Eagle PCB making pad difficult

On 08.07.2015 16:31, Joel Godin wrote:

I haven't seen a more unintuitive program since I started video editing

15 years ago.

And I write programs in C! So it's not like I don't know how to work the

computer.

 

For the last few days I've been trying to put down pads for a ribbon

cable to be soldered to.

First I drew wires and rectangles on top and bottom.

Found out 'wire' is not really a wire duh!

Now I find out rectangles are not electrically conductive. arrrrr!

 

So I tried to make a pad in the library, and after creating it (by

overlapping two SMD pads) once I place it

in the board diagram, I can's select it, move it, change it's electrical

name or anything.  Can't even delete it.  Had to start over.

 

I've got no hair left.

 

Is there a simple explanation on how to just make and place a pad that I

can route a wire to?

 

Frustrated in Florida

I'm sorry but this isnt mspaint.

If you just want a board project with no connection to schematics, you

can draw freehand in a board file only, but dont expect eagle to verify

anything for you.

For your simple stuff, use polygons and wires. To make polygons fill,

name all nets and polygons you want connected as the same name. Do

ratsnest to do the filling. Ignore libaries for this simple stuff.

If you want to design electronics, this is not the way. You design the

schematics and let eagle help you realize the parts onto a pcb. When you

are ready to do that, do the tutorials.

On 08.07.2015 16:31, Joel Godin wrote:

I haven't seen a more unintuitive program since I started video editing

15 years ago.

And I write programs in C! So it's not like I don't know how to work the

computer.

 

For the last few days I've been trying to put down pads for a ribbon

cable to be soldered to.

First I drew wires and rectangles on top and bottom.

Found out 'wire' is not really a wire duh!

Now I find out rectangles are not electrically conductive. arrrrr!

 

So I tried to make a pad in the library, and after creating it (by

overlapping two SMD pads) once I place it

in the board diagram, I can's select it, move it, change it's electrical

name or anything.  Can't even delete it.  Had to start over.

 

I've got no hair left.

 

Is there a simple explanation on how to just make and place a pad that I

can route a wire to?

 

Frustrated in Florida

I'm sorry but this isnt mspaint.

If you just want a board project with no connection to schematics, you

can draw freehand in a board file only, but dont expect eagle to verify

anything for you.

For your simple stuff, use polygons and wires. To make polygons fill,

name all nets and polygons you want connected as the same name. Do

ratsnest to do the filling. Ignore libaries for this simple stuff.

If you want to design electronics, this is not the way. You design the

schematics and let eagle help you realize the parts onto a pcb. When you

are ready to do that, do the tutorials.

I would agree if one is going from schematic to board.

But I'm trying to replace a damaged board/ contact plate that is constantly damaged and comes into our shop to be repaired.

So if I've made a custom part with pins, how does one get the pins to electrically be the same signal as a trace or via?  Or is that even possible? for DRC.

You are making part that has interconnects from pads to traces to pins

of something like that. Make a schematic of what you are trying to do.

I would do the following steps. You may have to use the built in help or

tutorials to complete the tasks.

1. Make a lib package that has the pads and have them positioned as

needed relative to each other.

2. Make a lib schematic symbol with the same number of pins as you have

pads.

3. In you new lib make a device that connects the symbol with package

and connects pins to pad.

Now you have a part you can place in a schematic and connect nets to

pins and other parts as needed.

Then switch to board layout and put down traces to connect things.

But as simple as the design is and the learning curve it may be more

cost effective to farm out the job.

Paul

On 07/08/2015 12:17 PM, Joel Godin wrote:

I would agree if one is going from schematic to board.

But I'm trying to replace a damaged board/ contact plate that is

constantly damaged and comes into our shop to be repaired.

So if I've made a custom part with pins, how does one get the pins to

electrically be the same signal as a trace or via?  Or is that even

possible? for DRC.

 

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On 08.07.2015 18:17, Joel Godin wrote:

I would agree if one is going from schematic to board.

But I'm trying to replace a damaged board/ contact plate that is

constantly damaged and comes into our shop to be repaired.

So if I've made a custom part with pins, how does one get the pins to

electrically be the same signal as a trace or via?  Or is that even

possible? for DRC.

If you want to connect two pads with airwire before routing, use the

SIGNAL function.