EAGLE

Was ist EAGLE?

EAGLE, short for Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor, was a popular EDA suite that combined schematic capture, PCB layout, auto‑routing, and CAM in a single package. Developed by CadSoft and later acquired by Autodesk in 2016, it reached a mature feature set by the early 2010s and remained a go‑to choice for hobbyists and small‑business designers.

The tool is aimed at engineers, makers, and students who need a full‑featured PCB workflow without the cost of commercial CAD packages. Its interface is similar to older Windows EDA tools, with a schematic editor, board editor, and a separate CAM module.

Compared with OrCAD, P‑CAD, or modern Fusion, EAGLE feels more lightweight but less polished. It lacks some of the advanced auto‑routing heuristics and real‑time design rule checks found in newer packages, yet it still offers a solid set of features for basic to intermediate PCB design.

Ideal für: Designing small to medium‑size PCBs where a free, cross‑platform tool is sufficient.

Wichtige Funktionen von EAGLE

• Schematic capture with hierarchical sheets
• PCB layout with auto‑routing
• CAM output for manufacturing
• Scriptable via Python and Tcl
• Library editor for symbols and footprints
• Design rule checks
• Export to Gerber, ODB++, and Excellon

Tipps für Windows-Umsteiger

Files from OrCAD or P‑CAD can be imported via intermediate formats such as IPC‑2581 or Gerber. EAGLE uses .sch and .brd files; its library format (.lbr) is different from the .lib files used by OrCAD. Keyboard shortcuts differ: for example, ‘Ctrl‑S’ saves, ‘Ctrl‑R’ runs the auto‑router, and ‘Ctrl‑T’ toggles the toolbar. The workflow is linear: schematic → board → CAM. Expect a learning curve if you’re used to the integrated, wizard‑driven tools of OrCAD or P‑CAD.