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Can Eagle be used to layout/document large   enclosures?

autodeskguest

Hello!

 

I've been finding that I really like the various paradigms in Eagle when it

comes to circuit design and PCB layout.  The way eagle separates things

into parts libraries and the schematic editor are really good for me.

 

I'd like to get a standard version of Eagle, but I can really only justify

the cost to my boss if I can use it for our larger "NEMA4 style" (DIN Rail

components) enclosure designs as well as circuit boards.

 

The problem is that the board limited size in the Standard edition is no

where near the size of an enclosure.

 

I contacted CadSoft sales and they replied that I could use the document

layers in Eagles outside of the limits.  Just no copper layers.

 

Ok..I thought I might be able to work with that until I tried to make a

simple terminal block and realized that I have no way of defining a pad or

a SMD position in the layout editor w/o defining something that would be in

a copper layer.  Creating a "connection point" that has 2D physical

dimensions (Package) that I can layout AND associated with a connection

point in a schematic is the primary reason I wanted to use Eagle.  Is there

a way to define connection points inside a 2D Package that does not consume

a copper layer? 

 

What other software might I consider to do this?  I was wowed by

SolidWork's Electrical, but it is priced prohibitvely high (and doesn't

even do PCBs).

 

Also EagleUP looks like a promising extension of wanting to document and

have layout plans for larger NEMA4 style enclosures.

 

Thank you for your time!

-Nickerbocker

--

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

 

  • nic.linley@gmail.com wrote:

    ..................

    The problem is that the board limited size in the Standard edition is

    no where near the size of an enclosure.

     

    I contacted CadSoft sales and they replied that I could use the

    document layers in Eagles outside of the limits.  Just no copper

    layers.

     

    Ok..I thought I might be able to work with that until I tried to make

    a simple terminal block and realized that I have no way of defining a

    pad or a SMD position in the layout editor w/o defining something

    that would be in a copper layer.  Creating a "connection point" that

    has 2D physical dimensions (Package) that I can layout AND associated

    with a connection point in a schematic is the primary reason I wanted

    to use Eagle.  Is there a way to define connection points inside a 2D

    Package that does not consume a copper layer?

     

     

     

    The real story is that you can design a board that is larger than the

    edition restrictions, provided:

    (1) There are no contacts (pads/smd) outside the size restrictions

    (2) The element (package) origin is not outside the size restrictions

     

    Try it. You will see you can route traces forever, place vias, write text

    and board dimensions etc

    In practice it means you can squeeze a little more board size from the

    edition restrictions but the active parts of the part must be within the

    size restrictions which  starts at x=0 Y=0 and goes positive. No pads or

    origins in the negative quadrants.

     

    HTH

    Warren

     

     

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  • Maybe I'm missing something...

     

    How would I connect something in my schematic and have a 2d representation

    with an airwire connection to another object if neither object has pins or

    pads?

     

    Just drawing in 2d is nice, but there are actually much nicer programs for

    doing this already.  The main feature of Eagle is the creation of a library

    of parts that can be connected to one another simultaneously in a schematic

    and a 2d layout view.

    --

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

     

  • I'm wanting to use Eagle to do this kind of layout work:

     

     

     

    There are still components that need to be electrically wired together.  As

    well as ports and everything else that could be represented as a "pin" but

    can't really because of the board layout restrictions.  "Traces" could be

    used to represent wires.  It doesn't matter if some run on top of each

    other or not.  It would be used for documentation and to show someone for

    assembly.

    --

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

     

  • Are there any other thoughts on this?  Is it possible to make a "pin" or a

    "pad" that does not exist in a copper layer and can be used to facilitate

    connection points between the 2d layout and the 2d schematic?

    --

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