Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Hylands" <dhylands@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Mike,
> 
> > > I have discovered one neat trick with Eagle.  It is trivial to get a
> > > beautiful "ground plane" around all your traces. While still at
> > > the "rats nest" stage of layout...just place a polygon (simply a
> > > rectangle really) on the same layer as your traces.  Make it the
> > > size of your entire board.  When you auto route...the autorouter
> > > will automatically isolate all your traces from this "ground plane".
> > > So, it is not really a "ground plane" as it is isolated from
> > > everything else. But, with one little "blue wire" you can make it a
> > > ground plane, if you want.  I just do it because it will save on
> > > etch time.
> >
> > Set its signal name is GND and Eagle will start routing to it.
> 
> You can also add the ground plane after you've finished routing. It's
> important to use the polygon tool and NOT the rectangle tool.
> 
> After creating the polygon (on the bottom layer), rename it to GND (as
> Mike mentioned) and then click on Change Isolation and change the
> isolation  to an appropriate value (you have to click on one of the
> polygon edges).
> 
> When you click on the Ratsnest, it will redo the isolation. If you
> already have ground traces, you can rip them up. I find that when I
> open the board, the ground plae doesn't always show up properly.
> Clicking on rats nest redraws it properly.
> 

WOW!!!   Not only does this save on etching copper by creating a
monolithic groundplane, it's ****EASY*** and ***CONSISTENT***.

Thanks for the great tip, Dave.
This is so, so, so much easier than drawing polygons.
THIS IS THE WAY TO GO!!!!

Nice job.   Thanks so much.   Now making a groundplane is cake.

Alan