Developer(s) | Autodesk (previously CadSoft Computer) |
---|---|
Initial release | 1988; 31 years ago |
Stable release | 9.4.0[1] / 24 April 2019; 33 days ago[1] |
Operating system | Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, previously also OS/2 and DOS |
Platform | 64-bit (previously also 32-bit and 16-bit) x86 PCs |
Available in | English, German, Hungarian, Chinese, Russian |
Type | ECAD/EDA, CAM |
License | subscription |
Website | autodesk.com/products/eagle |
EAGLE is a scriptable electronic design automation (EDA) application with schematic capture, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, auto-router and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) features. EAGLE stands for Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor (German: Einfach Anzuwendender Grafischer Layout-Editor) and is developed by CadSoft Computer GmbH. The company was acquired by Autodesk Inc. in 2016.[2]
EAGLE contains a schematic editor, for designing circuit diagrams. Schematics are stored in files with .SCH extension, parts are defined in device libraries with .LBR extension. Parts can be placed on many sheets and connected together through ports.
The PCB layout editor stores board files with the extension .BRD. It allows back-annotation to the schematic and auto-routing to automatically connect traces based on the connections defined in the schematic.
EAGLE saves Gerber and PostScript layout files as well as Excellon and Sieb & Meyer drill files. These are standard file formats accepted by PCB fabrication companies, but given EAGLE's typical user base of small design firms and hobbyists, many PCB fabricators and assembly shops also accept EAGLE board files (with extension .BRD) directly to export optimized production files and pick-and-place data themselves.
EAGLE provides a multi-window graphical user interface and menu system for editing, project management and to customize the interface and design parameters. The system can be controlled via mouse, keyboard hotkeys or by entering specific commands at an embedded command line. Multiple repeating commands can be combined into script files (with file extension .SCR). It is also possible to explore design files utilizing an EAGLE-specific object-oriented programming language (with extension .ULP).
The German CadSoft Computer GmbH was founded by Rudolf Hofer and Klaus-Peter Schmidinger in 1988 to develop EAGLE,[3][4][5][6] a 16-bit PCB design application for DOS. Originally, the software consisted of a layout editor with part libraries only. An auto-router module became available as optional component later on. With EAGLE 2.0 a schematics editor was added in 1991.[7] The software used BGI video drivers, and XPLOT to print.[7] In 1992, version 2.6 changed the definition of layers, but designs created under older versions (up to 2.05) could be converted into the new format using the provided UPDATE26.EXE utility.
EAGLE 3.0 was changed to be a 32-bit extended DOS application in 1994.
Support for OS/2Presentation Manager was added with version 3.5 in April 1996. This version also introduced multi-window support with forward-/backward-annotation, user-definable copper areas, and a built-in programming language with ULPs. It was also the first to no longer require a dongle.
In 2000 EAGLE version 4.0 officially dropped support for DOS and OS/2, but now being based on Qt 3[8][9] it added native support for Windows and was among the first professional electronic CAD tools available for Linux.[10] A 32-bit DPMI version of EAGLE 4.0 running under DOS was still available on special request in order to help support existing customers, but it was not released commercially. Much later in 2015, a special version of EAGLE 4.09r2 was made available by CadSoft to ease installation under Windows 7.
Starting with version 4.13, EAGLE became available for Mac OS X, with versions before 5.0.0 still requiring X11. Version 5.0.0 officially dropped support for Windows 9x and Windows NT 3.x/4.x. This version was based on Qt 4[11][12] and introduced user-definable attributes.
On 24 September 2009, Premier Farnell announced the acquisition of CadSoft Computer GmbH.[13][4]
Version 5.91.0 introduced an XML-based file format in 2011 but continued to read the older binary format. It could not, however, write files in the former format, thereby not allowing collaboration with EAGLE 5.12.0 and earlier. EAGLE 6.0.0 no longer supported Mac OS X on the Power PC platform (only on Intel Macs), and the minimum requirements were changed to Mac OS X 10.6, Linux 2.6 and Windows XP. This version also introduced support for assembly variants and differential pair routing with length matching and automatic meandering.
Version 7.0.0 brought hierarchical designs, a new gridless topological pre-router called 'TopRouter' for the conventional ripup-and-retry auto-router as well as multi-core support.[14] Version 7.3.0 introduced native 64-bit versions for all three platforms in 2015. Version 7.6.0 dropped support for the 32-bit Mac OS X version in 2016. EAGLE 6.x.x continues to read EAGLE 7.x.x design files for as long as the hierarchical design feature isn't used.[14]
On 27 June 2016, Autodesk announced the acquisition of CadSoft Computer GmbH from Premier Farnell, with Premier Farnell continuing to distribute CadSoft products for Autodesk.[15] Autodesk changed the license to a subscription-only model starting with version 8.0.0 in 2017. Only 64-bit versions remain available any more. The file format used by EAGLE 8.0.0 and higher is not backward compatible with earlier EAGLE versions.
Since EAGLE version 8.0.0, there are Premium, Standard, Free, and Student & educator editions, with the Standard and Premium versions sold on a monthly or annual subscription basis, requiring online reactivation at least every 14 days (30 days since version 9.0).
Comparison of features for the various available editions:[16][17]
Version | Schematic sheets | Layers | PCB size | Use | Cost/month | Cost/year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Premium | 999 | 16 | 4 m² | Any | $65 | $510 |
Student and educator | 999 | 16 | 4 m² | For student and educator use only | Free | Free |
Standard | 99 | 4 | 160 cm² | Any | $15 | $100 |
Free | 2 | 2 | 80 cm² | For individual, non-commercial use only | Free | Free |
For comparison, the former (no longer obtainable) perpetual licensing scheme for EAGLE 7.x.x with costs referring to the 2016 prices for a single-user license:[18]
Version | Schematic sheets | Layers | PCB size | Use | Cost ('LS' without Autorouter) | Cost (with Autorouter) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate (LS) | 999 | 16 | 4 m² | Any | $1145 | $1640, €1385 |
Premium (LS) | 99 | 6 | 160×100 mm² | Any | $575 | $820, €690 |
Maker | 99 | 6 | 160×100 mm² | For individual, non-commercial use only | N/A | $169, €140 |
Educational | 99 | 6 | 160×100 mm² | For non-commercial student and educator use only | N/A | Free |
Standard | 2 | 2 | 100×80 mm² | Any | N/A | $69, €62 |
Express | 2 | 2 | 100×80 mm² | For individual, non-commercial use only | N/A | Free |
A large group of textual and video tutorials exists for beginners to design their own PCBs.[19]
The DIY electronics site SparkFun uses EAGLE and releases the EAGLE files for boards designed in-house. SparkFun Electronics[20] is a company that has grown due to the hobbyist market exemplified by Make magazine and others. Many of these companies offer EAGLE part libraries[21] which define schematic shapes, pinouts, and part sizes to allow for correct layout in the PCB layout editor.
Other popular libraries include Adafruit,[22]Arduino,[23] SnapEDA,[24] and Dangerous Prototypes,[25]element14 (a subsidiary of Farnell, former owners of CadSoft) also have some libraries available from their site.[26]
Using ULPs to convert EAGLE .BRD files into Specctra-compatible design files (with file extension .DSN) it is possible to export designs for usage in conjunction with advanced external autorouters such as KONEKT ELECTRA,[27]Eremex TopoR[28] or Alfons Wirtz's FreeRouting.[29] For further touching-up the finished designs in session format can be imported back into EAGLE via .SES to .SCR script file converters.
In spring 1991 the dongle protection scheme of EAGLE 2.0 had been cracked causing a decline of 30% in sales, while sales for a reduced demo version with a printed manual saw a significant increase.[3] As a consequence in 1992 CadSoft sent thousands of floppy disks containing a new demo of EAGLE 2.6 to potential users, in particular those who had ordered the former demo but had not subsequently bought the full product.[3] The new demo, however, also contained spy code scanning the user's hard disk for illegal copies of EAGLE.[3] If the program found traces of such, it would show a message indicating that the user was entitled to order a free printed manual using the displayed special order code, which, however, was actually a number encoding the evidence found on the user's machine.[3] Users sending in the filled out form would receive a reply from CadSoft's attorneys.[3][30] The act of spying, however, was illegal as well by German law.[3][30]
In 2014, EAGLE 7.0.0 introduced a new FlexeraFLEXlm-based licensing model, which wasn't well received by the user community, so that CadSoft returned to the former model of independent perpetual licenses with EAGLE 7.1.0.
Despite announcements to the contrary in 2016, Autodesk switched to a subscription-only licensing model with EAGLE 8.0.0 in January 2017.[31][32] Without an online connection to a licensing server to verify the licensing status every two weeks (four weeks since version 9.0.0), the software would fall back to the functionality of the freeware version.[31][32] This caused an uproar in the user community, in particular among those who work in secure or remote environments without direct internet access and users for whom it is mandantory to be able to gain full access to their designs even after extended periods of time (several years up to decades) without depending on third-parties such as Autodesk to allow reactivation (who may no longer be around or support the product by then). Many users have indicated they would refuse to upgrade under a subscription model and rather migrate to other electronic design applications such as KiCad.[31][32]
You’ve got all the right ideas, but do you know what to do with them? Schematic design is needed to get those ideas out of your head and into action! Schematic symbols from the foundation of every electronics design, and if you’re like most engineers, then you probably started doodling your circuit on the back of a napkin or your notebook. Now that you’ve got all that circuitry on paper, it’s time to put it into practice in your PCB design tool.
There are a few things we’d like to cover before we journey further, specifically:
It’s good to have a general understanding of all the parts that you can place on a schematic and their appearance. We’d recommend saving this handy reference list, or even printing out the chart below and hanging it above your desk.
Why? First, this will be a huge help if you ever need to review any schematic. And second, there’s a ton of symbols, many of which look different depending on if you’re looking at a US or international schematic. It’s near impossible to remember all of those, so keep this chart handy.
Some of the most common symbols you’ll find used in electronic schematics.
Next, let’s talk about the process that it takes to complete a schematic for a PCB. Selecting and placing your symbols is just one piece to the puzzle. To give you an idea of what it takes to consider a schematic fully complete, here are all the steps:
Let’s start working with schematic symbols!
We’re going to assume that this is your first time working with Autodesk EAGLE. Download EAGLE for free if you do not have it already. Every project is organized into a project folder, with schematics, PCB layouts, and other files all nestled together in one location. This makes it easy to keep things organized. Let’s create your first project and add a brand new schematic with these steps:
Now we have our project folder set up with our first schematic. If you go back to your Control Panelyou’ll be able to see all of your project files organized together as shown below:
Our first project folder and schematic highlighted in orange. There’s also a ton of example projects that are included in Autodesk EAGLE for free.
Next, you’ll need to activate all of the libraries that come with EAGLE, and there’s a ton of them! This is one of the remarkable benefits of using EAGLE, as most of the parts you need for your design have already been created by someone else, so you don’t have to spend time making them yourself.
To begin, select the Add icon on the left-hand side of your EAGLE schematic. This will open the ADD Dialog, notice that it is blank.
None of the libraries are showing up that come with Autodesk EAGLE. The solution – they need to be activated first.
By default, when you open EAGLE for the first time none of the default libraries will be activated. So let’s go back to your Control Panel and turn them all on with these steps:
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As you can see in the image below, all of the part libraries in our Libraries folder have a green dot next to them. This means that they’re activated and ready for use in our schematic.
The green dots indicate that a library is active and ready for use.
You might have noticed that there are other sub-folders within the main Libraries folder from elektro, element14, etc. These sub-folders didn’t get activated from the steps you did above since the libraries are nested within another folder. But no worries, if you want to activate these libraries just repeat the steps above for each individual folder.
You’ve got your libraries activated now, let’s start searching for and placing your symbols.
Now that your libraries are activated let’s head back into your schematic document and select the Add icon on the left-hand side of your interface. Your ADD Dialog should now look similar to ours:
This is how your Add Dialog should look when your parts libraries are activated.
Let’s find our first part, a timer, with these steps:
Here’s an NE555 timer, notice how every part includes a symbol, footprint, description, and set of attributes. Adobe photoshop cc 2018 free download.
You just placed your first schematic symbol. Easy enough, right? You can repeat the process above to add all of the parts you need for your schematic. There are a few more parts to add, so head back into the ADD panel and search for the following parts:
If you were following along, then your schematic sheet should have the parts shown below (where they are placed doesn’t matter, right now):
All the schematic symbols you should have so far, we’ve got (4) resistors, (2) LEDs, (1) capacitor, (1) connector, and (3) bipolar timers.
Alright, now that you have all of your parts placed, it’s time to learn how to delete all of those extra timers you added earlier. Then we’ll get your parts facing the right direction with some rotation options, and then we can move every symbol to its proper location!
You have three timers sitting on your schematic sheet, but you only need one. Let’s learn how to delete those extra ones with these steps:
We’re now down 2 timers, leaving us only the essential parts we need for this circuit.
Now that you have all of those unnecessary parts deleted, let’s get everything facing the right direct direction with these steps:
All of your other parts should already be in their correct rotation, but if not, make sure everything matches up with our schematic below:
Now that all of our parts are in the correct orientation we can be moved to where they need to be.
Now, let’s get everything moved into place on your schematic. This part is important as your symbols need to be placed in the way they will be wired on your completed schematic. Follow these steps:
This process is pretty straightforward. Go ahead and move all of your parts around to make it match our schematic below:
Our schematic with all the symbols in their place, ready for wiring with nets.
There’s one handy alternative that we’d like to point out about the EAGLE interface before we send you on your way. In the steps above, you relied on the set of icons on the left-hand side of your interface to perform all of your actions. However, this isn’t the only way to get things done; there’s also the right-click Context Menu, check it out:
The right-click context menu provides a ton of options when working with symbols.
You can open this context menu by hovering over a symbol with your mouse or trackpad and right-click. You’ll notice that many of the actions we used today can be found in this menu. Keep the Context Menu in mind the next time you need to adjust your symbols. The choice is yours.
You did it! Your schematic symbols are now placed and ready to be wired, which we’ll be covering in our next blog. This is a big first step in your EAGLE journey. Here’s a quick recap of what you learned today:
Projects – First, you learned how to create a new project and schematic sheet in Autodesk EAGLE. This all went down in the trusty Control Panel.
Parts – Next, you activated your libraries and learned how to search for parts in the ADD panel, then you placed them on your schematic.
Placement – Lastly, you learned how to get rid of all those unnecessary symbols with the delete option and then you rotated and moved your parts to their new home.
This is a great first start, but it’s just the beginning of your schematic. Here’s what you can look forward to in the rest of the Schematic Basics series for Autodesk EAGLE:
Making your first schematic in the free version of Autodesk EAGLE is just the tip of the iceberg!