Eagle PCB Question Changing trace sizes?

[soggybag]

Can anyone tell me how to set the size for traces that I have already laid down with Eagle?

Thanks

[WLS]

Right click the line or circle with your mouse and under properties change the size.

I do not know of a way to change the default value in the program though.


Bill

[juse]

When you are in routing mode, just set the width dropdown & it will become your default trace width:

[~arph]

There is a change tool in the toolwindow (looks like a grey wrench.) when you click that you get a popupmenu with lots of options. One is width, go to that option, choose the width you want. After that doubleclick on the tracks that you want changed.

[soggybag]

Thanks that wrench tool was just what I was looking for.

What do you guys use for drill sizes?

[SpencerPedals]

I use the Gaussmarkov setup for the sizes; I find it to be the perfect setup:

Sizes:

Min wid - 10 mil
min drill - 24 mil
min micro via - 9.99mm
min blind via ratio .5


Restring:

Pads
   top   25   25   25
   inner   10   25   20
   bottom   25   50   25

Vias
   outer   25   50   25
   inner   8   25   20
Micro Vs   outer   4   25   20
   inner   4   25   20

[Taylor]

I use the Gaussmarkov setup for the sizes; I find it to be the perfect setup:

Sizes:

min micro via - 9.99mm

Is that right? I don't use Eagle, but wouldn't this be just about 1 centimeter - i.e., quite a large via?

[soggybag]

Thanks again, and while I have your attention, let me ask a couple more questions!

I've got my PCB all finished. Now I want to export my PCB so that I can make a PCB myself. That is a I need to export an image that I can use to make a PCB using PnP.

[Andi]

You can print direct. Turn off all the layers apart from dimension and bottom (or top, if you're doing the tup of a double sided PCB).

[soggybag]

Thanks for the reply. I have a few more questions.

Is it possible to output a PCB image that I can print from another application? I want to print it at work I don't have a laser printer at home.

I'd like to print Black and White. The image here shows in blue. Not sure what color I will get if I print it.

I don't see the holes in the pads anymore. I seem to have lost them. It looks like the traces cover the holes.

How can I change the pad dimensions?

How do you do that nifty copper flood to fill in the unused space? I'm making my own PCB at home and this saves etchant.

[Taylor]

How do you do that nifty copper flood to fill in the unused space? I'm making my own PCB at home and this saves etchant.

It also helps with noise. Gaussmarkov has a tutorial:

http://gaussmarkov.net/wordpress/tools/software/eagle/ground-pour/

[bean]

Is it possible to output a PCB image that I can print from another application? I want to print it at work I don't have a laser printer at home.
File - Export-Image-set DPI and set to 'monochrome'. It will create a PNG file.

I'd like to print Black and White. The image here shows in blue. Not sure what color I will get if I print it.
see above

I don't see the holes in the pads anymore. I seem to have lost them. It looks like the traces cover the holes.
Check your layers. You might have turned one off.

How can I change the pad dimensions?
You can do it any given project by going to the "Restring" tab on the DRC pop-up menu.

How do you do that nifty copper flood to fill in the unused space? I'm making my own PCB at home and this saves etchant. [/u]
Firt off, you don't need to draw traces for your grounds. Leave them unconnected. Then select the polygon tool, choose a width (16 is good) and also the isolation width (32 is good) from the toolbar. Draw the polygon around all the components and traces. Use the 'Name' button the left-hand tool bar. When it pops up the menu, rename the polygon GND. It wil connect all your grounds together (you may have to push the "Ratsnest" button to see the polygon fill in).

[soggybag]

Thanks Madbean, that worked well. That's good know.

[juse]

I use the Gaussmarkov setup for the sizes; I find it to be the perfect setup:

Sizes:

min micro via - 9.99mm

Is that right? I don't use Eagle, but wouldn't this be just about 1 centimeter - i.e., quite a large via?

Micro & blind vias are not going to be used for pedals anyway, so this is a non-issue. I doubt more than 1% of people building pedals at home will ever even use regular vias..... someone having double-sided or multi-layer boards fabbed would, but not the homebrewer.

[SpencerPedals]

Yeah I think that's why it's set up like that, too

[soggybag]

Thanks for all of the help.

While we're still on the subject, let me ask, how do you change the pad size for pads that have already been laid down? I'd like to make all of the pads just a tad larger.

Also, I have created a dual gang pot. This appears in the board as a set of 6 pads with a particular arrangement. I don't like the way they are arranged. I would prefer to have each pot connection be a separate pad that I can position anywhere. Is there an easy way to do this? I added some pads at the connection point for the pot. I did not want to removed the pot from the schem.

[Andi]

You can adjust the pad sizes either in the library (though that means doing it for each and every package you use) or in the DRC, under the restring tab.

[bean]

I have all my libraries re-sized for 86 (mil) diameter and 27.559 drill. Perfect size for a #70 wire bit. No restring required