Rayming and CadSoft EAGLE match your needs for electronics development

Introduction to Rayming and CadSoft EAGLE

RAYMING PCB & Assembly is a leading provider of printed circuit board (PCB) design, fabrication, and assembly services. They have partnered with CadSoft Computer to offer the EAGLE PCB design software to help engineers and hobbyists bring their electronic designs to life.

EAGLE (Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor) is a powerful yet easy-to-use software tool for designing PCBs. It offers schematic capture, board layout, and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) features in an integrated environment. With EAGLE, you can quickly design complex, multi-layer PCBs and generate the necessary files for manufacturing.

Request Ceramic PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

Key Features of CadSoft EAGLE

Schematic Capture

Create hierarchical designs with multiple sheets
Extensive library of electronic components
ERC (Electrical Rule Check) for catching errors
Supports buses for cleaner schematics
Forward/backward annotation with board layout

PCB Layout

Up to 16 signal layers plus inner planes
Customizable Design Rules for automating layout
Real-time DRC (Design Rule Check)
Polygons and split planes for custom copper shapes
Topological autorouter for quick routing

CAM Processor

Generate industry-standard CAM files (Gerber, Excellon, etc.)
Customize CAM jobs for specific fab house requirements
3D visualization of board designs
Bill of Materials (BOM) and pick/place file generation

EAGLE Editions and Licensing

CadSoft offers several editions of EAGLE to fit different needs and budgets:

Edition	Key Limitations	Price
Free	Non-commercial, 2 signal layers, 80cm^2, 1 schematic sheet	$0
Educational	For students and educators, 4 signal layers, 160cm^2, 99 schematic sheets	$169
Standard	Commercial use, 4 signal layers, 160cm^2, 99 schematic sheets	$369
Premium	Commercial use, 16 signal layers, 4m^2, 999 schematic sheets	$969
Ultimate	No restrictions	$1640

All paid licenses are perpetual and include 1 year of free updates. Educational licenses require proof of academic status.

Using EAGLE with Rayming Services

Rayming has expertise in taking EAGLE designs and turning them into physical PCBs through their fabrication and assembly services.

PCB Fabrication

Standard and advanced PCB technologies
Prototype to high-volume production
Wide range of materials and surface finishes
Rigid, flex, and rigid-flex constructions
Impedance control and high-speed/RF
Quick-turn options available

PCB Assembly

Surface mount (SMT) and through-hole
Automated and hand assembly
BGA, PoP, 0201, uBGA/CSP and other advanced packages
Lead-free and RoHS compliant
Conformal coating and potting
Custom packaging and drop shipping

By using EAGLE for design and Rayming for manufacturing, you get a complete electronics development solution from a single provider. Rayming can advise on design for manufacturing (DFM) considerations in EAGLE to ensure your boards are high yielding and reliable.

EAGLE Training and Support Resources

Learning to use EAGLE effectively will make you a more productive PCB designer. Fortunately there are many resources available:

Official Documentation

EAGLE online help and user manual
Tutorial and Getting Started guides
FAQ and Knowledge Base on CadSoft website

Online Forums and Discussion Groups

CadSoft Yahoo group
element14 EAGLE forum
Autodesk EAGLE forum
EEVblog EAGLE subforum

Video Tutorials and Courses

Official CadSoft EAGLE tutorials on YouTube
Contextual Electronics’ Shine on You Crazy KiCad and EAGLE tutorial
Udemy and Skillshare courses on PCB design with EAGLE

Books and Print Resources

Make Your Own PCBs with EAGLE by Simon Monk
EAGLE Tutorials by Scot Kornak
PCB Design with EAGLE by Hiroaki Zama

Many of these resources are free or low-cost. With some dedication and practice, you can become an expert EAGLE user.

EAGLE Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips to boost your productivity and design better PCBs in EAGLE:

Use Keyboard Shortcuts – EAGLE has dozens of keyboard shortcuts for common actions. Learning these will save you time vs. hunting through menus.
Create Custom Components – EAGLE comes with many component libraries, but you’ll often need to create custom parts. Use the Library Editor to make your own SCH symbols and PCB footprints.
Use Design Rules – Spend time setting up appropriate Design Rules for things like track widths, clearances, and via sizes. This will help automate your layout process and catch errors.
Create Reusable Blocks – For circuitry you use often, create reusable blocks that combine the schematic and layout. You can then just drop these into new designs as needed.
Panelize for Production – If doing a production run, use EAGLE’s ULP tools to panelize your boards into arrays for more economical manufacturing. Rayming can also handle this for you.
Leverage User Language Programs (ULPs) – EAGLE’s ULPs allow you to automate tasks with simple scripts. Many user-contributed ULPs are available for things like BOM generation, CAM file processing, etc.

With these tips and some practice, you’ll be well on your way to EAGLE mastery and producing great PCB designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rayming PCB & Assembly?

Rayming PCB & Assembly is a provider of printed circuit board (PCB) design, fabrication, and assembly services. They can manufacture PCBs from designs created in EAGLE or other CAD tools.

What is CadSoft EAGLE?

CadSoft EAGLE is a PCB design software that includes schematic capture, board layout, and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) features. It is used by engineers and hobbyists to design custom electronics.

How much does EAGLE cost?

EAGLE has a free non-commercial version and several paid license tiers. The paid licenses range from $169 to $1640 depending on features and commercial usage. All paid licenses are perpetual with 1 year of updates.

What are the key features of EAGLE?

Some of EAGLE’s key features include:

Schematic capture with ERC (Electrical Rule Check)
PCB layout with up to 16 signal layers
Real-time DRC (Design Rule Check)
Custom Design Rules for automating layout
Integrated autorouter and 3D visualization
CAM Processor for generating manufacturing files

Where can I learn to use EAGLE?

There are many resources available for learning EAGLE, including:

Official documentation and tutorials from CadSoft
Online forums and discussion groups
Video courses on YouTube, Udemy, and Skillshare
Books like Make Your Own PCBs with EAGLE

Most of these resources are free or low-cost. With some practice and dedication, you can become proficient in EAGLE.

Conclusion

Rayming PCB & Assembly and CadSoft EAGLE form a powerful combination for bringing electronics designs to life. EAGLE provides an intuitive yet full-featured toolset for schematic capture and PCB layout. Rayming can then translate those EAGLE designs into physical boards through their fabrication and assembly services.

By leveraging the training resources and productivity tips presented here, you’ll be able to make the most of EAGLE in your design work. For those looking for a complete electronics development solution, Rayming and CadSoft EAGLE are the clear choice.

Ceramic PCB