Beginning Eagle Layout question

[Tom Harper]

I have just started with Eagle Light and have placed the ICs on the schematic. Now how do I place a capacitor or resistor symbol on the schematic? I just want a symbol and can't find any in the 'ADD' library.

[hargard]

Ime no expert but here goes
Click on edit menu at the top of the screen and select "Add". then select what it is you want to add
or click the icon in the panel on the left the icon is tabed. "Add". And then select what it is you want to add

This leads you to the Library.
Regards Hargard

[mem]

Here are some links to some tutorials that helped me get started.

I found eagle to be completely unintuitive at first with almost nothing working they way I though it should. But it does work very well once you understand how to drive it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/EXU9BO166NEQHO8XFU/

http://www.instructables.com/id/EZ3WN1QUKYES9J5X48/

http://vulcan.ece.ucsb.edu/ece189/tutorials.html

[Malc C]

To add a component you need to click on the + next to LIBRARY in the control panel. Then scroll down to the RCL section and click on the + next to it to expand the tree further. Its worth noting that you should maximize the window at this time. - select the general description for the component (such as C-EU for europe style capacitors) then select the value and size from the list in the right hand window by clicking on the add option

[Tom Harper]

Thanks for the responses. It looks great but I've got to get jump started. I will use the tutorial.

Malc,

I fololowed your instructions, RLC makes sense. I expanded the tree and clicked on C. That gave me the standard symbol for a cap. I clicked on 'Drop' which did nothing - except now RCL is no longer in the menu.

Don't think 'Drop' was the right move.

[Malc C]

No drop simply discards your selection. All you do once you have clicked on the add option is to hover over the schematic and left click to add the symbol to the drawing. You can carry on left clicking to add more (C2 , C3 etc) or hit ESC and drop the selection after placing just one time. If you then want more you can copy a component within the schematic layout using the copy button and selecting the component.

Eagle takes a bit of getting used to, but its really easy once you grasp the basics. The librarys are quite extensive, but generally, for hobby use you only end up using four or five library's (RCU, LED, Header, IC etc)

[Malc C]

Oh and one thing you need to do before you make a board from a layout is to check that all the connections are correct. I normally select the component and then move it slightly. If any of the "wire" connections didn't actually connect to the component it won't move when you drag the component around. I find that if you move the component close to the wire and hit F5 to refresh the drawing it makes the link. You can use the ERC to check for errors too, but I find it better to do a manual check as described.

[dleroi]

I have just started with Eagle Light and have placed the ICs on the schematic. Now how do I place a capacitor or resistor symbol on the schematic? I just want a symbol and can't find any in the 'ADD' library.

Tom,

It isn't as robust, but ExpressPCB is intuitive to use. If you're in a hurry, you might want to give it a try:

http://www.expresspcb.com

Used to be that they made it difficult for people to roll their own boards by printing the ruler with the layout, but they've done away with that in this version.

- Don

[mem]

Eagle takes a bit of getting used to, but its really easy once you grasp the basics. Powerful and useful yes, but don’t expect anything you want to do the first time to be easy. I thought it was like one of those old adventure games where there was treasure to be found if you followed the vague and sometimes cryptic clues (the Eagle documentation) and try all variations of ways of doing something till finally it does what you want. :)

[Malc C]

Mem

I agree, and remember how I struggled with Eagle when first started using it. But now its fairly easy to knock up a small board. What i do find a pain is the routing of the tracks in the board program. Often I find it easier to manual route the tracks, or at least let it auto-route as far as it can and then tidy it up !

I must take a new look at PCB Express. When it first came out you couldn't do much with it as the intention was that you had to send the final result to them for board making. If they have changed this policy then that might be worth having a dabble with.

Also there are lots of other PCB drafting applications, some good, some crap and just as hard to get to grips with.

[Tom Harper]

Thanks guys - It's starting to make sense. Really nice once you get rolling!

Tom

[john whitehead]

[QUOTE=Malc C]Mem

I agree, and remember how I struggled with Eagle when first started using it.>>>

Eagle looks good, but oh what a steeeeeep learning curve after using EasyPC MSdos for 17 years. (It still runs even on XP) However I also downloaded EXPRESS PCB in the hope it would be easier to learn. :rolleyes: It is quite the most amazingly simple programme to use. :) :) It's similar to EasyPC in some respects but really easy to use. It took me just an hour or so to get into it, whilst Eagle left me scratching my head in disbelief.....it's very complex by comparison. I'm not knocking Eagle.....I'm sure it's a fine programme, but if you want something much easier, go for Express.

Express will print out onto OHP inkjet film to make the pcb mask, I had my first couple of boards etching in a matter of hours after first using it. :D There is no problem having a "grid" on the printout, just the layout you created, with top silk or without.

Eagle supports a massive component library to its full credit, Express is limited. The good news is, it's quite easy to make your own "new parts" whenever you need them.

OK you guessed.......I'm sold on EXPRESSpcb, and if you don't have too much time to dedicate to learning Eagle, this is definately the pcb programme to use. WAIT... :eek: it gets better, :D I had a small query and emailed the support team, I had a reply from a lady in a matter of hours.......quicker than an Express train.

John. West Midlands. UK

[dleroi]

Eagle supports a massive component library to its full credit, Express is limited. The good news is, it's quite easy to make your own "new parts" whenever you need them.

John. West Midlands. UK

Most of us are laying out pretty simple boards using only a handfull of components, anyway.

I have and use both, but for a quick single-sided board, I fire up ExpressPCB every time.

[Malc C]

Well I've just downloaded Express PCB, and whilst I was pleased to see a lot of ICs and PICs listed in the component library, its really thin on the ground when it comes to connectors. I couldn't find any USB sockets, and there is no additional library's on their website to download.

Sorry guys, I'll stick with eagle

[LukeZ]

The other factor with ExpressPCB is that it doesn't output industry-standard gerber files. In other words, unless you're going to etch your own boards, which is fine for some stuff, then you have to use ExpressPCB's board service. For the hobbyist who just needs a few boards, there are other board houses with much, much cheaper service (SparkFun is what I've used). But, these other houses will only accept files in standard format. Hence, Eagle.

Not saying ExpressPCB doesn't have its place. But if you're going to move up to something more complicated in the long run, might as well battle the Eagle beast now and get it over with... It's truly not that bad after the first couple nightmare-ish days (or nights :rolleyes: )


Luke