Step-by-step guide: How to go from idea to PCB design in EAGLE as a beginner

Hello There, i once studied mechanical Engineering 10 Years Ago and there was not a whole lot of electronics involved. So i sit here in front of my Laptop an stare at EAGLE and don't know where to start my Project?!
How do i get from Idea to PCB??? (in detailed Steps pls!!!)



Do i really need to know what all ICs and other electroncal components do to plan and create my Own schematics/Diagram? So when i assume some professional electronic engineer puts all these components together in an ECAD software and it just works because he knows what all components do? Is this how it works?
Is there something like generativ design for electronics?
Is there some kind of software wich can simplify the planing process?
Something like an electronic Template?
Thank you!!!

Hello.Miraculous software does not exist. It would be nice to have software that does all the work for you, when you hit a button.You have to do a minimum of work.I work very well with Diptrace. It has a good schematic editor, an excellent PCB procedure, autorouting and 3D vision.For simulations I use Microcap and LTSpice.RegardsGiovanni

Whew, for a start, what sort of project do you have in mind, is it something specific, or just the gleam of an idea.Yes, you do need to know how to chose an IC and how it works. There is a lot of info out there, the ARRL handbook, and the Art of Electonics may be worth looking at, but there are even more basic books around if needs be.
Eagle is not the place to start at this ponit, particularly if the project is very simple, there are other PCB packages that would do the job that won't require the depth of commitment to get a PCB out the other end. In saying that, whatever you do, there is going to be a big learning curve, and a lot of time sitting at a PC.If you have done an engineering project, then the steps in many ways are rather similar, it is just the tools that are different.For starters, you need to write up what your project is, ideas, concepts, and a few block diagrams.There are no templates that will generate your design, either hardware or software, in general.However, what you want to do has quite possibly been done by others, and there is an enormous volume of material available on the web. You have to be cautious, some of it is absolute rubbish, but you can sort some of that out , if for example, there are comments about the project not working for many viewers.A lot of design these days is done in software, you buy a  hardware platform with a processor on it, interface your hardware, and then write the firmware to make it all work. Unfortunately, in the analogue world this is not the case.Let us know what you have in mind for your project, and we may be able to give you further pointers.Cheers,Richard

Nice comments. I suggest Eagle. When I did my first project, I used Eagle. You should find a lot of material as guide on web.

 Since you are "staring at Eagle" I assume you want to use a PCB in a project. I would say to start with what you do know. You probably know something about resistors and LEDs. Maybe start by creating an Eagle schematic consisting of a 5-volt source, a 330-ohm resistor, an LED, and a ground connection. Maybe add a pushbutton. Try simulating your circuit with the Eagle simulator. If the circuit works, get into the Eagle layout screen, create a PCB board outline, and move your parts around to where you want them on the board. Check out
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-schematic/all
I know the foregoing doesn't actually tell you how to do it, but unfortunately there's no super simple way to get up to speed on a PCB schematic capture/layout program. You just have to make a start. Eagle has many tutorials on the web. I work at a university, and typically many of our mechanical engineering students, with very little electronics knowledge and no PCB experience, end up downloading Eagle and in a few days they have a working PCB. Maybe not a very professional design, but it works. So you just need to start somewhere, and having accomplished that first simple LED and resistor design you will have gained a foothold. Then keep climbing. If you want it you'll get there. Good luck, have fun!
 
 

For a quite simple project I do the routing by hand and transfer it to the PCB by hand using my own paint, etch it in my garage (making a big mess) and drill holes using my drill press. For more complex ones I use Kicad, (Eagle is an option too, but there are many others, many still free). Any EDA software has a steep learning curve even for the ones with some electronics knowledge and experience. It is a complex process to get the final Gerber file and sent it to be etched, drilled, printed with component ids and so on.
The higher the frequencies involved the more complex is to get the right PCB. Other factors are small signals, noise, heat, high voltages, etc.
There some companies which can do the PCB from the schematic. I do not know what they charge for that, but that is an option too. As I know they include a small batch so you can test your PCB before the long run and make changes before it is too late.Still the schematic is on your side and component selection too. Same part from different vendors may have different footprint.
Arduino and similar boards are great to use for robotics, CNC, automation and so on. There are lots and lots of finished projects you can use. Still you have to have the knowledge to sort out the one that fits your needs. Most of them include extra PCBs you may need, and component selection.I do not dare to design a simple mechanical component. A simple gear may be too complex for me. I will call for a mechanic engineer. Same as the look, feel and ergonomics is a job for an industrial designer.

I used KiCad for my project. That's is good alternative eda software