As we picked up some experience with Eagle, we figured out that clicking icons and typing in commands slows down productivity. Eagle’s key-binding features make it faster to do common tasks by pressing a few keys, but for a real kick they can also run scripts. We use a hot-key to run our project export […]
Category Archives: Eagle
HOW-TO: Polygons and ground fills for PCBs in Eagle
In Eagle polygons are used to make big copper areas on a PCB that aren’t necessarily traces. We use them all the time to fill blank space on a PCB with copper connected to ground. Less frequently we use them to make large power traces such as with the ATX Breakout Board. Here’s some notes […]
Another Eagle 6.xx library fix for Linux users
A link to this guide was left on yesterday’s post about fixing library issues on Eagle 6.xx Linux versions. The difference to yesterday’s guide is that this one provides links to all the missing files, instead of having them packaged in one archive.
Missing Cadsoft Eagle 6.x libraries for Linux
Mick M. posted the missing Cadsoft Eagle 6.x libraries for Linux: I finally tracked down the libraries to allow installation of the latest version. This will get you out of “dependency-hell” . Hopefully Cadsoft will statically link the next release. They work for me on Fedora 17 and Mint 13. Read the instructions below.
PARTS LIBRARY: 85×56 credit card sized standard PCB template
There’s now a 85mm x 56mm credit card sized standard PCB template in our Eagle parts library. Thanks to TonyD for the suggestion. These standard board templates to take the hassle out of pretty edges and consistent mounting hole placement. We’ve been using them for a few months, and quietly lasered a few test cases that […]
HOW-TO: Crude ways of making plated slots in Eagle
As far as we know Eagle doesn’t offer an option for making plated slots. Here are two hacks we found on the subject. Check out our previous tutorial on building footprints in Eagle. You can also skim through our Cadsoft_Eagle other tutorials on the wiki.
PARTS LIBRARY: 2×07 0.1″ pitch shrouded pin header
We added a 2×07 0.1″ pitch shrouded pin header in our Eagle parts library. We extended the shrouded header footprint, as the previous version was slightly smaller than the actual part. We also updated the 2×5 and 2×6 headers. This header could possibly replace the 12 pin header on Bus Pirate v4. The v4 2×6 […]
PARTS LIBRARY: Bourns 3306F trimmer resistor
After a few problems with standard Eagle trimmer footprints, we added the Bourns 3306F trimmer to our Eagle parts library. It seems to be a pretty common-ground footprint. We used a larger than recommended pin-hole diameter so it will work with other common trimmers too. We use trimmers as adjustable voltage dividers, such as for […]
Copy parts between libraries in Eagle
A short but helpful tutorial on how to copy parts between libraries in Cadsoft Eagle. You can also check out some of our Eagle tutorials.
EAGLE PART: Incremental encoder with switch
Rotary encoders are an easy way to add user input to a project, especially for stuff like menu selections. Turn the knob left and right, push down to select an option. We’ve used encoders in several recent projects. One problem we had was that the knob overlapped another part. After a quick measurement with digital […]
HOW-TO: Create Eagle parts with pins that have the same name
Most chips have multiple power pins that need to be connected to the same power supply, but Eagle doesn’t allow you to give 2 different pins the same name. This short tutorial shows how to get around this and name multiple part pins the same thing. Keep reading below, see our other Eagle tutorials here.
DP Eagle parts library: FT230X in SSOP-16 footprint
We added the new FTDI FT230X USB-to-serial IC in SSOP-16 footprint to our Eagle parts library. The parts library is public domain, use it however you want. Not sure where to get parts? Check our master partlist.
Online 3D gerber viewer
Here is a Online 3D gerber viewer. You just upload your gerber files, and the online app generates a 3D model of your PCB. This is an awesome way to check for any silk-screen, and solder mask errors, if your eCAD doesn’t have 3D view capability. If you are using Cadsoft Eagle, here is a […]
HOW-TO: Build 3D models from Eagle files
Overview Over the last few weeks we’ve been building 3D models of our projects in Google SketchUp using the EagleUp script. This script makes a 3D model of the board from Cadsoft Eagle board (.brd) files, and populates it with pre-existing models of components. Once you have a 3D model in SketchUp you are free […]
Large plot data warning from Cadsoft Eagle CAM processor
Today we got a new warning from Eagle’s CAM processor when exporting gerbers to make PCBs. When the CAM processor started we got the error “Board contains a polygon that may cause extremely large plot data”. After some removing nearly every component from the PCB, we found that it was related to the arrows on […]