Eagle PCB Tutorial
Josh Fromm
EE 475, April 11th
Steps in Designing a PCB
> Decide what functionality you need
– Break that functionality into small modules
> Sense motion -> IMU
> Communicate with phone -> Bluetooth module
– Research components for each module
> Always read the datasheets
> Check to make sure footprints are solderable
– Choose a CPU that can interface with your modules and meets
other requirements
> Try not to pick something overly complicated
Steps in Designing a PCB
> Make the system schematic
– Confirm every part has a schematic symbol and footprint
> If it doesn’t then make your own
– Place all parts on the schematic and wire
– Remember to add lots of bypass caps
– Check errors to make sure everything is properly connected
> Make PCB
– Check design rules
– Place parts in reasonable location (minimize rats nest)
– Use polygon pours for power and ground
– Route remaining traces (use larger width for high current)
– Check DRC
Interacting with Schematic Parts
> All parts have a crosshair that can be interacted with
> Kind of goofy for some parts like frame
> When selecting multiple objects, some commands like
move require right clicking to affect the whole group
Wiring it Up
> Use net tool to make connections
> Don’t always need to make a physical connection
– Create a partial net
– Use the name tool to give it a proper name
– Use the label tool to place that name right on the net
– Repeat for other pins you want to connect
> Always do an ERC when finished to find any mistakes.
PCB Layout
> Use File -> switch to schematic to create a PCB for your
schematic
> First set up your grid, usually want a slightly large grid
and a much smaller alt grid
> Next, use DRC to set up design rules according to PCB
manufacturer requirements
– Can download and import Osh Park DRU
> When moving parts, everything snaps to grid, can hold
ALT key to get more fine grained control
> Try to arrange parts to minimize the rat’s nest
Altium Layers
Routing
> Current operating layer shown in upper left
> Click middle mouse button to switch
> Focus on one trace at a time
– Use middle click to place a via
– Right click to change wire style
– For tight boards, try to keep top layer horizontal and bottom
layer vertical
– Use bigger traces for power and ground if possible
> When finished, use rats nest to check if anything missed
> Always do a DRC
Advanced Routing
> Good idea to use polygon pours for Power and Ground
– Provides good capacitance to reduce noise
– Makes routing easier
– Looks cool
> Use polygon pour tool to trace outline
> Press ratsnest to fill in.
> Can still route through the pour or hide with ripup on
the edge
> Also fun to write on the board by editing the silkscreen
– Choose tPlace or bPlace layer then use drawing or text tools
– Wont affect circuit, purely visual
Finishing Up
> Need to convert schematic to format a PCB
manufacturer can parse
– Standard to use Gerber files
– Need one Gerber file for each layer of the board
> Press the Cam tool button
– Open job, choose the sparkfun job file
– Process job
– Zip the cam files up and submit to Osh Park
Creating Custom Parts
> From the Control Panel go to File -> New -> Library
> Library -> Symbol, name it and accept
> This opens an editor similar to a schematic
– Use shapes to draw a box
– Use the add pins tool to place pins on the box
– Name the pins
– Good idea to add >NAME and >VALUE text to part to allow
more customization down the line, make sure to set these to
Names and Values layer respectively
– Save and then go to Library -> Create -> Package
Creating Custom Footprints
> Start by using the SMD or pad tool to place pads
> Can change to metric units using grid
> Set size of pads with info tool
> The grid is your friend
– Set the grid distance to be the distance between pads for quick
and easy placement
– Hold control while moving to have pads center on grid
– Can also use info to explicitly choose center
> Use tPlace layer to draw shape of chip body (optional)
> Add >NAME and >VALUE text in tName and tValue
layers
Associate Symbol and Package
> Library -> Device -> New
– Name it the same thing as the Symbol and Package
> Use add to place the symbol for the part
> In the right side, press new and add the Package
– Note the yellow exclamation, this means pins have not been
associated
> Double click on the package name to associate
> Set prefix (default is U)
> Match left and right sides then press connect
> Save and you’re done!
> Find your library in the control panel, right click and use
