Need Help with Eagle Cad

DigitalDj

I know this may not fit into Parallax forum posts but it does relate to making circuit boards for my project which includes Parallax products.

I am trying to log into thier forums through Microsoft News Reader and when i try to post it comes up and says The Message Could Not Be Sent, No Sender Was Specified Please Check Your News Account Configuration! I tried everything to figure this out. Can someone tell me what i need to do, i have never used this before?

Also i am trying to create a new part and need some help, it doesn't have a RGB Led with common anode configuration. I checked all of the downloads and found only a RGB Led with common cathode. I tried to figure out how to modify the part but Eagle Cad is not the easiest program i have ever used and thier documentation is not the best. They talk about layer 21tplace, 25tnames and 27tvalues with no explanation to what this means in the tutorial.

Thanks,
Kevin


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Education And Experience Teaches Knowledge Not Arrogance ! (Unknown)
The Only Stupid Question Is The One Not Asked ! (Unknown, of coarse this is something that i would say)
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Post Edited (DigitalDj) : 6/11/2006 6:42:59 PM GMT

Lightfoot

Don't know anything about microsoft news reader, sounds like a bloated buggy program.

Eagle is not a very flexible program, I am now using express PCB www.expresspcb.com. Try Electronics Workbench's Multisim. It is a great program and has just about every component you can think of! If you look hard you can download a free student edition (I think thats what it is).

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Well well, I'm seeing things, three of them.

-Stanley Blystone

Paul Baker

Three of Them said...
Eagle is not a very flexible program,...

I disagree, Eagle is more flexible than expresspcb's software, some mistake the steeper learning curve for inflexibility. Also using expressPCB does no good for Kevin because he needs gerber output so he can submit the design along with a board·I designed for him.

Kevin, whats the spacing between the pins, is it 0.1"? you can test this if you have a piece of perfboard (a board with pre-drilled holes spaced 0.1" used for prototyping, some Radio Shacks carry them. If you can get me the pin spacing·I can make you a library file, or you can use the common cathode part and just wire it up in reverse.

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Life is one giant teacup ride.

DigitalDj

Paul,

Are we doing screen printing on the boards?

Here is the libraray file of a RGB Led common cathode if you want to change it. I just didn't find the manual real clear, but it's probably just me and new software! The spacing can be .100 just as Eagle sets up for thier grid.

Is the .100 what i should use for the ribbon cable?

I should have just PM'd you but i haven't heard anything back for a while so i just thought you had some other stuff going on. I have just been super busy trying to learn Eagle Cad and programming the user interface for controlling the lights and not getting into trouble with the wife.

I am also in the process of getting the dimensions for the trimmers from allelectronics.

Thanks,
Kevin
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Education And Experience Teaches Knowledge Not Arrogance ! (Unknown)
The Only Stupid Question Is The One Not Asked ! (Unknown, of coarse this is something that i would say)
Do Not Burn The Bridge That Has Brought You Forth You May·Need To Journey Back ! (Chinese)


Post Edited (DigitalDj) : 6/11/2006 8:33:07 PM GMT

Paul Baker

I have been busy, but I sent you the balled Gerbers to your email about a week ago, and sent the BOM before that. I think ribbon cable is typically 0.05" spacing or 0.025". There is specialty 0.1" ribbon cable but it is expensive and unessesary, take a look at the various ribbon cables allelectronics has. Dealing with undocumented surplus parts can be a pain, sometimes it comes down to punching the part through paper and using a drafter's micro-ruler to get the spacing of the pins.

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Life is one giant teacup ride.

DigitalDj

Paul,

I got everything, just kinda waiting on getting this board done. I had sent a PM but you didn't repond, the questions might be a little premature at the moment and can be dealt with as we get further along in the firmware.

I will just order a few trimpots and get the measurements. I used to be a machinist so it won't be a problem to get the dimensions. I should order some anyway so i can see how close and stagger them.

You talked about checking out the powersupplies from the site, i would like to order those when i order the pots. Can you let me know what you think. I don't know if you still have the PM on the one i was looking at. If not i can always resend it. We are looking at app. 2.56 amps per grid. Typically(if i remember right) we would need 1 1/2 to 2 times that much. I would prefer to go with 2 supplies.

Kevin



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Education And Experience Teaches Knowledge Not Arrogance ! (Unknown)
The Only Stupid Question Is The One Not Asked ! (Unknown, of coarse this is something that i would say)
Do Not Burn The Bridge That Has Brought You Forth You May·Need To Journey Back ! (Chinese)

Paul Baker

Sorry thought I answered, but I see I didn't. The format is up to you, but I thought you wanted to start off with the MIT program, so you would adapt thier format for your layout.

Did you take a look at the library part for the RGB leds? It has a wierd offset serpentine pattern for the pins, the RGB leds Ive always seen are square pin layout.

We already determined each board would have its own supply, hence each board has its own plug. Just make sure the supply is 3.3V regulated and has enough current to drive all elements and has a 2.1 mm diameter plug.

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Life is one giant teacup ride.

DigitalDj

The serpentine layout if fine or straight would be fine too. Square would make it to hard since the led will not be mounted directly on top of the board but at a 90deg.

Kevin



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Education And Experience Teaches Knowledge Not Arrogance ! (Unknown)
The Only Stupid Question Is The One Not Asked ! (Unknown, of coarse this is something that i would say)
Do Not Burn The Bridge That Has Brought You Forth You May·Need To Journey Back ! (Chinese)

Paul Baker

Just use the part, it has nothing on the actual board which shows polarity, just remember the diodes are pointing in the other direction on the schematic.

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Life is one giant teacup ride.

T Chap

Maybe this doesn't help, but if you are looking to make boards from Eagle you don't need gerbers at pcbexpress.com, just send them your .BRD file when you are done and they'll make the boards and ship within 2 days. Usually the cost around 20 - 25 per board invery small quantities.