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)
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
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
