Week 5:    Electronics Design

This week, I designed a basic board using Eagle and fab.lbr.  The first step is to create a schematic. The finished product is as below.

My key learning:

• Eagle works differently from other design software that I've used. You need to select the function first before you select the object that you are applying the function to.
• Useful commands: value, name, move, group.

After designing the schematic, switch to the board. Eagle provided me with a half designed board. I used "route" function to connect the parts. Since the parts do not fit into the automatically generated board. I used "group" and "move group" commands to change the arrangement and space on the board so that all parts can fit well. Wires cannot cross each other, but you can put a wire under a resistor when necessary.

Finished product is as follows:



After the design work is done, we need to check the output against design principles. I used DRC command and then the "clearance" tab. As Eagle responds with "no error" message, I started the export process.

For export, I first used "layer" command to display only top and dimensions, with "monogram, 500 dpi, png format" as my requirements. Then I exported the bottom rectangular as the frame for the cut out.

Afterwards, we can load the files into the fab module and make the board!