Overview

This repository includes our libraries for CadSoft EAGLE PCB Design Software (version 6.x). I use the components in these libraries for designing the electronic hardware of the products I sell on my website. I've tested most of the footprints herein, and little by little I'll be adding whether they've been tested or not in the devices' description. Nonetheless, always, always test your board layouts by printing a 1:1 scale copy, and superimposing the physical components on it.

If you find a mistake (wrong-sized footprints, mislabeled pins) let us know and receive a 10% discount on your next order!

For clearly explained, step-by-step tutorials on using these libraries for designing your own electronic hardware please visit the learning resources site.

Library Organization

I've arranged the components into libraries according to their function to try and facilitate searching for each one of them. Some organizational choices are a matter of preference whereas others might have been done by mistake. If you spot something that could be done better please let me know.

1. Ai_Boards: development boards (e.g., Blackjack) and their respective shields (e.g., Arduino Motor Shield, Blackjack Wi-Fi Shield)
2. Ai_Connectors: all types of connectors such as USB, pin headers and sockets in different configurations (e.g., pad shapes, with or without silkscreen), SD cards, screw terminals, etc.
3. Ai_DiscreteSemis: diodes and transistors.
4. Ai_Electromechanical: mechanical hardware (e.g., stand-offs), buttons, switches, etc.
5. Ai_FrequencyControl: crystals, resonators, etc.
6. Ai_IC: digital and analog Integrated Circuits such as microcontrollers, digital logic chips, shift registers, etc. (Excludes power ICs such as regulators, and RF ICs such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules)
7. Ai_LED: LEDs of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
8. Ai_Miscellany: frames, logos, and other non-electrical/-mechanical items.
9. Ai_Passives: capacitors, inductors, resistors, fuses, beads, potentiometers, etc.
10. Ai_Power: power ICs such as regulators, power symbols (e.g., GND, 5V, VIN, VBAT).
11. Ai_RF: RF ICs including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, RF connectors, antennas, etc.

Usage

To use these libraries please follow these simple steps:

1. Download this repository, and make a note of its location in your system.
2. Open the EAGLE application, and select the Control Panel window.
3. Using the top menu, select Options » Directories.
4. The Directories window lets us specify the location of the libraries, scripts, design rules, and other components of EAGLE's software. In the first line we see an entry for Libraries to which we want to append the location of the downloaded contents (Ai_EAGLE_Libraries).

4.1. Option 1: assuming that the Ai_EAGLE_Libraries repository was downloaded to the current user's home directory, simply change the text entry $EAGLEDIR/lbr to:

`$EAGLEDIR/lbr:$HOME/Ai_EAGLE_Libraries (for OS X and Linux)`

or,

`$EAGLEDIR\lbr;$HOME\Ai_EAGLE_Libraries (for Windows)`

Note: The $HOME part of the location specifies the home folder of the current user, thus these examples assume that the libraries were downloaded to that location location (C:\Users\YourUsername (Windows), /Users/YourUsername (OS X), /home/YourUserName (Linux)).

4.2 Option 2: if we want the Ai_EAGLE_Libraries residing with other custom libraries inside a custom_libraries directory we can choose the path:

$EAGLEDIR/lbr:$HOME/custom_libraries (for OS X and Linux)

or,

$EAGLEDIR\lbr;$HOME\custom_libraries (for Windows)

5. Click OK to save your changes. If the directory doesn't exist EAGLE will ask to create one.

If the Ai_EAGLE_Libraries folder already exists in your system and you get this prompt then select No, go back to step 2., click on the option 'Choose' at the bottom right of the window, and select the location manually.

If the Ai_EAGLE_Libraries folder doesn't exist, then select Yes. Afterward you'll need to move the downloaded Ai_EAGLE_Libraries folder into the newly created location.

6. As of EAGLE 6.5.0 you should be able at this point to see the Ai_EAGLE_Libraries by selecting the Control Panel window, and expanding (clicking on +) the Libraries option.

7. To browse the components, expand the Ai_EAGLE_Libraries option and subsequently expand any of the libraries therein (e.g., Ai_Boards, Ai_Connectors, etc.).

If you have any doubts about installation, usage, or troubleshooting the library and/or CadSoft's EAGLE software check out the PCB Design tutorials and guides.

License Information

All contents of this repository are licensed under a Beerware License. If you find the libraries useful, and we happen to cross paths, you're encouraged to buy us a beer. The libraries are distributed hoping that you in fact find them useful, but without warranty of any kind.

It'd be great to hear what you've built using these libraries, so drop me a line and I'll happily feature your latest creation on my blog!