Selecting parts in Eagle?

[bassmannate]

So, I've been messing around with Eagle a bit and one thing struck me as I was drawing a schematic. How do you select the correct parts? How do you know that you'll have the correct lead spacing when you go to print your PCB for things like capacitors?

[jkokura]

It's part of selecting the parts. What parts library are you working with? I've only ever worked with Gaussmarkov's and it's super simple. I think there's a way to create your own library but I've not done it. I think you need to take some more time in there or perhaps watch some youtube videos...

jacob

[SISKO]

You should probably be fine with this http://gaussmarkov.net/wordpress/tools/software/eagle/eagle-2-libraries/

[bassmannate]

It's part of selecting the parts. What parts library are you working with? I've only ever worked with Gaussmarkov's and it's super simple. I think there's a way to create your own library but I've not done it. I think you need to take some more time in there or perhaps watch some youtube videos...

jacob

Hey, thanks for the tip on Gaussmarkov's libraries! that makes narrowing down pad spacing much easier! I think I used to use these libraries several years ago when I started messing with Eagle the first time.

[tiges_ tendres]

It's part of selecting the parts. What parts library are you working with? I've only ever worked with Gaussmarkov's and it's super simple. I think there's a way to create your own library but I've not done it. I think you need to take some more time in there or perhaps watch some youtube videos...

jacob

Hey, thanks for the tip on Gaussmarkov's libraries! that makes narrowing down pad spacing much easier! I think I used to use these libraries several years ago when I started messing with Eagle the first time.

The pad spacing is good, but sometimes the holes in those libraries are a little small.

[defaced]

In Eagle, and I would assume other schematic/PCB software, when you select the part, you select both the schematic symbol and the physical part layout.  So you could easily have 1 NPN transistor schematic symbol with 20 different layouts to choose from.  Just flip through the cap options in the RCL library.  One cap symbol and you have like 100 different layouts from electrolytic, to film, to SMT. It's staggering.  Getting the right part layout is usually the annoying part in my experience. 

[Ronsonic]

So, I've been messing around with Eagle a bit and one thing struck me as I was drawing a schematic. How do you select the correct parts? How do you know that you'll have the correct lead spacing when you go to print your PCB for things like capacitors?

That's part of the charm of Eagle, needing to know in advance what part packages you'll need. Soon enough you'll find the "replace component" button when you find yourself going back from board layout to schematic to change the part. It doesn't hurt to have your favorite part supplier's site hot on the computer when doing the schem.  If you are using the GM parts libraries I would strongly suggest going through and increasing the hole sizes on all of the part packages.

[edvard]

I just set hole sizes in the DRC...

Click DRC -> "Sizes" tab -> "Minimum Drill".

[defaced]

I just set hole sizes in the DRC...

Click DRC -> "Sizes" tab -> "Minimum Drill".

That doesn't actually change the size of the drill, that just changes the minimum size the DRC will allow.  I was thinking the same thing yesterday and tried it, all it does is highlight the violating hole. 

[edvard]

Oh, right... 

Here's the way to do it to libraries directly:
http://gaussmarkov.net/wordpress/tools/software/eagle/setting-all-drill-sizes/

And how to do it to the board without affecting any libraries (from http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?page_id=81):

How do I change the drill size globally?
Many of the library parts seem to have ridiculously large drill holes. For a homebrew board or hand-drilling, click the ULP, pick drill-aid.ulp, and enter the new drill diameter (in mm). EAGLE will add a white ring inside each hole in a new layer 116.