Eagle + questions on routing?

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey gang...

Keeping with focus of trying to learn SoftCAD Eagle software...

I gave myself a goal of a board to 'design' using this software.

*Schematic
*PCB
*(all SMD)

I feel I have a 'decent' handle on the schematic editor....the library is a bit daunting still.. but I have edited parts & created my own custom parts and my own personal library as well

I laid out a basic/minimal Arduino circuit... with an on-board uSD socket.. (2 x vRegulators [3.3v & 5v] and a logic shifter)

named: uSDuino

not much more than that.

problem #1.)

I noticed the Atmega328 I made in my library was based off the chip the NANO uses? maybe not a TQFP 328P?

seemed to have a different pin out I noticed.. so went and updated/fixed this.. replaced symbol..re-connected all nets..etc
(only errors.. are warnings about having POWER PIN connected to 'XXX' pins..but its because I have names like GND & GND1..etc..read I can ignore these as electrically it is fine)

I was fairly confident about the schematic portion.... so I moved on to the PCB layout portion..

placed all my parts/components......

and started to route.. (both manually and after letting auto-route run).

I seem to be missing a big piece here.. LOL.. cause these 'airwires' are confusing as all 'heck'.. :wink:

so maybe can explain them a bit? and how to route correctly? or tricks you have learned in your experiences dealing with routing and airwires?

I was under the impression that you click on route tool.. click on airwire.. and start 'routing'.. (drawing a line) to where that airwire leads to?

However.. when I click on a airwire..and start drawing my line(s).. I see the airwire 'end' destination seems to jump/move to the nearest component I routing by? what the?????!!!! lol

it also seems as if the airwires do not follow what son the schematic... multiple airwires going to same component?.

and lastly.. sometimes.. when i follow an airwire to route it.. I click on the final pad (or whatever) and big white "X" displays?

doesnt seem like a connection is being made? but I am following the airwire??

I have attached schematic and one of my attempts to learn better technique for routing.

feedback appreciated..

one special (questionable) area is the 2 voltage regulators.. it seems the airewires connect everything? all pins?

thanks

uSDuino_v1.1.zip (52.9 KB)

2

However.. when I click on a airwire..and start drawing my line(s).. I see the airwire 'end' destination seems to jump/move to the nearest component I routing by? what the?????!!!! lol

This is caused by multiple pins having the same bus such as GND or 5V. In many cases you have to decide where you want your trace to go for best results. You can also branch your trace from a "trunk" so to speak.

I click on the final pad (or whatever) and big white "X" displays?

Your trace is not connected. It can be from clicking at the wrong spot when trying to make connections. Sometimes, I have removed a very small amount of trace and caused a X to show up.

I recommend downloading Sparkfun's part library and LadyAda's library. The both have many components that will make your part selection easier.

3

There's also the "Show" function; right-click the wire and select "Show" (the eyeball) and it shows the parts that are on the same net.

With layouts in general it's just experience and a lot of time to get everything laid out nicely. Just start chipping away at it and anticipate having to redo a lot of stuff. By the time you're done I can assure you you'll be intimately familiar with every pin on every chip :wink:

4

Another tip: Click the rats nest tool after making changes to components or after making a few routes. The rats nest will change and start to look more clear.

5

@cyclegadget-

(hey Im just north of you in SE Wisconsin!) LOL

  • Got it on the multiple stuff on the same BUS.. and I need to pick my branch.. (makes sense.. was a bit odd seeing it all jumbled together like that though)

I'll try and zoom and see if I am missing the pad/connection point.. but I thought I was pretty dead on.. if I missed.. there was no X.. but when I 'connected' (it seemed) the white "X" appeared.

Also, .. I do have Adafruit/Sparkfun (and MANY other) libraries installed..... its SEARCHING/FINDING the part.. or even knowing about the part to begin with to even search for.....the lib search is KAKA.... and the later half is just me being new I guess.

I did find this place/link that help s alot though:
http://sparkle.tribbeck.com/eaglesearch/pack.php

@Chargrin-

show command? hmm..thanks I'll have to check it out.. seems useful!

I hear ya about having to 're-do' things.. I have re-done MANY things so far.. (live and learn I guess) :slight_smile:

The SHOW function is a good tip though!.. thanks.

On a side note.. how does the schematic look then? Good? electrically 'sound'? any things wired up wrong?

(I'd hate to send off for some pcbs and not have a proper check done on it) :slight_smile:

thanks guys!..

6

double post: :stuck_out_tongue:

yeah the RATSNEST button confuses me all the time!!!!..

1.) I didnt know for the longest time how to get rid of it after you viewed it!!! (RIPUP tool if anyone else is wondering!) LOL

I was just told to 'do' those polygons/rectangles around you board, 1 on top layer, 1 on bottom layer... name them both GND..
and thats it.. suggestion on here.. not read. So I dont even fully understand it..

but I was 'editing' an existing schematic.. and when I move one of the (what I am calling) a GND plane via.. I always broke something.. so the polygon GND plans.. and vias and RATSNEST stuff is still a bit fuzzy!...

Im trying though! I am experimenting, and working through things...

I figured giving myself a 'real world' goal (this uSDuino board I made) will put me through real life situations and bugs/errors/problems.. and learn how to deal with them..

(been searching/googling a lot of Eagle questions!) haha

Keep 'em coming!

thanks!

7

(hey Im just north of you in SE Wisconsin!) LOL

That's cool, with this site being so worldwide it is interesting find other people that can be considered close.

The eagle component link you posted is going to come in handy for sure!

Lastly, take a look at the link to the youtube videos for eagle that I have in the bottom of my post. I am not affiliated with the guy but, I found his videos helpful for me.

8

Typically the X appears when the trace you are routing is on one side of the board and the component you want to connect to is on the other side.
You can add a via at that point to connect the sides. Place the via, size it as needed, and Name it the same as the signal so you can connect.
Or, select properties for the last section of trace and change it from top layer to bottom, or vice versa, and let eagle create the via for you.

I just downloaded eagle 6.2 last night to start checking it out. The iteadstudio.cam file seems to work okay with it, where as in 6.1 eagle would crash. Only tried a simple 1 chip schematic with a couple of headers to try it, to confirm my license could be moved forward into later versions.

I also downloaded IDE 1.0.1 last night after reading the release notes to see what had changed. Need to install maniacbug's mighty 1284 cores into it & try that too.

9

hey guys...

@cyclegadget-

yikes! I just googled 'Greenville' (I guess not so close.. as your southern/middle Ill....lol)

I right by border of Wi/Il by the lakefront.

(yeah that links is handy for sure!). saves me tons of time 'searching'..

I'll checkout the vids/links.. thanks!

@Crossroads-

the scenario you mention about the white "X" seems more in line with when its happening to me..I make a line.. I'll stop.. I'll either make a 'new' line and change the layer after (which makes auto via)...or I'll change layer (mouse wheel click) before I make the new line (which also adds the via for me)

I still havent moved on to using IDE v1.0.. its one more level of stress/trouble/frustration for a beginner like me to work out all the changes on old tutorials..and getting libraries to work..etc.. compiling...etc.. (eventually I'll get there) haha

on a side note.. did you get the email(s)? about the TSSOP14 package? I also sent a .brd file only with several different TSSOP14 'packages' I found in several libraries.. for you to choose from to update that AS5048A part..

let me know.. :wink:

anyone wanna comment on the 'schematic' portion so far? some of these are new concepts to me.. and copied/mixed from other schematics & diagrams...etc.. (level shifter).. In the end.. Im shooting for a simple Arduino compatible board.. that has the SD socket built in already. (no audio or anything)..

thanks!

10

On the schematic,

You are connecting nearly all the GND points by drawing a wire to every single place. You can use a "GND" symbol as many times as you like and simply connect wires in easy areas instead of pulling them all the way across the schematic. The same is true of 3v, 5v, etc.

All wires with the same name are automatically connected. Therefore, I can have a very short wire...name it "wire1, CS, pink, etc" and have another short wire with the same name and they will automatically connect. This is very helpful when you are using a large group of 5v, gnd, or spi wires as it will make the schematic cleaner. To do this you draw a short wire from the component and name it the same as it's corresponding connection. Next, click "show" and all wires with the same connection will appear glowing.

11

With the parts layout you have and the connector assignments made, that board has little chance of being successfully routed.
However, if you do some rearranging to get the parts closer to the pins they need to connect to, this board can be made to work.

SMDuino_SD_half-routed.brd (85.8 KB)

SMDuino_SD_half-routed.sch (467 KB)

12

holy crap!...

I played with it for about 1 hour today off and on (mostly on!) at work.. (got closer).. but was stumped in a few areas/airwires..

and here you go.. whipping it out! lol.. thanks!.. looks good!..

actually.. 'seeing' this helps visual what you mean by moving the components around.. (in my head I was only focusing on the I/O pads on the edges) (DOH!) :fearful: :blush:
:slight_smile:

lastly... what layer(s) will actually print stuff on the board?

I originally thought the tSilk and _tSilk/_bSilk layers.. are where I put 'text' that I wanted printed on the board.. (versions, names....labels..etc)..

and when sending off to the fab house (itead)... do I 'omit' layers? such as the tName/tValue? (as they are HUGE looking in the PCB and wold be cluttered if printed like that.)

basically some discussion on where you guys put things? what layers you use?.. and any tips? I suppose it would be nice to keep it separate from other layers.. like the tName..so I can only use that 'silkscreen' (custom text stuff) to keep the board cleaner..

Thanks

13

itead prints names that are 25tnames and 26bnames.
Their .cam file may put stuff from other layers on the top/bottom printed layers too.
Try it, see what happens.
Use viewplot.com to see what the finished layers look like after you create the gerbers.

14

yeah thats what i thought from the first itead board I got.. I noticed that bNames was prined on the bottom.. (no bSilk used in the project,..etc)

it seems that tNames/bNames is tied into each component though..

so Id have to either have C1, ----, C11 on the top of the board.... (or go back and edit each component I used in its library, update all the names/value to have smaller text..so it wont just be a bunch of garbage on the top of the board)...

ie: Im looking for a way to only put 'certain' things...'certain' places.. withouth being foreced to use the default stuff put on tNames/bNames layer.. (if that makes sense?)

example.. I want to label my I/O pads.. on the bottom (or top)..wherever... but if I have to use the tNames / bNames layers to add this.. that other stuff will show up too.

I'll run .cam and use the online viewer to see what is being sent/merged/generated..

thanks!

15

"Smash" each part, can select the names individually and resize, move around, delete if don't want to use, etc.
Same with adding labels.
Click on Wire in the left menu, then select the "bnames" for a layer.
Now when you add Text (T), those will show up on the bottom layer.

16

SMASH!..

thats what I have been looking for..

what other side effects will it have?

it just allows the names/values to be edited/altered on each part? does it do anything else to the part itself?? (layers)

also. when I am done 'sizing' the name/value of a component....and position it where I like.. it is still 'part' of the component? if I move the component around.. will the name/value move/be associated with it?

Thanks

edit: just tried the smash command.. LOVE IT!.. it keeps/treats the names/values sorta like net names or labels..etc..

PERFECT!..

these tips are great..

thanks

17

When you're running the CAM processor and after you've loaded the job, you can tweak where names/values/etc. are printed (bottom or top). Just select the Silk Bottom or Silk Top tab and select the layers to include.

18

ok..

so I have generated my GERBER files.. (I hope)..

OPEN CAM panel..

loaded the iTeadStudio.cam file.. (first tab)

I did nothing else but click 'process job'..

it finished.. I look in directory I have a bunch of new GERBER files generated :wink:

** my question/concern is understanding more about the process of what needs to be sent to iTeadStudio? (everything?)

** Do I attempt to edit the 'gerber' file in some sort of editor? (all the free viewers seem to not allow editing without expensive license)

** Or do I go into the .brd file.. and use the SMASH tool on every component.. and edit/alter the names/values to be places and sized (or removed all together).. before generating my GERBERS??

thanks

19

SMASH before creating gerbers.
The names & values remain attached to the parts.
If you delete one by accident, or can't find where it ended up on the board, Unsmash to get it back & then Smash again.

Do not edit the gerbers.
Edit your .brd file before creating the gerbers. Can right click each name, change its properties: size, font, etc.
Send itead all but the .sch and .brd.

20

perfect.. thanks

thats how Ive been doing it so far....

Can I 'omit' a layer all together?

example.. I was thinking of omitting the tNames layer..so it doesnt print all the C1,.....C11 all over the place..

however.. I copied the S +/- and P+/- 'text' to the tSilk.. (not _tSilk.. I dont even know the difference though..just wanted to copy it off of tNames layer.. so I could turn that off completely..but still have some text on top...

'or'..

do you recommend I go back and 'SMASH' everything.. delete those tNames I dont want.. (which is like 90% of them)..

thanks..

sidenote: sent ya email Crossroads.. :wink: