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bauer
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 212
Helped: 20
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 17 Aug 2006 12:38 The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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EAGLE Product information
The EAGLE Layout Editor is an easy to use, yet powerful tool for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs). The name EAGLE is an acronym, which stands for
Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor
The program consists of three main modules
* Layout Editor
* Schematic Editor
* Autorouter
which are embedded in a single user interface. Therefore there is no need for converting netlists between schematics and layouts.
Program Features (Professional Edition)
General
* online Forward- and Back-Annotation
* context sensitive help function
* no hardware copy protection!
* multiple windows for board, schematic and library
* powerful User Language
* integrated text editor
* available for Windows, Linux and Mac
Layout Editor
* maximum drawing area 1.6 x 1.6m (64 x 64 inch)
* resolution 1/10,000mm (0.1 micron)
* up to 16 signal layers
* conventional and SMT parts
* comes with a full set of part libraries
* easily create your own parts with the fully integrated library editor
* undo/redo function for ANY editing command, to any depth
* script files for batch command execution
* copper pouring
* cut and paste function for copying entire sections of a drawing
* design rule check
Schematic Editor
* up to 99 sheets in one schematic
* electrical rule check
* gate and pinswap
* create a board from a schematic with a single command
Autorouter
* ripup&retry router
* up to 16 signal layers
* routing strategy driven by user definable cost factors
CAM Processor
* Postscript
* pen plotters
* Gerber plotters
* Excellon and Sieb&Meyer drill files
* configurable through ASCII file for easy definition of your own output devices
System Requirements
General
* mouse
* at least 32MB RAM
* harddisk with at least 40MB free space
Windows
* PC 586 (or higher)
* Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP
Linux
* PC 586 (or higher)
* Linux (i386) kernel 2.x (or higher)
* X11 in at least 8bpp mode with 1024x768 min. resolution
Mac
* Apple Macintosh G3 (or higher)
* Mac OS X 10.3
* X11 in at least 8bpp mode with 1024x768 min. resolution
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/info.htm
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hemlock
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 20
Helped: 6
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| 17 Aug 2006 22:14 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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I truly believe that Eagle is one of the worst pieces of PCB design software I’ve ever used. The user interface is extremely poor and I have found the program to be buggy; resulting in lost data and wasted time.
Once I switched to @ltium Designer (formally P*otel) I never looked back! @ltium is a professional grade piece of software, where Eagle is only really suitable for hobbyist and student.
The one good thing about Eagle is that there is a “limited” free demo available. Aside form that it’s easy to find a fix for better software, and if you’re our a business looking for PCB software ANYTHING IS BETTER THEN EAGLE!
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ivan_milutinovic
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 6
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| 06 Oct 2006 21:10 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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| Eagle is very fine and stable pcb software, easy, one click from schematic to pcb.
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arnab.bhaumik
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
Posts: 70
Helped: 2
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| 10 Oct 2006 4:40 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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hey,
i found eagle is very good eda software. i am working with it for past one and half year. i agree with you that its user interface is not very user friendly. but it does the job. particularly the auto router the one i like most.
it takes a littel time to learn eagle.
and by the way i am using it professionally.
arnab
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cloud
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 26
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| 13 Oct 2006 6:18 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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Hey guys!
How do we make a single sided lay-out without jumpers at the other side assuming that the circuits is quite simple? Does the auto router can do this?
How can we change its PCB dimension?
Sorry guys. I'm new to this software. I know some of you arer already well verse to this. Pls enlighten me. Thanks....
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rahulsnag
Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 5
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| 22 Oct 2006 14:49 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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Hi
i have used eagle, electronicsworkbench, orcad and Diptrace pcb layout softwares, and i feel diptrace is very good and low cost software .its library is as good as orcad and yet very cost effective. i am using the same and very much satisfied with it, specially the autorouter of diptrace is very good.
you can see at
www.diptrace.com
free downloadable Evaluation version is there
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rauol
Joined: 02 Oct 2002
Posts: 364
Helped: 11
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| 22 Oct 2006 17:28 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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Eagle is good for anlog Design were you have to route manually,( a very advanced version of MSpaint  ) and yes as the name suggests it is easy to use, all the commands can be executed from the command line interface.
If you want to design digital design with BGAs and lot of digital Ics it will not be a good choise, but if you want to design a Motor controller, yes it is one of the Best choice for its Price.
Eagle's Autorouter is Useless, and i never use it, But you can Use KonektEda's autorouter which gives a very good result.
If you have a complex design say with 6 to 8 layers, Use eagle to place the components and use the External Autorouter. this will give you a good price to performance( eagle Scematic and Board layout will cost only 600 € excluding the autorouter) + KonectEda Electra autorouter for 750 € (4layer) 1.500 €{ 6 layer } and 2.500 € for the Unlimited layer version.
And to add one more line, it has a good CAM processor, i generally take an EPS output, which can be laser plotted for Dirt cheap rates from any Print industry plotter, i generally merge all the outputs ( component side, solder side Legend etc.) into a single EPS file using ADOBE illustrator, an A4 size print will cost about 2 €.
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melc
Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 394
Helped: 45
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| 22 Oct 2006 18:23 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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As many people already noticed, Eagle is excelent for editing schematics and very low complexity PCB projects. Once you're designing a 6 or 10 layer boards with +800 components onboard and power planes on all layers is unusefull. Eagle autorouter's it's a joke. Eagle library is a mess. Try to add a 500pin BGA package in library and you'll understand what I mean. Try to modify an already placed component ( +500 pin) and you'll realize the tragedy.
Eagle is perfect for students projects because it's free.
Else, much more proffesional than Eagle are Orcad, P*otel, Pcad, Pads, even Tango
But of course any of them have good or wrong parts, there wasn't invented yet the best CAD package for PCB design.
Please do not advertise a software or other without mentioning the worse parts.
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rauol
Joined: 02 Oct 2002
Posts: 364
Helped: 11
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| 24 Oct 2006 8:18 Re: The EAGLE Layout Editor |
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I agree with melc, you have to judge the software based on your requirement, it is the price finally what you pay. depending on your requirements we will have to choose the package, for very complex designs one cannot do without the very high end softwares (USD$ 50000+) which have a multiple array of Analysis & Verification tools to calculate crosstalk, impedences,differantial pair routing and what not.
these functions we cannot expect from a low end tool costing USD$800.
Depending on the requirements one can have a high end Tool for complex designs and a low end tool for simpler designs.
I have useed and tried many tools from the P*otel 1.5 ( a very early version) to Cadstar, Orcad etc. each one has its own positive and negetive points.
best is to try there evaluation versions before going for any purchase.
PADS is offering an entry level Suite for less than 3900$, but what is the use of this software where they offer only 2 layer Autorouting facilty at this price level, you will be designing only very simle projects, you will be able to place BGAs but not route it in 2 layers. 
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