Editing EagleCAD workshop


As of 2023 this page is completely obsolete. Consider visiting the [[KiCad Workshop]]!

===EagleCAD===

EagleCAD is a computer-aided tool for schematic capture and designing printed circuit boards
that runs on Macs, Linux, and Windows. There is a free (as in beer) version available here:

http://www.cadsoftusa.com/freeware.htm

The free version is slightly crippled in terms of the size of the board you can design but is perfectly fine for most hobbyist use. In fact, it's the hobbyist industry standard and there are a wealth of resources from instructions to example parts and boards. (For example most SparkFun open hardware boards come with EagleCAD layout and schematics.)

===Next scheduled workshop===

Following a very successful and popular Eagle CAD workshop back in June 2009, we'll be having some in December 2010. Come to one or any: no commitment, no charge (though a small donation to Noisebridge is in excellent taste)

     
; '''Monday Dec 6, 7PM-10PM ''' -- Getting started with EagleCAD   
: Unless someone has a stunning idea, let's make a [[NoiseNoise board]]:  crunchy goodness yet simple! 
; '''Monday Dec 13, 7PM-10PM ''' -- Getting Stuff Done with EagleCAD and Not Punching Out the Monitor
: Further progress on the NoiseNoise board. If you missed the first session we'll have a refresher.
: Download the SparkFun EagleCAD library from here: https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun-Eagle-Library

; '''TBD 7PM-10PM ''' -- Tape Out, DFM, and PCB manufacture. 
: Finish the layout, lick the silkscreen, make the Gerber files, check 'em, and possibly submit for manufacture. 

Tentatively scheduled for Monday December 20 if five or more people sign up here:

# Steven Eastman
# <your name here>

Otherwise we'll do it in January sometime

====Potential Topics====

We can cover most of the basics in 3 nights. Feel free to add topics.

**What is EAGLE, 15 minute refresher on making a schematic and laying out a board.
*Expanding into new topics
**Making custom devices and libraries
***How to make the pin outs and footprints from a data sheet, possibly recycling someone else's similar part.
***How to label the part correctly and control what layers show on the board view (this can be confusing!)
**Autorouting: worth it or not?
**Error checking: ERC and DFM.
** How to fab a board.
***Exporting gerber and drill files using a CAM processor
***Checking the gerber files in a non-Eagle viewer program
***Uploading to fab houses
** Panelizing (step-and-repeat copying) designs using [http://claymore.engineer.gvsu.edu/~steriana/Python/gerbmerge/ gerbmerge] (one way around EagleCad board size limitation)
** More advanced tricks like logo images in the silkscreen layer

===Tutorials===

[http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=109 Very introductory Sparkfun tutorial], has some good info on outputting gerber files.

[http://online.sfsu.edu/~larryk/engr301/Waveform%20Generator/How%20to%20Make%20Circuit%20Boards.pdf Larry Klingenberg's Double Sided Board Tutorial]

[http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-custom-library-part-in-Eagle-CAD-too/ An instructable on making your own components.]

More info, tutorials, etc. from the SWARM wiki: http://wiki.orbswarm.com/index.php?title=The_PC_Board_Page

===List of EagleCAD "gotchas"===

I promised I would post my list of "gotchas;" hope this helps avoid some irritation! [[User:Jtfoote|Jtfoote]] 23:38, 27 April 2009 (PDT)

# IF BOARD AND SCHEMATIC GET OUT OF SYNC, YOU ARE SCREWED. This can happen if updates on the schematic don't make it to the board. To avoid this, always keep board file open when editing schematic, and vice versa!  Use "rip up" instead of "delete" on the board.  DRC will tell you when you are not in sync, otherwise you won't know. Use it often, and save often.
#  Don't click on "Drop" button when adding a component. Hit "cancel." "Drop" "drops" the library (!)
# tOrigin layers must be visible to move/rotate components.
# Overlapping wires sometimes don't logically connect. Add junction (green dot) if a problem. Check by moving component and seeing if wire moves with it. 
# "Cut" (scissor icon) is really "copy to paste buffer" and only works on groups! Use "copy" for single items. In V5, use shift-right-click or menu item to copy/move groups.  
# Pay attention to messages in the status bar, they are often helpful. For example when trying to select things on top of each other, clicking will cycle through each and the status bar will tell you how to select the one you want.

===Checking Gerber file output===

You will want to check that things look OK. Use a gerber file viewer
like ViewMate (reg req) 
http://www.pentalogix.com/Download/download.html#item8

or GerbView (free, open source, a little buggy)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gerbv/

===Technotronix===
* [http://www.technotronix.us  Technotronix PCB Assembly Manufacturing]

===Synergise PCB Inc===

* [http://www.synergisepcb.com/ Synergise PCB Inc] Printed Circuit Board Fabrication, Printed Circuit Board Repair, Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Process in united states.

===PCB Fab Houses===

Where to get your printed circuit boards fabricated after you've designed them

Lady Ada has a PCB cost calculator with most sources: http://www.ladyada.net/library/pcb/costcalc.html

The following is a biased list from [[User:Jtfoote|Jtfoote]] 09:36, 5 May 2009 (PDT)
* American Circuit Technology (http://www.act-cw.com/) - Quick turn-turns with cost effective pricing. Great customer service. Provides great support articles as well.
* [http://www.goldphoenixpcb.biz/ Gold Phoenix]: cheapest, longer turn-around (sent from China), fine quality, no charge for "panelization," can submit multiple boards for one run. SparkFun uses them; so could we, if we want to combine orders. They don't have web upload; you email your gerbers to some dude, but it worked great for me. 
* [http://www.protoexpress.com Sierra Proto Express]: I found this best combination of price/turn around time for small orders and prototypes, and they're local (Sunnyvale). Silkscreen was a little smeary if that bugs you; still perfectly readable.
* [https://rushpcb.com/ RUSH PCB Inc]: RUSH PCB is a leading manufacturer and assembler of high-quality printed circuit boards (PCBs). We specialize in quick-turn PCB prototyping and production, providing our customers with the fastest turnaround times in the industry.
* [https://www.pcbtrace.com/ PCB Trace Technologies Inc]: Leading PCB Manufacturer and Assembler IN USA
* [https://www.rushpcb.co.uk/ RUSH PCB UK]: Leading PCB Manufacturer and Assembler IN UK
* [https://www.pcbrunner.com/ PCB Runner]: Leading PCB Manufacturer and Assembler IN Europe
* [https://www.seeedstudio.com/fusion_pcb.html Fusion PCB Service]: Run by Seeed Studio Electronic, a good place to order custom boards, as well as pcb assembly. The price is reasonable, only $4.9 for 10 boards up to 100mm x100mm.
* [https://www.pcbway.com/ PCBWay]: Full feature custom PCB prototype service.High quality PCBs with cheap price - $5 for 10 boards. Free shipping for assembly service.
* [https://www.pcbgogo.com/ PCBGOGO]: Online PCBA Turnkey service orders, High Quality with low cost, 5-6days delivery, 24hours online customer service,quick quote in 24hours
* [https://www.aipcba.com/ AIPCBA]: AIPCBA is a smart PCB manufacturer that provides current PCB online quotes, PCB prototype and pcb Assembly, which can be easily and conveniently completed in 3-5 days through gerbers files.
* [https://www.fpcmondo.com/ Mondo Flexible PCB Manufacturer]: Manufacturer specializing in manufacturing and assembling flexible circuit boards，[https://www.fpcmondo.com/about-company Mondo Technology], The Professional Flexible PCB Manufacturer Since 2009, With 2 FPC Manufacturing Factories.
* Advanced Circuits 4pcb.com (same as 33each.com and others) Good quality, slick marketing, more expensive than they seem (not-well-advertised setup charges and minimums). Avoid for small runs, but definitely use their free gerber file check site: http://www.freedfm.com/
* Windell at EMSL recommends ourpcb and his boards always look great. Haven't personally tried. 
One reponse to [[User:Elgreengeeto|Skory]]'s list email said:
* WellPCB (https://www.wellpcb.com/) - Online prototypes orders, to meet the requirement of High Quality, low cost, fast delivery, easy ordering from customers around the world.
<quote>
I have had good luck with both Sunstone Circuits (http://www.sunstone.com/) and Advanced Circuits (http://www.4pcb.com/).  My order sizes have been 2, 100,  and 350 boards.
</quote>
* OurPCB (https://www.ourpcb.com/) - OurPCB, your most reliable PCB and PCBA supplier.
<quote>
* Cloom (https://www.wiringo.com/) - Cloom, a reliable wire harness, and cable assemblies manufacturer.
* [https://www.andwinmcpcb.com/metal-core-pcb Andwin Circuits]: Andwin Circuits MCPCB division set up on Feb. 2006. Focus on providing metal core PCB for customers in LED and power supply niches.