Component placement by coordinates

Hi Everyone,

I am working on a project where the design specs call for a PCB to fit within a manufactured enclosure. The manufacturers data sheet shows the drawing of what the PCB needs to look like to fit, and I was wondering, how do you draw dimensions for the PCB based on coordinates instead of grid/snap, and also hole and component placement by coordinate. I assume this is possible, but am not having any luck figuring it out. Any help would be appreciated. For anyone interested, the PCB I am trying to draw is located on this design sheet, it's not the best drafting job I've ever seen but it will do the job for this I suppose: http://www.pactecenclosures.com/pdfs/drw_PP.pdf

Thanks,

-Eric

Richard_H over 14 years ago

Hi Eric,

you can use all the EAGLE commands with coordinates. Basically it looks like (x y).
So for drawing a line use, e.g. WIRE (0 0) (0 79.426)
You can draw arcs with a certain radius, e.g. WIRE (0 0.1) @-0.117 (0.1 0) See HELP WIRE for details.

To get a line properly drawn you should set the wire_bend style to direct line before: SET WIRE_BEND 2;
And the wire width, e.g. CHANGE WIDTH 0;
And the layer: LAYER 20;
And now you can start drawing the contour step by step.

GRID INCH;
SET WIRE_BEND 2;
CHANGE WIDTH 0.001;

WIRE (0 0.217) (0.1 0.217) @-0.117 (0.217 0.1) (0.217 0) (1.803 0) (1.803 0.1) @-0.117 (1.92 0.217) (2.02 0.217) (2.02 3.127).......

that's half the contour now.....

Regards,
Richard
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Former Member over 14 years ago in reply to Richard_H

Awesome! One last thing, the PCB has 4@.10 inch drill holes on it. How do I place something like that?
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Richard_H over 14 years ago in reply to Former Member

To place a hole use the HOLE command: Syntax is HOLE diameter (x y), e.g.

HOLE 0.113 (1.2 0.235);

Regards,
Richard
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Former Member over 14 years ago in reply to Richard_H

Thanks, that did the trick. After a all nighter, I REALLY appreciate you walking me through it instead of telling me to run HELP HOLE (which I realized after a little sleep). Cheers!
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edeca over 14 years ago in reply to Former Member

You can also edit coordinates using the popup from the "info" tool. I often do this to get holes in the right place for a board, or to tweak the dimension layer after an initial layout.

I always make boards 1-2mm smaller than recommended in enclosure datasheets. I don't know if it is optimism from the enclosure manufacturer or the tolerances at the board house, but sometimes I've had to squeeze things in to tight cases!
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Richard_H over 14 years ago in reply to edeca

Hi,

yes that's a good point. When the object is already placed in the layout, you can change the properties of it. Use INFO or the context menu's Properties entry. This is possible for all objects, like components, vias, wires, texts, holes, circles.......

Regards,
Richard
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