Post by thread:[ot]: eagle board editor question

Using the hobby freeware version gives you a board of 100 by 80 mm Why is the corner of the outline of the board not exactly on the zero - zero crosshair? Does this matter? I see how you change this outline using the wire command in the dimension layer. But I'm asking the question because I wonder if it matters to a board house?? So far I've only used pcb express, and they have their own little board editor And I want to use this eagle project generator with another board house next time. So I'm asking about the crosshair thing, but I'd also like to know what a board house needs from you to make a board, what do you send them?? Thanks -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

Hello Rad0, > Using the hobby freeware version gives you a board of > 100 by 80 mm ok. > Why is the corner of the outline of the board not exactly on > the zero - zero crosshair? Don't have an idea. > Does this matter? no. > I see how you change this outline using the wire command > in the dimension layer. Yes, simply delete and create a new rectangle on the dimension layer. > But I'm asking the question because I wonder if it matters to > a board house?? No, doesn't matters. > So far I've only used pcb express, and they have their own little board > editor > > And I want to use this eagle project generator with another board house > next time. Ok, no problemo. > So I'm asking about the crosshair thing, but I'd also like to know > what a board house needs from you to make a board, what > do you send them?? it depends on the board house. The board house I ever deal (Digicart, on Brazil's south) initially asked for Tango or Gerber files. So I've sent a freeware copy of Eagle and tell then how to use it. Now I only send the Eagle's .BRD file. Best regards, Brusque ----------------------------------- Edson Brusque Research and Development C.I.Tronics Lighting Designers Ltda Blumenau - SC - Brazil http://www.citronics.com.br Say NO to HTML mail ----------------------------------- -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> > So I'm asking about the crosshair thing, but I'd also like to know > > what a board house needs from you to make a board, what > > do you send them?? > > it depends on the board house. The board house I ever deal (Digicart, on > Brazil's south) initially asked for Tango or Gerber files. So I've sent a > freeware copy of Eagle and tell then how to use it. Now I only send the > Eagle's .BRD file. > > Best regards, > > Brusque > > ----------------------------------- OK, so just find out what the board house wants and give it to them, fine. If you're still around, how does a gerber file orient itself? I mean, if you have made a board in eagle somewhere off the origin, then produced a gerber file for your board, what's the gist of how a gerber file orients all the parts together on the board?? Thanks again. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Hello rad0, > If you're still around, how does a gerber file orient itself? I mean, if > you > have made a board in eagle somewhere off the origin, then produced a > gerber file for your board, > what's the gist of how a gerber file orients all the parts together on the > board?? please, download ViewMate (http://www.lavenir.com) it's a free Gerber file viewer and will thought some things. Also, it's very usefull when you're trying to make gerber output files with Eagle. Best regards, Brusque ----------------------------------- Edson Brusque Research and Development C.I.Tronics Lighting Designers Ltda Blumenau - SC - Brazil http://www.citronics.com.br Say NO to HTML mail ----------------------------------- -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> > Why is the corner of the outline of the board not exactly on > the zero - zero crosshair? > > Does this matter? > > So I'm asking about the crosshair thing, but I'd also like to know > what a board house needs from you to make a board, what > do you send them?? > > Thanks > Talk to the board house(s) before you start on the board if possible. Most will be glad to send you a list of their requirements and capabilities. Most probably won't care too much where the 0,0 point is as long as it is plainly visible on the gerbers/mechanical drawings. It can save a lot of work (time & money) if you know the details in advance. Rick -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Hello David P., > How do you use this. I can't even figure out how to do the CAM processing. > Can you outline the steps you take. For example, which output device do I use - > my guess: Gerber_auto_23. it's a bit dificult but after you have it done it right once it appears to be more logical. Are you using Eagle4.08r2? I think 3.55 does the same way, but can't remember the details. Anyway, I hardly have to deal with the CAM processor, because the board house does all these work for me. First, open the CAM Processor. You can do this choosing CAM Processor from the file menu of schematics or board. Then, file\open\job\ and choose one of the predefined job files. To a quick start, choose one of the "ger???.cam". You'll see various tabs on the top of the window workspace. Each tab is a file that will be generated, like one .cmp file for the component side solder mask (with top, pads and vias layers), one .plc file for the silk screen mask (with dimension, tplace, tnames and tvalues layers) etc. In the bottom of the workspace you have buttoms to add and delete files. You can do as many as you want. You can have top (component side) solder mask, bottom solder mask, top silk, bottom silk, top stop mask, bottom stop mask etc. For each tab (section), you can give section name (description), user prompt (something it will ask to continue), offsets (live at 0), file extension (the defaults are ok) etc. You have an option where you tell each section the device that will be used (file output format). On the "Style" checkbox group you have various options for making the file "upside-down", "mirrored" etc. Live the "optimize" and the "pos.coord" checked. The defaults are usually ok. The drill file is a bit more complex. You have to create a drill rack file. It's like a file where the size of the drills disponible at the PCB plant. A file can contain something like: T01 0.012in T02 0.024in T03 0.032in T04 0.036in T05 0.040in T06 0.044in T07 0.080in T08 0.125in You can generate this file for your board using the "drillcfg.ulp" user language program. Run it from the Board application. If you don't have many drills disponible at the same time on the plant, you can reduce the number of hole sizes editing the ???.drl file prior to generating your gerber output: T01 0.012in T02 0.024in T03 0.036in T04 0.036in T05 0.044in T06 0.044in T07 0.080in T08 0.125in But then you'll have to play with the tolerance values. Hope this got you started. If not, ask. :) Best regards, Brusque ----------------------------------- Edson Brusque Research and Development C.I.Tronics Lighting Designers Ltda Blumenau - SC - Brazil http://www.citronics.com.br Say NO to HTML mail ----------------------------------- -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.