I often take parts of a past project or revision and move them to
a new blank board.
In Eagle I can use the Cut command and can copy the schematic to a new
blank schematic but the board layout is jumbled and I have to re-position the
components. Is there a way to make the layout of the components transfer to the new board as well?
AFAIK there’s no way to move both the schematic and board compontents (with coordinate/rotation information).
What I typically do is just create copies of the .brd and .sch files in FileExplorer, rename them to match my new version, and start modifying those. But this doesn’t really help you create a new design from a “library” of schematic/layout pieces.
This may be something that is possible with other, probably more expensive, CAD packages.
I can copy and paste PCB designs, and parts of them, from one PCB to another without any problems using Pulsonix. It’ not usually a good idea because the schematic won’t match the PCB, and ‘PCB Safe Mode’ has to be disabled.
I can also ‘apply’ a layout pattern from one PCB to another one using the same components. This is a much better way of doing it.
Leon
After much playing around this morning I found a way to do but
you have to fix the net names after you paste it in. Here are the steps
Open source .sch and .brd
Use the lasso and select the area of the sch to copy
Switch to sissor tool
Hit the stop light or right click and choose cut group (does not really cut)
close source .sch only
Open dest .sch, say no to opening dest brd
paste sch and close and save
switch to open src .brd
Group and Cut the brd as you did for the .sch
open the dest .brd say no to opening the .sch
paste brd and close and save. Note: layout will perfectly match the original!!! Yay!
Reopen dest .sch and it warns you that the .brd is not in sync
Run ERC and rename/fix all the errors
Sounds like a lot but it’s very quick. It would be great to have the net
names remain the same but this is easier renaming than re-positioning
the components especially if your trying to match a shield etc.
I’m pretty amazed with Eagle overall.
Very cool! Will definitely use this on future projects.