how to make a plated edge of a board in Eagle? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Prime73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 12:51:09 am
content: Hi folks,I'm trying to design a pcb in Eagle with a connector soldered to an edge of the pcb. Basically I wanna make a plated cut out in the board where I can slide in my connector and solder it in place. Does anyone know anything on the subject? any pointers?thanks in advance!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 02:08:24 am
content: You do ti same as any other PCB tool. Either have the board outline cut through a normal plated pad (just place the pad centre on the board outline), or specify it manually with text on your mechanical/notes layer.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 09:03:57 am
content: If you already know the manufacturer, contact them and ask them how they prefer the data. They will give you some good advice on this, if they speak English and do edge plating.Since this is a connector, I assume eagle doesn't have any DRC for this.

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 01:06:03 pm
content: Surely you could get away with making a custom part in Eagle (extremely easy to do, takes no more then 5 minutes) having pads in the pattern wanted, then placing this component on the board edge? This would be the easiest way, as you then have a part where you can wire to easily.Alternately, draw the copper trace at the required size to the edge as needed, then draw a polygon over where you want the connectors using the 'tstop' and 'bstop' layers, which will tell the fab house to not mask that copper.If you are still really struggling, send me a PM with the connector that you are trying to use and I can whip something up for you.-kizzapEdit: Also if you weren't aware, there is a dedicated Eagle sub forum here, although it is rather quiet.

author: Prime73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 03:36:36 pm
content: I have this connector:and I want to solder it to my pcb like so:Not sure if I can design a custom via in a shape I need.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 04:52:58 pm
content: Quote from: kizzap on September 26, 2013, 01:06:03 pmProbably because all the posts about Eagle are in here!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 05:03:50 pm
content: Whatever you do in the PCB software, you need to tell the PCB manufacturer where edge plating is required, otherwise all edges will be routed after plating.The manufacturing process order is drill & mill all plated holes/slots/edges, then etch tracks, then rout the outer edge.Any edge plating needs to be done by making slots at the initial drilling stage, exactly the same as for plated slots.So you need to effectively specify a plated slot, one side of which touches the PCB edge, and then make sure your outer edge profile line does not pass over the plated edge so it doesn;t get routed off later.You'd typically do this on 2 seperate outline layers.

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2013, 11:09:02 pm
content: Oh I see what you are doing. There is a library that has a part that you might be interested in looking at. Have a look in the "con-coax" Library, under the SMA sub-library. There are a number of options there that might suit your needs. Those style connectors are designed to attach to board edges.If you want it recessed you will just have to specify it in the board outline, just remember to take into consideration that the board house routing will leave a curve on the inside edge, so either specify some routing space to allow the tool to "overshoot" so that you have an effective square edge. Else be prepared to go at it with a file.-kizzap