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Replicate PCB side-by-side for production

Former Member

Please bear with me, I'm new to the PCB fabrication business.

 

Is there an easy way to replicate a complete PCB layout in Eagle side-by-side to send to the production house to place on a blank?

 

I have a board which is 48mm wide x 78mm long. I'm thinking about using a fabricator in China who does either 5 x 5 cm or 10 x 10 cm; anything that fits in those dimensions is the same price regardless of size. My board is too big for the small blank but would fit two side by side on the larger blank. So if I were to replicate two boards side by side they would make better use of a 10 x 10 cm blank.

 

Is this something that can be done in Eagle or is it normally left to the fabricator?

 

Thanks

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    On 6/28/2014 3:18 PM, John Steele wrote:

    Please bear with me, I'm new to the PCB fabrication business.

     

    Is there an easy way to replicate a complete PCB layout in Eagle

    side-by-side to send to the production house to place on a blank?

     

    I have a board which is 48mm wide x 78mm long. I'm thinking about using

    a fabricator in China who does either 5 x 5 cm or 10 x 10 cm; anything

    that fits in those dimensions is the same price regardless of size. My

    board is too big for the small blank but would fit two side by side on

    the larger blank. So if I were to replicate two boards side by side they

    would make better use of a 10 x 10 cm blank.

     

    Hi John,

     

    Sounds like your working with a house like iTeadStudio. This is called

    panelizing and you can do this without issue. Assuming you're using V6

    Freemium, Standard, or Pro. Here's what you do:

     

    1. Save a backup just in case you make any mistakes in the procedure.

    2. Go to the board and run the panelize.ulp. This ULP copies all of your

    silkscreen into a new layer as basic text, that way when you make the

    copy both boards can have the same reference designators.

    3. Save the design.

    4. Go to the schematic and click File -> Import -> EAGLE Drawing...

    5. A dialog will show up asking you what design you wish to import,

    select the schematic you're currently working with. This will allow you

    to import the design into itself.

    6. In the Dialog that pops up EAGLE will show you how nets will be

    renamed in the copy, make any changes as you see necessary.

    7. Click OK, the imported schematic will show up as additional sheets

    and if you look on the board you will now see two copies of your design,

    fully consistent.

     

    hth,

    Jorge Garcia

     

     

     

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