Resources for EAGLE PCB Design Software

This page has some information and resources that you may find useful when working with EAGLE PCB design software.

This EAGLE Reference is a summary of the commands in the Schematic, Board, and Library modules. It also has a few tips.

Design Rule (DRU) files:

• 8 mil — Allows spacing as close as 8 mil. This is the file I usually use for the DRC (Design Rule Check).
• 8 mil with cream adjustment for laser-cutting solder stencils — Click the "Apply" button after loading this to adjust the cream layers to account for laser kerf.
• 10 mil — Allows spacing as close as 10 mil.

It is a good idea to make sure that the Gerber files generated look right, especially when stacked together. I use GC-Prevue (freeware) on Windows.

The stencil CAM file generates EPS files that can be used to produce laser-cut stencils. It creates files for both top and bottom surfaces. Note that the bottom (solder-side) file here is produced mirrored. This is unlike the solder-side layers in the board CAM file, which are not mirrored. For stencils, I wanted the image to match what I'd see looking at the bottom of the board.

I have had solder stencils laser-cut from 3 mil mylar (that I supplied) at Metrix Create:Space. The settings they used: raster, uni-directional, 20% power, speed 400, resolution 0.064mm (400 ppi).

More recently, I've used a cutting plotter to cut stencils at home.

Tips

Wait for board layout to make MCU pin assignments when a specific pin isn't required. Deferring this decision enables you to choose a pin that's near the component and minimizes trace length or crossing traces.

Remember to include a programming header.

Don't forget to consider mounting holes.

If you won't have a silkscreen, you can add orientation marks in the copper layer.

On the schematic, connections can be made via naming instead of physical wire connections.