Creating PCBs in Eagle (Fusion 360)

Eagle schematics and layouts are made up of parts. Each part has a symbol as well as a footprint.

Symbols are used for creating a schematic by connected components.

Footprints are used for planning the PCB layout after a schematic is completed.

We mentioned how parts and their symbols/footprints are used for schematics and layouts.

We don't have to start from scratch when designing PCBs.

A lot of common parts are included in free libraries and using them would save you a lot of time.

Make sure when using a library, the dot next to the library is green.

From the control panel: File > New > Project

Enter a name for the Project

Right-click your project > New > Schematic

The schematic editor will pop up.

Ctrl + s to save and name your schematic

Tool Bar

General file control tools

Layer

Part Properties Editor

Command Line

Schematic Canvas

Click "Add Part"

Use the Search Bar to look for existing parts in free libraries

Click "OK"

Use left-click to place parts on the schematic

Use ESC to stop placing parts

You can oreint your parts with the:

Move Tool

Rotate Tool

Connect parts with nets.

Nets are like wires to connect components together.

Select the Nets Tool

Make sure you see a circle when initiating a net from one pin to another.

Make use of the junction tool when connecting multiple nets.

It is important to label parts and nets so that you have the necessary information to make decisions when routing parts.

Label Tools such as:

Name

Value

Perform ERC to make sure your schematic is bug-free.

Click "ERC". A list of errors and warnings would pop up. Click individual errors to see where the issue occurs.

Errors (1) - These warrant you taking a careful look at. Anything here could very well cause your circuit to fail.

Unconnected INPUT pin IC1 CON - In general, unconnected input pins are bad. In this case, the CON pin is a reference voltage that you can manually set, but nothing bad happens if you leave it unconnected (floating).

Warnings (2) - These are not as urgent as errors, but still require a cursory glance. One warning to look for is the one about a net only having one node/pin. That means that you didn't connect that net on both ends.

POWER pin IC1 VCC+ connected to +9V- Eagle warns you whenever you connect different voltages of power together (if you connect a 12V power supply line and a 5V power supply line, bad things happen). In this case, it's just a nomenclature difference, so it's OK to approve.

Part LED1 has no value - If I wasn't as lazy as I am, I'd have given the LED1 part a value, but until then, this warning will exist.

New line.Approved (0) - After you click the 'Approve' button on a warning/error, it goes in here.

After the schematic is completed, Eagle can use your schematic information to prepare the layout procedure.

Click "Generate/Switch to board"

Click "Yes"

The layout editor will pop out.

Silkscreen: This layer refers to the markings on the board that usually provides information such as component name, outlines, etc.

Soldermask: This is a layer of polymer that is put on a circuit board to protect the copper from oxidation and shorts during operation.

Copper: This is the layer where all electrical routes and vias (through holes) exist.

Substrate: This is a nonconductive layer that separates the top copper and bottom copper. This allows two layers of non on-overlapping routing.

The PCB is structured so that the above layers are sandwiched together with the substrate in the center.

Tool Bar

General file control tools

Layer

Part Properties

Command Line

Layout Canvas

You can arrange your footprints with the:

Move Tool

Rotate Tool

Note that when selecting a footprint to edit, make sure you click on the cross that is in the center of the footprint.

Routing can be done manually or automatically.

You would want to route manually if there is a specific routing method you want to use.

To perform automatic routing:

Click "Autorouter"

Select the board configuration for top and bottom.

In this example, I only want to route the top layer, so I select N/A for the bottom layer

Click "Continue" > "Start" > "End Job"

With Manual routing, you have full control over how you want to route your traces.

Select Route Airwire

Click the start of an airwire

Click the end of an airwire to complete a route

Complete by routing all the remaining airwires

Select layer 20

Select Line Tool

Trace the board outline with the line tool

Select the Delete Tool

Remove Unnecessary lines

Select CAM Processor

Select Load > Templates > 2 Layer Default

Or choose other templates that works best for your design

Click Process Job

After selecting a directory to save your files in, the directory tree looks like this.

Congratulations! You've successfully completed a schematic design and PCB layout!