How to shape eagle pcb outline

On 9/02/2014 8:58 a.m., Anthony Ezeribe wrote:

I am designing an edgeboard card but got a bit confused on the layer to

use in shaping the edge of the board to the required dimension.

You draw the board outline on the 'Dimension' layer.

Have a look in the library 'con-pc.lbr' to see examples.

HTH

Warren

I have a similar question.  I have already built the complete board (no schematic) and everything is perfect from a sizing perspective.  I thought things were all in 1MM increments on the grid but it ends up being in 10MM increments.  How do I either directly reduce the complete BRD file by 90% (board sizes now 25in x 12.5in and it actually should be 2.5in x 1.25).  If not able to do it in the software, after I input the Gerbers can I make a change to the Gerber file that will downsize all by 90%?

Thx in advance.

Glenn Hart wrote on Fri, 14 February 2014 12:48

I have a similar question.  I have already built the complete board

(no

schematic) and everything is perfect from a sizing perspective.  I

thought things were all in 1MM increments on the grid but it ends up

being in 10MM increments.  How do I either directly reduce the

complete

BRD file by 90% (board sizes now 25in x 12.5in and it actually should

be

2.5in x 1.25).  If not able to do it in the software, after I input

the

Gerbers can I make a change to the Gerber file that will downsize all

by

90%?

 

Thx in advance.

Can you clarify that everything is 10 times to big?

The traces, the pads, text.

Please confirm that there are no library components used.

If you could zip up the board file and post it here, that would be a better

way to get an solution

Warren

--

Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.

I loaded the zip file up.  It is named HARNESSFINAL_20140214.ZIP.  I also put a tag of GH:BRD on it and it was also placed under the group Eagle Workshop along with requiring a sign on to view.  Could not find out how to attach it directly to this reply.  My email is ghzmanl2@gmail.com if you want me to send it to you directly via email.

When I create the Gerbers and view them it indicates the complete board is 10X the size desired (roughly 25IN X 12.5IN).  I desire to board to be just under 2.5IN X 1.25IN.  I have had several prototypes created and the company was good enough to shrink everything down by 90%.  I have a few minor changes and want everything to be scaled properly via Eagle so no problems arise when I ask for 100s of boards.  No components were used, the pcb was built from scratch.  When I built it I selected a 1MM grid but it looks like it was a 10MM grid.  All  my measurements of the components I am using were based on MM thus the selection of using MM vs IN.  Thx in advance.

On 14/02/14 15:19, Glenn Hart wrote:

When I create the Gerbers and view them it indicates the complete board

is 10X the size desired (roughly 25IN X 12.5IN).  I desire to board to

be just under 2.5IN X 1.25IN.  I have had several prototypes created and

the company was good enough to shrink everything down by 90%. 

That sounds more like a Gerber format mismatch than a problem with the

Eagle data files. The problem is that RS274(X) represents coordinates as

integers, being multiples of a dimension that isn't all that clearly

specified (it's defined in a slightly cryptic manner). If Eagle is

outputting five decimal places but the Gerber reader is expecting four

then you'll get that problem.

I have looked further into this and the idea of a Gerber mismatch.  The problem is that the Gerber is output in inches (the header indicates that).  If you shrink all by 1 digit then the calculations are now all off because .1 inches is equivalent to 2.54 MM.  If it was in MM and you lost a digit then yes, that would work properly.  I have had a prototype made of the board and they were nice enough to downsize by 90%.  I also received those Gerbers back and they are sized perfectly but I cannot load these back into Eagle so I can use the new configuration, which makes my board 2.5 x 1.25in roughly.  So, is there a way to tell CAM to output in MM.  If so then I think I might be able to manipulate the header to shrink by 90% the resulting view of the Gerber.  Thx

On 14/02/2014 1:10 p.m., Glenn Hart wrote:

I have a similar question.  I have already built the complete board (no

schematic) and everything is perfect from a sizing perspective.  I

thought things were all in 1MM increments on the grid but it ends up

being in 10MM increments.  How do I either directly reduce the complete

BRD file by 90% (board sizes now 25in x 12.5in and it actually should be

2.5in x 1.25).  If not able to do it in the software, after I input the

Gerbers can I make a change to the Gerber file that will downsize all by

90%?

 

Thx in advance.

Hi Glen

I have had a look at your board and it is large.

I will attach a ULP that will redraw the board 1/10 the current size. On

top of the current board. you can then delete the original. So i suggest

making a copy first. You can use EDIT > UNDO/REDO LIST to get rid of

every thing the ULP creates if you run it and then change your mind.

It scales the dimensions and text size but not the track or via sizes

  You will need to move the text as that does not scale well. The text

is now vector font that way the manufacturer will make what you see.

I feel the need to say that there is quite a lot that worries me about

your board. You may care to check some of the following points.

I assume this unit is used on a road truck/trailer.

The relay drills seem very small at 0.5mm. A spec sheet for what i feel

is a similar relay calls for 1.3mm

While I don't know the intended functionality of the relays (I assume

there are three side by side) all the combinations of connectivity for

flashers and tail lights day or night does not make sense to me. Right

seems OK but left does not do anything.

The tracks seem small. Its a vibration environment and the lamps draw

quite some current so get them larger where you can. You did set large

sizes in the Net Class but they are not used when manual routing so they

are smaller than listed there and they are much to large anyway.

This PCB could easily be made single sided with the tracks and screen

print on the bottom  and components on the top.

The LED is across the power rails so unless it is a 12volt one (assuming

a vehicle) it will need a current limiting resistor in series. The LED

needs its hole and trace sizes reviewed.

The board outline is on layer 1. That's fine but normally it should be a

zero width line on layer 20. Currently the way it is the manufacturer

will cut down the middle of that line leaving a thin copper edge on the

board. So long as the outline is on one of the gerber layers you should

be fine.

So you have some work to do - all the best

Warren

On 15/02/14 03:20, Glenn Hart wrote:

I have looked further into this and the idea of a Gerber mismatch.  The

problem is that the Gerber is output in inches (the header indicates

that).

Inches is the default / most common Gerber format.

If you shrink all by 1 digit then the calculations are now all

off because .1 inches is equivalent to 2.54 MM.

Why? If all you do is shrink by one digit then it's ten times smaller

and STILL IN INCHES!

If it was in MM and you

lost a digit then yes, that would work properly.

What possible difference does it make? How can your choice of units

affect the fundamentals of the decimal numbering system?

I have had a prototype

made of the board and they were nice enough to downsize by 90%.  I also

received those Gerbers back and they are sized perfectly but I cannot

load these back into Eagle so I can use the new configuration, which

makes my board 2.5 x 1.25in roughly.  So, is there a way to tell CAM to

output in MM.

Yes, but it's NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

If so then I think I might be able to manipulate the

header to shrink by 90% the resulting view of the Gerber.

Like I said - WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? You can shrink numbers

exactly the same way regardless of the units they represent.

On 15/02/14 12:15, Rob Pearce wrote:

On 15/02/14 03:20, Glenn Hart wrote:

I have looked further into this and the idea of a Gerber mismatch.  The

problem is that the Gerber is output in inches (the header indicates

that).

Anyway, I now see that Warren has looked at your Eagle data (I couldn't

find it so was working on assumptions) and it seems the Gerber isn't the

problem anyway. I'm puzzled how you managed to make a 10* scaled PCB

design but if you have then that's what you want to fix.

Thanks for the ULP (I think that would be worth posting to the download site) and all the comments/suggestions that both of you had.  I will verify my numbers on the drills to ensure they will support the relays.  As you noted I could put all the tracks on one side but decided not toas  to make it easier to solder and there was no reason not to separate (I am not an ee and this is my 1st board so if there is a reason I would be amenable to hearing it from a pro).  On your LED comment about getting them larger are you talking about the internals of the LED to allow for better support since as you noted there will be vibration involved since being used on a truck.

Totally different question: given this is using 3 relays and with all the costing factors involved will cost me about $4/US to make in quantity: is there a programmable chip that can accept four lines (three power and a ground) and output a power line (all 12V DC) that from a cost stand point and reliability (temps: -10C to 40C) can even come close to the above $4/US?

Again Thanks!!