Summary of Exploring Eagle CAD ULPs #3 – Teardrops.ULP Make A Teardrop Shape Connection With Pads and Vias
This article introduces the third installment of a series on Eagle CAD User Language Programs (ULPs), focusing specifically on 'Teardrops.ULP'. This tool creates teardrop-shaped connections between traces and vias or pads, addressing limitations previously perceived in Eagle CAD compared to Altium. The teardrop feature enhances PCB reliability by preventing drill breakout caused by misalignment and strengthening trace-to-pad connections against thermal expansion issues during soldering processes.
Parts used in the Teardrops ULP Project:
- Eagle CAD software
- Teardrops.ULP file
- User Language Program (ULP)
- Traces
- Vias
- Pads
Welcome to the third post of the “Exploring Eagle CAD ULPs” series. Every week we will publish a new post about one useful ULP in Eagle CAD.
“ULP” User Language Program is a plain text file which is written in a C-like syntax and can be used to access the EAGLE data structures and to create a wide variety of output files. You can consider it like a plug-in for Eagle.
You can reach the posts published in this series using the following link.
In this post we are going to explore a ULP called ‘Teardrops.ULP’. This ULP makes a teardrop shape connection between the traces and the vias or pads.
Before I found this ULP, I thought that I can’t do the teardrop thing using Eagle CAD, while I saw a lot of designs that have been done using Altium have this feature.
Using teardrop shape connection may result in many advantages:
- It prevents drill breakout due to drill misalignment where the trace joins the via or through hole.
- It makes stronger connection between the traces and the pads. Thermal expansion when re-soldering/desoldering could sometimes lead to a loose connection where the trace joins the pad.
For more detail: Exploring Eagle CAD ULPs #3 – Teardrops.ULP Make A Teardrop Shape Connection With Pads and Vias
- What is a ULP in Eagle CAD?
A ULP is a plain text file written in C-like syntax that accesses EAGLE data structures to create various output files. - Can I use this ULP if I thought Eagle could not do teardrops?
Yes, the author previously believed Eagle could not create teardrops until finding this specific ULP. - Does the Teardrops.ULP prevent drill breakout?
Yes, it prevents drill breakout due to drill misalignment where the trace joins the via or through hole. - How does this ULP help with thermal expansion?
It makes stronger connections between traces and pads to handle loose connections caused by thermal expansion during re-soldering. - Is this ULP similar to features found in Altium?
Yes, the article notes that many designs done using Altium have this teardrop feature. - What format is the Teardrops.ULP file?
The file is a plain text file written in a C-like syntax. - Where can I find other posts in this series?
You can reach other posts in the Exploring Eagle CAD ULPs series using the provided link in the original post.
