Eagle PCB design layout tools

Eagle PCB design layout tools
13.Eagle PCB
EAGLE features
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EAGLE schematic editor software
Easy-to-use schematic editor
Transform your ideas into reality with schematic capture. (video: 21 sec.)
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PCB layout and routing tools
Powerful PCB layout
Bring your design to life with intuitive PCB layout tools.
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Ready-to-use PCB design software component libraries
Accessible library content
Skip the busywork and get creative, with ready-to-use part libraries.
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What's new
Routing engine
Speed through complex board layouts with modern PCB routing tools.
Modular design blocks
Quickly reuse subcircuits that remain synchronized between schematic and PCB.
BGA fanout
Escape your ball grid arrays (BGA) in seconds, not hours.

How to Install and Setup EAGLE
CONTRIBUTORS: JIMB0
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Introduction
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the backbone of every electronic gizmo out there. They’re not flashy like those microprocessors, or abundant like resistors, but they’re essential to making all components in a circuit connect together just right.
We LOVE designing PCBs here at SparkFun. It’s a love that we want to spread. It’s a skill that benefits electronics enthusiasts of every caliber. Through this and a series of tutorials, we’ll explain how to design a PCB using EAGLE – the same software we use to design all of our PCBs.
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This first tutorial goes over how to install the software, and tailor-fit its interface and support files.
Why EAGLE?
EAGLE is one of many PCB CAD softwares out there. So you might ask: “What makes EAGLE so special?” We’re fond of EAGLE for a few reasons in particular:
Cross-platform – EAGLE can run on anything: Windows, Mac, even Linux. This is a feature not too many other PCB design softwares can boast. Lightweight – EAGLE is about as svelte as PCB design software gets. It requires anywhere from 50-200MB of disk space (compared to the 10+GB more advanced tools might require). The installer is about 25MB. So you can go from download to install to making a PCB in minutes. Free/Low-Cost – The freeware version of EAGLE provides enough utility to design almost any PCB in the SparkFun catalog. An upgrade to the next license tier (if you want to make a profit off your design) costs at least two orders of magnitude less than most high-end tools. Community support – For those reasons, and others, EAGLE has become one of the go-to tools for PCB design in the hobbyist community. Whether you want to study the design of an Arduino board or import a popular sensor into your design, somebody has probably already made it in EAGLE and shared it.
Of course, EAGLE has its drawbacks too. More powerful PCB design tools out there might have a better autorouter, or nifty tools like simulators, programmers, and 3D viewers. For us though, EAGLE has everything we need to design simple-to-intermediate PCBs. It’s an excellent place to start if you’ve never designed a PCB before.
Recommended Reading
Here are a few tutorial and concepts you may want to familiarize yourself with before dropping down into this rabbit hole: PCB Basics
How to Read a Schematic?
Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law
The new Autodesk EAGLE has arrived, and there's a ton of new features that every engineer will love. Check out the brand new routing engine, time saving BGA fanout, and easy design reuse in this demo.
MATCH YOUR ENGINEERING NEEDS WITH YOUR BUDGET
New Subscription model: EAGLE will now be available as a simple monthly or yearly subscription in two versions; standard or premium. The possibilities this holds for the future of EAGLE are very exciting, including:
• Consistently free updates: With an EAGLEs Subscription, you get new updates and features for free, no questions asked.
Multi-Sheet Schematics
Keep even the most complex projects under control and organized with synced connectivity between multiple schematics.
Electrical Rule Check (ERC)
Verify correct pin names and connections in seconds on your schematic with fully customizable net classes.
Dynamic Design Sync
Make tweaks to your design without any worries, with changes synced between your schematic and PCB layout.
PCB LAYOUT FEATURES
Assembly Variants
Satisfy the needs of all your customer's with simple management and swapping of design variations.
High-Speed Technologies
Stay on top of the newest technologies like DDR4, PCI Express, and USB-C with the latest high speed routing tools.
Design Rule Check (DRC)
Keep in check with your manufacturing guidelines without interrupting your design process with customizable rules.
LIBRARY FEATURES
CadSoft EAGLE PCB Design Software
Overview
CadSoft EAGLE design software is an affordable, easy to use yet powerful tool for designing printed circuit boards. The name EAGLE is an acronym which stands for Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor. This award winning software offers user friendly powerful and affordable solutions for PCB design, including Schematic Capture, Board Layout and Autorouter.
It runs on Linux, Mac and Windows and allows feature enhancement, such as simulation, data import and export and self defined commands, through User Language Programs (ULP’s) which are integrated into the tool. EAGLE offers DesignLink, an automated connection to the database from Premier Farnell to search and find parts from within the EAGLE design environment without ever having to leave it. The innovative PCB services interface integrated in EAGLE enables users to receive quotes and order their prototypes from high quality manufacturers on mouse click.
Get the latest version of EAGLE
EAGLE Standard License EAGLE Professional License
North America & Canada
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Europe & APAC
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The line between 'Technology Tinkerer' and 'Early-Stage Startup' is faded and gray. Both are driven by passion, both are tight on cash, and both are run by people with a clear view of the bigger picture looking for tools that can easily get the job done. It's no wonder that the toolsets enjoyed by one would be incorporated by the other.
CadSoft EAGLE is a prime example of a tool that works perfectly for startups. First, the capabilities of the tool are expansive, and far beyond what a casual user would ever need. There's a schematic editor, layout editor with an integrated Gerber Tool, and autorouter, which are all straightforward and simple to use. It also runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac, which for some reason isn't as common as one might think in CAD programs.
As can be strangely glamorized, many early startups' initial funding comes from a conversation with the husband/wife. This can lead to a less-than-impressive expense account for someone trying to explore an idea. EAGLE comes to the rescue with a free license for hobbyists that limits the PCB to two layers, 100x80mm, and 1 schematic sheet. Thanks to the gray area between a hobbyist and someone trying to start a company, it would be easy to rationalize the first couple prototypes as hobby projects and then look to the commercial licenses when it's time to get serious about making money. Buying the license is also cheap and simple – with the commercial license of the free version costing $69, and the 'fully loaded' version (with autorouter) priced at $1640. Even better, everything can be bought online in minutes instead of having to call a supplier.
Once a user starts working in EAGLE, more time saving features become quickly apparent. No CAD program is 'easy' to learn, but the simple layout and menu structure of EAGLE makes getting off the ground quick, if not painless. When the inevitable problem does crop up, the user base is known for fostering a remarkable support community on the forums. These discussions are visited often by EAGLE experts and Cadsoft staff, making for many excellent responses. Another hassle for startups trying to get a quick board out is creating schematic symbols and footprints in EAGLE from scratch. Element14 has a library of EAGLE parts ready for download, saving a ton of time for a new user. For parts that are not already created, learning to make them is easy thanks to Sparkfun's step-by-step tutorial. Once the company buys any license, there is free tech support offered by phone which can be handy when in a crunch trying to meet a board house's submission deadline.
3D Component Models
Don't take any chances on having your board fit its enclosure with accurate 3D component models.
Complete Parts
Get everything you need for your parts in one location including symbols, footprints, 3D models, datasheets, and more.
Dynamic Part Data
Stay on top of any last-minute changes to your part availability with a direct link to manufacturer inventories.
• Better support: Dedicated support through Autodesk
• Budget friendly: Monthly or Yearly pricing.
Easier PCB Design: Eagle CAD Tips and Tricks
May 09, 2016 by Yahya Tawil

Most hobbyists and many professionals use Eagle CAD as a daily tool in designing schematics and laying out PCB. I’m going to share with you the most important tips and tricks for using Eagle CAD, which make my work much easier and faster.
Tip #1: Keep One Hand on the Keyboard, One on the Mouse
I see a lot of friends and colleagues use the mouse as their main tool for routing and selecting tools in the sidebar, but it’s much easier and faster to use the command line whenever you can.
By using your keyboard, you will omit the time you spend searching for the desired icon and moving mouse pointer back and forth.
My advice is to keep one hand on the mouse to do wiring, etc. inside the editor workspace and use the other hand on the keyboard to write commands and select tools. My advice of using the keyboard is not only for selecting tools. You will see the other benefits of using the keyboard in Eagle CAD in the rest of this series.
It can be difficult to remember the spelling and the name of every tool. The good news that the command line only needs the smallest accepted spelling to select the tool for you, so you don’t have to write down the complete word.
Command Line
The table below shows the most-used tools and their corresponding shortest commands. To avoid duplication, the common tools between the schematic and board will not be listed twice:
The eagle cad tool is a great thing. It does have something that I see as a draw back. That is that you need to pick a package for your part while you are still working on the schematic phase of a project. I assume Cadsoft, the makers of eagle, have their reasons. Although eagle comes with an extensive part library, some times the part you want is not in the package you want, and other times neither the package or part you want is in their libraries. In these cases you are you are left with two choices. First, pick a similar part that already exists. Second, make your own part. This instructable will focus on the later option.
Step 1: Start the Eagle Control Panel
The Ultimate PCB Design Software Comparison Guide
Comparing the Top 5 PCB CAD Programs

PCB design: you need a CAD program for your project, but which is best?
There are already tons of articles like this available - and they’ll all bore you to death with the same mundane details (with the exception of a select few).
Our ultimate PCB design software comparison guide will crush all those articles.
Here’s why:
We’re going to run through a step-by-step tutorial of the same design to show how each critical feature grades out in the top PCB programs available.
Our unique guide begins by diving into a comprehensive comparison of the top 5 PCB design tools. And our tutorial will compare the best 3 (in our humble opinions).
Jump to a section:
Introduction & Grading Criteria Simple Comparison Table
Software Overviews
Diptrace
Jump to DipTrace overview Eagle CAD Jump to Eagle CAD overview Orcad Jump to OrCAD overview PADS Jump to PADS overview Altium Jump to Altium overview
Step-by-step Tutorials
Eagle CAD TUTORIAL PADS TUTORIAL Altium TUTORIAL

CONCLUSION
Introduction to PCB Design Software
There are several programs available that range from simple and intuitive to highly sophisticated.
They range from free or inexpensive to high-end/premium.
They come feature-less or feature-heavy.
All of the tools are different and unique in their own way. Ultimately, your needs and preferences should drive what CAD program you use. This guide is structured to help you decide which is optimal or explore alternatives.
Grading Criteria
It’s important to establish the criteria we’re using - which is, inevitably, subjective.
We also have biases for software that we’re extremely comfortable with compared to programs that we have had very little work with.
We really like this excerpt from Mathieu Stephan’s (AKA limpkin)excellent Altium vs. Cadence article to encompass our primary grading criteria:
“A PCB routing software should be easy to use...To define that subjective criteria, I'd like to propose here a simple 'easiness measurement metric' defined as number of clicks + number of keystrokes + mouse moving distance to perform a given function. Why? Well because a good portion of the time you spend routing your PCB (time is money) is the time taken to perform simple actions. When you have to click 5 times, move the mouse 5cm to the right and 4cm to the left to do a simple thing, and you have to do this simple thing one hundred times on your PCB... it can get pretty long and frustrating.”
In addition to Mr. Stephan’s easiness metric, the software should be a standard and widely used platform in the industry. This is important for team collaboration when the engineer’s skills are scaled to larger, wide-spread applications.
Finally, we consider the various feature sets and which programs are better for which applications. You’ll find that most programs have all the features you’re looking for, so the ease-of-use factor is most strongly considered.

Keep in mind that everyone will have a different preference so our opinions may not align with your needs and ultimate favorite.
Other Articles & The San Francisco Circuits Advantage
Whichever PCB design software you select, reference our PCB School for additional electronic design tips:
Electronic Interconnect Design Considerations - PART ONE
Optimizing PCB Interconnects through Trusted Design Principles
Electronic Interconnect Considerations – PART TWO
Component Selection, Testing Protocol & Common Errors
And, when your design is ready for a prototype or production run, get in touch with us at San Francisco Circuits to bridge your concept with reality.
San Francisco Circuits
Successfully taking a complex PCB design from layout to PCB assembly is the core value that comes from partnering with San Francisco Circuits for your next project - from flex PCB to bare circuit boards, we are your one-stop shop for advanced printed circuit technologies.
Start the Eagle Control Panel
That step should be self explanatory.
In linux type eagle from the command line.
In windows double click on the eagle icon.
Or start->programs->eagle layout editor (version) -> eagle

Your screen should look something like this now.
OSH Park Eagle scripts
Autodesk EAGLE PCB Software
Autodesk’s EAGLE PCB Design Software makes PCB prototyping easy and straightforward.
Up to 999 circuit diagrams, 16 layers, unlimited PCB area
Free tech support
Free access to libraries
Free ULP scripts to modify EAGLE software
Windows (64-bit), Mac and Linux compatibility
Autodesk offers different packages of their PCB Design Software, such as EAGLE Standard and EAGLE Premium. Undergrads, teachers,
instructors and accredited educational institutions can download a free version of EAGLE.
These scripts are to help Eagle users get orders in just a tad bit faster, and help keep your Eagle files a bit more up to date.
This script will perform the following:
Add a menu button to enable easy PCB ordering right from inside Eagle.
Update your OSH Park CAM, DRU, and ULP files.
Manage version-specific differences for CAM or DRC files.
In the future, we'll be adding improvements to the script to hopefully add better integration and cool new feautures.
Installation (easy mode)
The simplest way is to run our installer script. This consists of a few short steps, and we'll figure out the file paths to copy things over.
Download all the files here.
Open Eagle.
Open or create a BRD file.
Select File, then Run ULP. On the file select dialog, browse to the files and select INSTALL.ulp.
Restart Eagle (otherwise you won't see the menu button).
You'll new see a new button on your top toolbar, and any CAM, DRC, or ULP files are now updated. Click it to see cool stuff!
Managing updates

Once you've run the installer, you can select Update and Install. This will automatically fetch any updates from the Github repository, and re-run the installer.
Installation (command line)
For Linux users with Eagle in the path, you can install this via command line with
Schematic Editor
Tool Name Command (All accepted for command editor)
Add element to schematic a,ad,add
Net ne,Net
Move Mov,move
Copy Cop,copy
Name n,na,nam,name
Value v,va,value
Label l,la,lab,labe,label
Text T,tex,text
Board Editor
Tool Name Command (All accepted for command editor)
Route rou,rout,route
Ripup ri,rip,ripu,ripup
Via Vi,via
Ratsnest r,ra,rat,rasts,ratsn,ratsne,ratsnest

Other useful and exclusive uses of the keyboard can be mapped as below (just two examples for now):
1- Text Tool:
When you select the text tool, you write your sentence in the pop-up window and then drop it wherever you want. But what if you want to add more?
In this case, just write down your sentence and hit enter without needing to select the text tool icon again.

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Turnkey Assembly		Through Hole PCB components wave soldering Assembly

Eagle PCB design layout tools

Eagle PCB design layout tools

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Rigid PCB Rapid Prototype,24 hours

Turnkey Services

Turnkey PCB Assembly Services,