Version of Eagle for end users?

[jafoca]

Hey,

I am thinking about having some PCBs manufactured, and am looking at the options for layout creation.

Eagle seems to be by far the most popular one used by hobbyists, but what version are people using? Do you use a paid version or free? How much does it cost?

[Tomapowa]

Shareware version (5.6.0):
http://www.cadsoft.de/freeware.htm

Or buy the full version (many options):
http://www.cadsoft.de/prices.htm

I occasionally use Eagle 4.16r2 for more complex boards, but tend to use ExpressPCB (www.expresspcb.com) for schematic/layout and then etch my own prototypes...

[tune by tito]

You can use Dip-Trace (http://www.diptrace.com/)very easy to use compere to Eagle, learning curve is very small, also have a complete Tutorial (http://www.diptrace.com/books/tutorial.pdf) and you can import all the Eagle 4.16 Library to Dip-Trace, very easy to create new parts. However is not better than Eagle 4 or 5(more complex, now they have a Tutorial for version#5), also the library from Eagle 5 do not work with Dip-Trace-1.4 I do not Know if they work with Dip-Trace-1.5, However I'm very happy with the result I'm getting from Dip-Trace. I did try Eagle many time but I can't get it, may be my 1% of my brain is only working 0.0001% or I'm retarded, who Know???????
Best Regards Tito
Note: check my blog to see what you can do with Dip-Trace

[jeffs555]

You might want to try KiCad. http://iut-tice.ujf-grenoble.fr/kicad/

It is totally free and open source with both windows and Linux versions. There is also a very active user group on yahoo. The user interface seems much more intuitive to me than Eagle. It doesn't have auto-routing built in, but does interface to external open source routers. For my two cents, I think a good user interface is more important than auto-routing.

PS Whatever layout software you use, it is a good idea to get one of the free Gerber viewers and check out the Gerber files before you send them off. I usually use GC preview. http://www.mitsi.com/pcb/free%20viewers.htm

[jafoca]

I need to use something that will produce Eagle/Gerber compatible files - so if the free version of Eagle is good enough, then I am happy to use it - not looking forwards to the learning curve, but I have experience with CAD so hopefully it won't be too bad.

[Alison F]

Eagle 4 here.

I ended up buying the student/standard version which does layers and larger boards. When I have had PCBs made I just send off the Eagle project itself, and they do the rest.

Otherwise I print onto top and bottom transparencies, one cut shorter than the other, lined up and stuck together. The board goes inside the two images (top and bottom) and goes in the double sided UV box.

Eagle I've found to be the most 'standard' out of the small packages. The AutoRouter I think is a bit hit and miss. The pour/fill is good for the ground plane.

[pldaniels]

I've purchased Eagle (5.6+ now), for $49 USD it's a cheap way of getting into doing commercial board production. Sure, you're limited to a moderately small board and only 2 layers but it's everything you need for most R/C gear.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, just take a few hours out to learn how to make your own library of parts, that one aspect is highly important.

Paul.

[pldaniels]

Also, I forgot to mention, what really won me over is that it runs in linux, along with the latest version of gerbv, you're all set (v2.2.0). I even use eagle to do my SMD solder paste stencils now (though I push them through a few pipelines before they get to my stencil cutter).

Paul.

[tune by tito]

pldaniels what you use for you stencil cutter????, can you post some pic's ,can you tell us More.
Best Regards Tito

[Tomapowa]

pldaniels what you use for you stencil cutter????, can you post some pic's ,can you tell us More.
Best Regards Tito

Here's a few of his pics... I'm sure he can tell you more about the process...
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=616909&page=21

From a pretty good DIY PCB thread that starts here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=616909

I've even acquired a decent stencil cutter months again... still sitting in the box waiting for me to eventually get around to it...

[jafoca]

I have downloaded the free version of eagle - looks like it will be ALL that I need for the time being!

Very confusing in fact, but i have not had time to read any of the tutorials yet...

[Tomapowa]

I have downloaded the free version of eagle - looks like it will be ALL that I need for the time being!

Very confusing in fact, but i have not had time to read any of the tutorials yet...

westfw also has a few great Eagle PCB tutorials/instructables up on the web definitely worth looking at:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Draw-Electronic-Schematics-with-CadSoft-EAGLE/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Turn-your-EAGLE-schematic-into-a-PCB/

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-custom-library-part-in-Eagle-CAD-too/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-hobbyist-PCBs-with-professional-CAD-tools-by-/

[jafoca]

I would also add that Eagle's support for Mac OSX is quite pleasing...

I am not a "mac guy" or a otherwise, but I like having options. I use a mac for my job (web development) because it is the best tool, I use a PC for gaming and normal office work, because its the best tool...

[pldaniels]

pldaniels what you use for you stencil cutter????, can you post some pic's ,can you tell us More.
Best Regards Tito

I'm using a cheap Vinyl cutter with a 45' cutting bit, nothing at all 'exotic'. There are however quite a few important things you have to do in order to get a good stencil result.

* Use 75um mylar or protective sheet plastic (I get my stuff from a supplier that specialises in document protection)

* Use adhesive/release tape on the bottom, this gives us a bit more stability during the cutting process as well as keeping the blade from having to go through to the bottom.

* Perform 3~4 passes of each polygon, then move to the next polygon, this is the real trick, it keeps everything 'tight' and the 3~4 passes lets you cut through the sheet without needing excessive pressure (I use about 140g).

* Keep the speed low, 25mm/sec is more than enough.

A lot of the critical work is done by the software filters I've written.

* hpgl-dxf: Converts HPGL output from Eagle to DXF, which I then edit in QCAD to remove unwanted pads and change others (eg, change TQFP to 4-perimeter strips, rather than 32~64 small pads)

* dxf-hpgl: Converts DXF CAD files back into DXF and at this point lets me do the 3~4 passes per polygon conversion

* hpgl-distiller: Originally this was to remove spurilous HPGL commands that seemed to upset the cheaper cutters, however now I mostly use it to slow down the command sequence to the cutter, I make it only produce about 4 commands/sec, while it means things can take a long time to cut it does also mean that the cutter doesn't suffer overshoots and the blade gets a chance to turn/settle.

It seems like a lot of work but a lot of it is now scripted.

Paul.

[pldaniels]

Oh yes, very important, by default the Eagle HPGL definition uses 1016dpi, where's most cutters use 1000dpi, it's not a lot of difference but you really do notice it when you're cutting out a stencil over 1x1"... all of a sudden things don't "quite" fit. You have been warned ;)

(you can change it in ./eagle/bin/eagle.def )


[HPGL]
233
234 Type = PenPlotter
235 Long = "HP-GL plotter"
236 Init = "IN; IP 0,0,100,100; SC 0,100,0,100;\n"
237 Reset = "PU; SP 0; PA 0,0;\n"
238 Width = 16
239 Height = 11
240 ResX = 1000
241 ResY = 1000
242 PenSelect = "SP %u;\n" ;; Pens numbered 1..n
243 PenSpeed = "VS %1.0f;\n"
244 PenUp = "PU;\n"
245 PenDown = "PD;\n"
246 Move = "PA %d,%d;\n"
247 Draw = "PA %d,%d;\n"
248 PenCircleCxCyRxRy = "AA %d,%d,360;\n" ; (assumes CP is left?!)
249 PenArcCxCyAd = "AA %d,%d,%1.2f;\n" ; (assumes CP is at start of arc)

[jafoca]

This is probably a stupid question... but what are the specific specifications for servo connectors? In eagle you have to first find the part you need in the library, but how do I find something like the servo header without knowing what part it is etc?

Thanks for any help...

[pldaniels]

Jafoca,

Just load up the "pin headers" library of parts, it should be a 1x3 0.1" pitch part.

Paul.