Eagle Question. How do I hide the componet NAME on the layout ?
Bean
Posts: 8,129
I have a couple componets where there is no room for the NAME. Since I want the rest of the componet names to be on the silkscreen, I cannot just turn-off the tName layer. And Eagle won't allow a blank name.
Can anything be done ? I though about just moving the name outside of the dimension layer (off of the board), but I don't know if this will cause problems with the PCB maker.
Bean.
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Can anything be done ? I though about just moving the name outside of the dimension layer (off of the board), but I don't know if this will cause problems with the PCB maker.
Bean.
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Comments
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It's Only A Stupid Question If You Have Not Googled It First!!
Yeah, I tired of being locked into ExpressPCB. So I've decided to devote some quality time to eagle.
What I've done for now, is to "smash" the componet, then I can put the name on the tValues layer. So basically the name and the value are on the tValue layer. Since the tValues is not part of the silkscreen I think this will work fine.
I've also made some special "PAD" componets that automatically have the value on the tName and the name on the tValues layer. I use "PIN1" for the name, and "RA.0" for the tValue. If I DON'T want the "RA.0" on the silkscreen, I then smash it and move it to the tValue layer. Or I just clear the value for that pin/pad.
I've attached pics of what I'm working on. I can upload the eagle files if anyone is interested.
Bean
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Post Edited (Bean (Hitt Consulting)) : 1/9/2008 6:22:53 PM GMT
James L
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James L
Partner/Designer
Lil Brother LLC (SMT Assembly Services)
Post Edited (James Long) : 1/9/2008 6:44:49 PM GMT
Thanks. I didn't realize I could delete the name or value after it is smashed. I guess I assumed that would delete the whole componet, but it doesn't. Cool.
Bean.
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James L
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James L
Partner/Designer
Lil Brother LLC (SMT Assembly Services)
Post Edited (James Long) : 1/9/2008 6:48:08 PM GMT
At some point in everyone's career, the cost of decent tools is trumped by the productivity they confer. You do a lot of PCB design work. Perhaps now is time for you to invest in professional-grade layout tools. I use (and heartily recommend) CADINT. Pricing starts at $700 for a full-featured two-layer version, and additional layers can be added at any time with no penalty. They also offer competitive upgrades, for which Eagle qualifies.
When shopping for PCB CAD software, I tried all the "big boys" (PADS, OrCAD, even Eagle) and found their flexibility and UIs to be awkward at best. (Eagle was probably the worst of the bunch, but even the most expensive ones didn't fare much better.) Obviously, UI issues are a matter of taste, and you just have to try them out. But, seriously, Bean, spend the money on some good tools. You won't regret it. I promise!
-Phil
I always used Autocad (because I knew it), but generating gerbers is a pain. But it was nice because you could do ANYTHING. Like make a pad with a large ring on the top, and a small ring on the bottom (it seems like PCB package assume you would never want to do that ???).
So ExpressPCB was my first "real" PCB program. And it works pretty well, but you are locked into ExpressPCB for your boards. From checking with PCB manufactures it seemed like eagle was the most widely accepted format (other than straight gerber).
I'd say right now I am just evaluating eagle. I'm sure I'll try the others as I get time. I'll be sure to give CADINT a go.
Bean.
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I do that with CADINT all the time. I've even designed pads that overlap with the soldermask on the component side as a light block. The main advantage you get with a specialty PCB program, as opposed to AutoCAD, is that it's PCB-aware. CADINT, for example, knows that a trace isn't just another line on a certain layer, and constructs a netlist as you route. It also shows you the trace clearances as you route. You can also run a design-rule check at any time for clearances and net integrity.
-Phil
One thing that caught my eye in this thread, was the comment on Eagle being accepted by a pcb house. Most PCB houses can except all sorts of CAD data, because they use conversion software to load the files into whatever program they use so that they can generate gerber data. As old as the gerber data format is (1980), it is still the one true standard for pcb houses still to this day. I actually have a copy of the gerber data guide from 1998, which you can still find on the net even though it's technically a dead spec: gerbv.sourceforge.net/docs/rs274xrevd_e.pdf Sadly, I can even say that I can manually generate gerber data. Stencil houses work the same way in that they can accept numerous formats to generate a solder paste stencil for a PCB.
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~~ dRu ~~