Have a question about CadSoft EAGLE?  Ask our Expert, Richard! (Archive)

Richard,

Thanks for all the helps so far, you've been great. I have problem with Eagle and I'm stumped to find an answer. Before I send our boards out I prototype them here. Because we can't do certain operations like running the top layer to thru hole capacitors we need to stop the auto router from running the top layer to those locations. We have been using the restrict layer to keep the top tracks from those locations but this is tedious on larger boards. Is there a simple way we can limit track layers to certain packages? Maybe when 6 comes out if not now?

Thanks,

Robert

Richard,

I'm down to the silkscreen and the files must ship Friday.  Suddenly, the silk screen layers have disappeared!!  They (layers 121 and 122) do not show up in the layers list.  What have I done to make them disappear and what must I do to get them back?  I'm only slightly paniced.

I'm doing two board designs and the silk screen layers show up in one but not the other.

Thanks!

Mike

I'm down to the silkscreen and the files must ship Friday.  Suddenly,  the silk screen layers have disappeared!!  They (layers 121 and 122) do  not show up in the layers list.  What have I done to make them  disappear and what must I do to get them back?  I'm only slightly  paniced.

 

I'm doing two board designs and the silk screen layers show up in one but not the other.

Hi Mike,

please try  SET USED_LAYERS ALL;  in the command line.  Does it help?

Regards,
Richard

Jason,

I see what it is doing now.  When the stop mask layers are on, it throws a DRC error to anything that violates the stop mask - names, values, place, origins.  Whatever is displayed in the image is tested against the stop mask.  So see if there are any real stop mask violations, I'll have to turn off all the layers that print or draw anything other than top and bottom traces and vias and pads etc.

Mike

You're right there. I was just giving an explanation as to why they'd appeared, and if you wanted it to be back as it was before, then how you'd go about it.

I remember the first time I enabled the Stop layers, and was astounded how many DRC errors there were.

Luckily (?) I make my own PCBs, so I don't have a silk screen to worry about

Although technically you should respect the DRC errors....and move the

silkscreen where you can.

The whole philosophy of DRC is to let the software do the work of finding

problems.

At times of course it's too much work to adjust or make corrections (like

when a silkscreen in a part crosses over some other element, but the use of

keepouts and restricts are supposed to make your job better.

Although technically you should respect the DRC errors....and move the

silkscreen where you can.

The whole philosophy of DRC is to let the software do the work of finding

problems.

At times of course it's too much work to adjust or make corrections (like

when a silkscreen in a part crosses over some other element, but the use of

keepouts and restricts are supposed to make your job better.

You're right there. I was just giving an explanation as to why they'd appeared, and if you wanted it to be back as it was before, then how you'd go about it.

I remember the first time I enabled the Stop layers, and was astounded how many DRC errors there were.

Luckily (?) I make my own PCBs, so I don't have a silk screen to worry about