EagleCAD PCB

Getting the airwires to follow the shortest routes

Press the 'Ratsnest' button

Resolving the last (few) airwires

Set "Catch factor" to 100% (default: 5%)

Options → Set → Misc → Catch factor

Making a Polygon pour

Step 1 - Layout your circuit

Step 2 - Layout your PCB

Step 3 - Route your PCB

Step 4 - Get the 'Polygon' tool

Step 5 - Make your polygon (ground plane in this case)

Step 6 - Get the 'Info' tool

Step 7 - Click on an edge of the polygon

• You have to click on the edge, if you can't see the edge (it's dodging lots of stuff) then you need to pretend that you can!
• Set the isolation to a reasonable value, say 0.024 inches
• Uncheck 'Thermals' (this isolates each pad, but creates little traces in)

Step 8 - Ratsnest!

Step 9 - Oh No

• The ground plane has gone in, and is avoiding the traces... but its also avoiding the ground trace.

Step 10 - Get the 'Name' tool

Step 11 - And check the name of the ground trace

• You of course probably named this in your schematic, something sensible like 'GND'

Step 12 - Name the polygon the same as the desired trace / signal

Step 13 - Hit 'Ratsnest' Again