Eagle Question

[crazeydazey]

I'm trying to teach myself to use Eagle as everyone else seems to use it.

I have downloaded the synthdiy libary, and I'm trying to do a simple VCA circiut using a NJM13600N, but I cannot trace a connection to pin 3 but it will not snap to it, it either goes above or below.

does anyone know how I can get round this??

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[numbernone]

I will be watching, as I am also in the throes of learning Eagle. IT AINT EASY. I think I also downloaded the same library, not much in it, except it did have the 2SA798, for which I had the pinouts wrong!

I wish I had your answer...

[Sebo]

Hi:
Check the grid settings, or disable it. I think that's could be the problem.
Where do you downlad sdiy library from?

[crazeydazey]

thnx Sebo,

it was the grid setting...

I've changed it to match attached pic, and works a treat..

I can't remember where I got it from now, I think it was from a post on here somewhere..

your right numbernone, it's not easy, but I think I'm getting there slowly and when I get stuck, there is some very cool and intelligent people in the EM community that will help..

cheers

Daz

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[bugbrand]

Ahhh, I found exactly the same problem when I started using the SynthDIY library! Many of the packages are on a funny grid (maybe mm rather than inch)

I like to keep the schematic on a standard grid (0.1") so I edited the library::

- Go to the control panel and expand the Libraries view
- scroll to the SynthDIY Library, right click it and select Open
- near the top left of the tool bars you'll see three little symbols for Device, Package and Symbol. First click the Device one and find the part you want to edit.
- select the Info tool (topish left) and find out what Symbol is being used for the device - with the NJM13600 (and LM13700 etc) you'll find that the main opamp part uses the Symbol OTA_WD_N . Also check what the buffer Symbol is (..OTA_BUF)
- right, now click the Symbol button on the toolbar and hunt out the OTA_WD_N symbol. This is the bit you edit, moving the pins around so that they're on your favourite grid -- I do this by switching between different grids and cross comparing until I've moved everything onto the 0.1" grid.
- do the same for OTA_BUF
- these changes will automatically be updated to the Devices that use that Symbol within the library (you can check back to the Device NJM13600 to see). Now save your changes, close the library and head back to the schematic.
- If you've already got your NJMs included in the schematic you'll need to update them - go to the top and open the Library menu and click Update All.

Hope that is just about understandable! Took me ages to discover how to clunk around with the libraries... But its definitely worth a poke in the long run.

[Clack]

its on a 0.635mm grid ( 0.025" ) which is pretty fine

[crazeydazey]

Cheers guys..

I've had a play with the library, just to learn how to create my own components and stuff, which is fun. but I'm quite happy to change the grid size for now.

One thing I did do with the LM13600N was turn pin 1 so it's pointing up, as that's how it is on the circuit I'm copying, so I guess that was a good learning experience.

what I'm doing is putting some of the circuit diagrams I've found (MFOS, EFM etc) into Eagle so I can 1, learn Eagle and 2, create my own PCBs from them.. I hope this isn't infringing copyright laws or anything.. they are for my personal use, I have no intention of selling them or anything..

it's just that ray is quite happy to give you circuit diagrams and PCB layouts where tom only provides circuit diagrams..

so if creating my own PCBs (for personal use) from other peoples schems is naughty, let me know and I'll stop.

[Clack]

Not at all, its your own artwork. Its even fine if you release the PCB into public - If you start selling them even then its a bit fuzzy and probably perfectly fine ( well fine as in you probably wont get sued ) as you made the image - you should look at the thread in this forum about it. I think the conclusion is, that its just all about being nice and not undercutting people who give things away for free.

[crazeydazey]

cool..

I'm not into this to make any money out of it, but if I do anything of any use to anyone I will post it here...

[loss1234]

crazy-are you telling me that you can download files from ray's site and drop them right into eagle and it will turn them into pcb artwork?

what kind of file does it need to do this?

wow i need to get a copy of this program!

thanks

[crazeydazey]

I wish you could that would be cool..

Unfortunately I'm redrawing the circuit diagrams in eagle, and building the PCB designs from there..

I'm just working on rene's 4069 VCO at the moment

[crazeydazey]

here is my first PCB done with eagle...

it's the rene schmitz VCO 4069-1.

please have a look and let me know what you think..

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[etaoin]

[crazeydazey]

I guess I could put decoupling on, I just copied it from http://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs159/index.html. I've also realised I haven't put anyware to attach gnd etc to pots and jacks.

Also I've just noticed there is no gate on this VCO.. How do you trigger it??

I was going to make it as a simple VCO but I've confused myself now..


yeah I used the autorouter, I'm not clever enough to do the routing myself just yet.. still a noob.

[etaoin]

[crazeydazey]

of course it doesn't what the hell am I talking about????

I told you I'd confused myself.

[loss1234]

once you are done with this i would love to get the file itself and the pcb artowrk so i too could try to learn eagle.

when you want to etch a pcb, what do you do, reverse the layout and turn off the parts?

thanks

[Clack]

electronic peasant has a good intro on decoupling
http://www.electronicpeasant.com/circuits/decouple.txt

Always put it in first - it saves a lot of hassle - people like rene may not put it in the schematic as its assumed you know to do it. I recommended to breadboard things first , many things don't work straight from the scematic

I would also reccomend using larger tracks and pads - eagles defaults are incredibly small for press and peel - a 0.8 drill will almost obliterate all the copper in a small pad. Another thing is that thinner tracks tend to be more fragile - if you have a transistor say , and your a bit rough with it after soldering it in - it will probably rip up the tracks if too thin ( this is if your using cheapo PCB boards like me though )

You also have to think about how close pads are to the tracks as solder tends to jump to across as there isn't a soldermask. if you run 2 tracks too close to each other for long enough they will probably interfere - i try to keep things 2-3 mil apart

Another thing you'll probably come across soon is analogue ground and digital ground in schematics - here is a little post that helped me understand
http://www.epanorama.net/wwwboard/messages/16215.html

I also think ( this is my preference ) that it is better to put in a jumper wire than make a board 1cm wider or taller . you can do this whilst drawing a bottom layer track select top layer at the top of the screen draw the top layer then press bottom layer and draw it to the destination it will automatically add pads.

A good idea is to set the power up before anything else, some people like to line all the chips up and then put the power lines down the centre of them all - then put decoupling caps for each chip inbetween

hope that helps

[crazeydazey]

thnx Mr clack for the advise, I've read the links and I'm a bit more clued up now about digital/analogue grounding and decoupling now, I will go back and review my circiut and change the width of the track.

Hi loss cool tune of your post btw...

I have attached what I have so far for you to play with (brd and sch), I would be interested to see how you get on with it.

have fun

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[crazeydazey]

did anyone ever do anything with the ZIP file I attached??

I'd be interested to see what other people come up with..

[Sebo]

Hi:
I downloaded the file, but I didn't have the time to open it.
I will build a 4069 in the future, so, in some point I will open it.
Thanks for sharing.

[crazeydazey]

cool

I'm a noob with a lot to learn so I would love to see other peoples work around this...

[etaoin]

[crazeydazey]

luv it..

if you check it and it's fine, I think this is the beauty I'm gonna try building.

I'll get some Print and peel and some etching stuff... (this will be a first too, I've not tried making my own PCBs yet.)

[Sound]