How to generate two PCB from one schematic - SparkFun Electronics Forum

How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153549

By anandsba - Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:34 am

- Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:34 am #153549

Hi,
I have a circuit where I am using 4 LEDs. I want to put them on a small PCB and connect it to the main PCB (remaining ckt) using a connector cable. Is there a way to do this?

TIA,
Anand.

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153556

By leon_heller - Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:13 pm

- Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:13 pm #153556

Two schematics?

Leon Heller
G1HSM

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153557

By UNTEngineer - Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:12 pm

- Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:12 pm #153557

anandsba wrote:Hi,
I have a circuit where I am using 4 LEDs. I want to put them on a small PCB and connect it to the main PCB (remaining ckt) using a connector cable. Is there a way to do this?

TIA,
Anand.

You'll have to break it down into separate projects, with their own schematics and PCB layouts. As Leon says, just use two schematics.

Working on a Smart Home Controls System. Visit my blog: http://tae09.blogspot.com/ to find out more, and to keep track with the project.

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153566

By anandsba - Tue Dec 25, 2012 10:40 pm

- Tue Dec 25, 2012 10:40 pm #153566

Right now I have one schematic.
The last option is have two schematics. I wanted to know if there are any options to have two boards (one having some components and other having the rest) mapped to a single schematic.

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153575

By Ross Robotics - Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:58 am

- Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:58 am #153575

It depends on what program you are using. Last time I heard, Fritzing was trying to implement multiple boards in the PCB view. As far as I am aware, Eagle does not support this.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
//codlink
Available for circuit and PCB design, just PM me!

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153586

By lyndon - Wed Dec 26, 2012 12:13 pm

- Wed Dec 26, 2012 12:13 pm #153586

Layout the "two" PCBs as a single board, but put a cut line where you want it separated. Have the PCB vendor shear the board in two at the cut line.

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153594

By WethaGuy - Wed Dec 26, 2012 5:19 pm

- Wed Dec 26, 2012 5:19 pm #153594

lyndon wrote:Layout the "two" PCBs as a single board, but put a cut line where you want it separated. Have the PCB vendor shear the board in two at the cut line.

You may find adding airwires to lyndon's solution above will help make the layout work better also.

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153596

By UNTEngineer - Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:27 pm

- Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:27 pm #153596

You could, in addition to lyndon's solution, make your schematic on two separate sheets, if you have the Hobby version of Eagle. At least that way you can separate out the two schematics, but keep them in the same project.

Working on a Smart Home Controls System. Visit my blog: http://tae09.blogspot.com/ to find out more, and to keep track with the project.

Re: How to generate two PCB from one schematic#153794

By anandsba - Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:21 am

- Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:21 am #153794

Hello,
Wish You all a very Happy New Year 2013
Thanks for all your replies.
For the problem I had, I found a way out. I am not very sure whether it would be applicable to others or not. What I did was:
1> Added two connectors to the schematic.
2> Connected the two circuits (One which will be there on the main board and other which will be there on the LED board)using the connectors added. The two circuits are not connected electrically unless we use a connector cable between the two connectors.
3> Completed the main board as usual.
4> Put the LED board components outside the main board and place them as required.
5> Put a wire around the components in dimension layer.
6> Routed it (manually / automatically).
7> The two boards are done in a single PCB file.

By this way I have avoided two projects two schematics, two PCB files. I have not generated the gerber yet. I do not know what issues I will face in them;). I hope to have made my points clear. I wish I could have shared the circuit. However I cannot do that as it is confidential.
Regards,
Anand.

SparkFun Forums