Eagle - How to alter the dimension layer?

Community PCB Design
1

Hi,

In Eagle, I have been creating a footprint for each of the enclosures I use. The footprint defines the dimensions of the board, as well as holes for the mounting points of the PCB in the enclosure.

This allows reusing precise outlines that fit commercial enclosures.

This only works when the board fits the whole area of the enclosure. I am reusing an enclosure for an application where the PCB cannot take the whole space in the enclosure, i.e. the PCB has to allow some space for external connectors.

I then need to alter the footprint I had created for the enclosures.

I though I could explode the footprint of the enclosure (once placed in the layout view), though I realize this only allows moving the name/value layers. Dimension, tPlace etc… These layers cannot seem to be moved once part of a footprint…

At this point I am considering defining each segment of the board outline as name/value, then manually converting them to dimensions once in the layout… But this looks very uggly.

What are your thoughts? Regarding this? How do you handle the dimension layer?

Thanks!

2

I have done something similar, except that I drew the enclosure outline into a document layer, not the actual Dimension layer. From there, I can draw over the document layer lines quickly.

You can also use another layer as your dimension layer when generating the CAM job.

3

theatrus:
I have done something similar, except that I drew the enclosure outline into a document layer, not the actual Dimension layer. From there, I can draw over the document layer lines quickly.

You can also use another layer as your dimension layer when generating the CAM job.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Yes there is this solution. You have to lower the pitch of the grid though so you can follow as close as possible the outline…

4

Or if you know the dimension coordinates, simply enter those in for the line endpoints