Confused: Received my first PCB made in Eagle and all resistors are 0603 instead of 0402. What happened?

On 4/01/2015 2:33 a.m., Eric Hold wrote:

So I am new to Eagle PCB.  However, I am not new to electronics as

I've been a repair technician for 25 years.

 

I made my first PCB in Eagle and am disappointed. More to the point: all

of my caps and resistors that were intended to be 0402 ended up with an

0603 footprint size. For example, I used the built-in Eagle library and

selected "R-US_R0402 (R-US_)" for most of my standard resistors--these

ended up being 0603 size. Why?

Also, for the majority of my caps (especially decoupling caps), I also

ended up with 0603 size (where it should have been 0402, just as I

intended).

 

Can anyone explain what I'm overlooking here? I know that the components

I ordered are the correct (as intended size)... like I said, I've been

in this industry a long time, so I know what a 0402 and a 0603 size

component is. Just not clear as to how Eagle defines these.

 

And for reiteration: I did use the built-in Eagle library.

Hi

You will need to do the work determine where the error has been introduced.

Start with your board design.

(1)Use the information tool to verify the package name and library of

the element. This verifies you actually selected the correct part from

the libraries.

(2) If the library and name is correct, establish if the SMD pads sizes

are correct for the 0402 (on the board).

(3)  If they are correct, next check your gerbers using a viewer and

establish if they are correct there. If so the board house did it.

(4) If the SMD pads are wrong on the board but the library name and

package look correct. Then open the library and inspect the device and

the package it uses.

When you post, you should state the version of Eagle you are using as

the libraries differ between versions. In v6.6 I don't see an issue with

the parts you used.

There's also the industry rule that you don't use any library /part that

you have not verified yourself. Once done that part goes into your

personal libraries and you use it from there.

HTH

Warren

Hi Warren,

Been busy, so just responding now...

Using Version 7.2.0 for Mac OS X

(1) I did verify the parts I chose from the library. For example:

Library = resistor

Device = R-US_R0402 (R-US_)

This resulted in all of my 0402 resistors pads being spaced more like a

0603. Strange thing is, I took calipers to measure the pad

spacing/dimensions and sure enough, they are a lot closer to a 0603

size. So I don't understand why this part in the library resulted in an

incorrect sized pad/layout.

I opened the device and found that the Package attribute = R0402 and the

Variant attribute = R0402.

I guess this just leaves me confused and pondering either how well

Cadsoft Eagle will work for me. I realize this is my first time, so it

seems likely that one could imagine that I didn't something wrong, but I

really doubt that is the case here. Someone please convince me to stay

with Cadsoft. I'm trying to be rational here.

-Eric

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Hi Warren,

Been busy, so just responding now...

Using Version 7.2.0 for Mac OS X

(1) I did verify the parts I chose from the library. For example:

Library = resistor

Device = R-US_R0402 (R-US_)

This resulted in all of my 0402 resistors pads being spaced more like a

0603. Strange thing is, I took calipers to measure the pad

spacing/dimensions and sure enough, they are a lot closer to a 0603

size. So I don't understand why this part in the library resulted in an

incorrect sized pad/layout.

I opened the device and found that the Package attribute = R0402 and the

Variant attribute = R0402.

I guess this just leaves me confused and pondering either how well

Cadsoft Eagle will work for me. I realize this is my first time, so it

seems likely that one could imagine that I didn't something wrong, but I

really doubt that is the case here. Someone please convince me to stay

with Cadsoft. I'm trying to be rational here.

-Eric

--

To view any images and attachments in this post, visit:

http://www.element14.com/community/message/137429