I’m building a few debug parts like the one below for my prototype PCB designs.
(Taken from a web image)
The above allows me to switch out any voltage regulator for any other regardless of pin configuration (yes, the above is missing two iterations, but I’m posting this one for simplicity).
See the connection between the first and fourth pads (+5V)? I want to do that in a custom package and have it work. How would I accomplish this in EAGLE?
Thanks in advance!
Append the pads when connecting the schematic and footprint parts in the library.
Thanks Joeisi. My concern is that if you Append (for example) pin #1 and pin #2, EAGLE will connect other components to either pin #1 or pin #2 but never both. Also, this doesn’t seem to automatically connect pin #1 & pin #2 in the board layout, as the pins are treated as “you can connect to either pin 1 or 2, it’s the same thing”.
Though I could make the connection in the layout editor myself, I’d rather build it into the package just to make it foolproof from this fool.
Ive never had an issue with this. I have made footprints for some PIC32s which have multiple grounds and positives. I append them together and somewhere down the line they all get connected together. Usually it is quite close. I would try the append and see what happens in the board editor. No use doing more work than you have too. I also think you should be able to use the line tool in the footprint editor and put it in the pads layer.
I tried Appending, but the board editor didn’t pick up the changes. Also it reports a “Layer Abuse” error when I tried running a wire in the Pads layer. Thanks for throwing me a few suggestions to try out, though.
I was able to solve it by making the voltage regulator symbol have 5 pins instead of 3. I then named the pins GND, IN1, IN2, OUT1, OUT2 and overlapped the INs and OUTs. Then I mapped each 1-to-1 to the package in the OP. This way, it automatically connects the pins when you go to the board editor.
To anyone who wants to replicate this solution: The ERC will act up (overlapping pins error), but functionally the PCB will work so you can ignore that error. Also, if you use the auto-router, make sure you manually route these pins first. Then, uninstall EAGLE for using the auto-router.
All my best,
Mach3Maelstrom
Did you update the changes from the library?
Yes, but EAGLE would only made a route to one of the pads. Pity, because I would like your solution better had it not acted up like that.
Very interesting… I think it would be worth pointing this out to CADSoft. It is either a bug or would be a very nice feature. (I hope none of my designs did this…)
Joeisi - Just an FYI, I was finally able to get the footprint to Append. Don’t know why it didn’t work before… must’ve been a wetware problem. =P
