I'm creating a footprint, in Eagle, for a USB-C connector. The part has 16 SMD pads and 16 duplicate through-hole pins.
The pins are very close to each other and the specs in the datasheet have annular rings that are too narrow for my PCB manufacturer. If I let the DRC grow their width to something acceptable for the manufacturer, they become too close to each other. I don't need to use those PTH pins since I'm only interested in the SMD pads.
I was thinking that I should just create (un-plated) holes instead of vias for those pins. The pins would just end up "floating" in those holes instead of being soldered in place - i.e. they wouldn't be electrically connected to anything. They don't seem to provide any structural role since the part has sturdy tabs that keep it in place.
Can you think of any issues with doing this? I could also just create a cutout around the group of PTH pins, but I'm trying to avoid cutouts and stick with drill hits for ease of manufacturing.