduces the length of the contour wherever possible by using short circuits.
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For a specified groove width, creepage analysis finds only “induced” paths. “Induced” paths are obtained by adding some jumps of length not greater than the specified groove width to a path with no jumps, if such a path exists.
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You can specify the groove width for pairs of nets in the clearance and creepage file and for pair of quilt or component in the Clearance and Creepage dialog box.