How to import dxf file into Eagle (into sch or into brd) ?

Former Member over 10 years ago

1. I would like to import board outline from dxf prepared with CAD tool. How can I do it?

2. I would like import schematic symbols from dxf into library editor. How can I do it?

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Best regards

Mariusz

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t0bias over 10 years ago +1

Importing a DXF works in a couple of ways. I am going to show you my preferred one - all required tools are available for free. In order for this to work you will need Inkscape ( http://www.inkscape.org…
autodeskguest over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member +1

On 19/03/15 00:27, Lance Buttolph wrote: Hi, What I would like to do is export from Tango Schematic and PCB into Eagle....I'm assuming if I'm able to export a file from Tango to a dxf I will be able to…
autodeskguest over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member +1

Am 19.03.2015 um 16:44 schrieb Lance Buttolph: Thanks. I kind of assumed that would the case. I'm going to also assume same case for tango pcb layout as well. Hi, with a short look at Cadsoft ulp http…

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0 t0bias over 10 years ago
Importing a DXF works in a couple of ways. I am going to show you my preferred one - all required tools are available for free.

In order for this to work you will need
Inkscape ( http://www.inkscape.org )

BetterBetter DXF Export Plugin ( from http://tim.cexx.org/?p=590 or directly http://tim.cexx.org/images/b2_dxf_output.zip)
(See website for installation instructions)
- OR -
(I had better success with) Inkscape PStoEdit DXF Extension. The extension should already be part of Inkscape, if it's not, grab "dxf_output.inx" from here: (https://github.com/piksels-and-lines-orchestra/inkscape/tree/master/share/extensions) - Note that you need PStoEdit for it to work and probably the Cairo image library.

Eagle DXF Import ULP ( http://www.cadsoftusa.com/downloads/file/import-dxf-1_6.ulp )

Start of by opening your vector graphic (be it svg, eps, or dxf already, or whatever..) in Inkscape ( http://www.inkscape.org )
Choose Save as... and choose the appropriate plugin.
In Eagle add a new Layer (this is optional, but makes moving shapes later on much easier).
Execute the ULP-Script in Eagle and make sure, the correct targeting Layer is selected.

That's it. Sometimes there are some tricky shapes that look odd, mainly hollow circles (they sometimes get filled). One approach to work around this issue is to overlay the circle in Inkscape with a very very thin line and then use the boolean shape difference operator to tear the circle apart into two half circles. That way, however, they get rendered correctly in Eagly.
Oh and do not forget to convert fonts and primitives like rectangles to shapes..

Hope this helps!
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0 Eagle22 over 3 years ago in reply to t0bias

I'm trying to figure out what I need Inkscape for. Is it only graphics input? What is it that a mechanical cad program won't do?
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0 Eagle22 over 3 years ago in reply to t0bias

I'm trying to figure out what I need Inkscape for. Is it only graphics input? What is it that a mechanical cad program won't do?
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0 shabaz over 3 years ago in reply to Eagle22

Hard answering this for a 7-year-old software package. The current EAGLE may behave differently since the 7 years since that comment was made.

Perhaps that 7-year-old EAGLE didn't like some DXF content and Inkscape saved it in a more compatible format.

It may be worth just trying the DXF with the current EAGLE and see how it goes.
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