Hello Bryce.

Just wondering if there is a module or if I could create my own that has a dummy part in it. This would allow me to place a symbol in eeschema that represents a component not on the board like bolts, nuts, other mounting hardware, etc. but would not actually result in a footprint on the PCB? This makes creating the BOM much easier for a project. Is this possible? I performed several quick searches of the messages here but turned up nothing.

Of course yes, this is possible.

Just make a footprint with nothing in and save it with a name.

Hello acidblue

Are there any shem symbols for a resistor network in kicad?

Of course, you will find the resistor array symbols in the ACTUAL
Version of the library "SymbolsSimilarEN60617+oldDIN617-RevE3.lib".
It is at the attachmend, but you should find this file also at the file
repository of this user group.

The library SymbolsSimilarEN60617+oldDIN617 wich is in the actual KiCAD,
is about one and a half year old, so much has changed.
Be carefull, if you have an old design with an old library, an choose
now a new version of this library. If only the nuber of revision is
changed, i worked on errors and added new symbols, but if the letter is
changed, much moore is changed, like origin points, dimensions and
names.

But i did not create a module library for resistor arrays yet.

There also different types of resistor arrays. Most common are a single
in line row, and all resistors are conected at one side. This connection
is usually at one end of the row.
But there are also arrays of separated resistors in a row.
for SMD, the variations seems to be even greater.....

Specifically I'm look for 6 pin and 10 pin bus sip symbols.

I named them RESISTOR_4XARRAY_BUSSED_SIL......... and
RESISTOR_6XARRAY_BUSSED_SIL.........

Please tell me, if it is what you want, and please tell me, if you found
some errors.

I just created some boards and noticed, that i made a huge mistake with
5x20mm fuse Sockets from my own. :-(
Now i have boards with a fuse socket footprint, which is 5mm too long,
and i even fought hard, to get this fitting to the board.....shit
happens.

With best regards: Bernd Wiebus alias dl1eic

Hello Jean-Pierre Charras.

Bernd,
I had a look to yours files:
Your component is not named:
"RESISTOR_RevE_Date15jun2010"
but:
"RESISTOR_RevE_Date15jun2010 "
Note the space a the end of the name.

AAAARGH! I see! Yes of course.

I believe this space at end of the name creates problems (like any
space at the end of a name or a filename)

Not only at the end. I remember i once had a similar problem with a
space in the middle of a symbol name. ;-)

By the way, your files helped me to fix an other bug in Eeschema.

May i guess? I think it has to do either being able to create a symbol
with a space at the name at all or that i was able to "solve" the
problem by newtyping the name at the schematic with lower case letters?

I retyped the name at the library now, but i also have to rewrite the
name at all schematics, where i used this resistor.

I found this error with the resistor also at some parent versions of
this library.
Now i will rework the hole library by checking for similar problems.
After this, i will send it to you as contribution.

If you want some more files from me for testing, you have just to say.

With best regards: Bernd Wiebus alias dl1eic

Hi Everybody,

Welcome to the Kicad Users Group. I hope we have some lively and
constructive discussions on this excellent EDA package. I'll start the
ball rolling with a couple of questions of my own.

1. Why does cvpcb exit whenever you save netlist and cmp list?

2. The MOSFET_N component in Eeschema has pins labeled G,D and S
rather than 1,2 and 3 as with regular transistors. If you select a
TO220 package for it in cvpcb then an error occurs in pcbnew when the
netlist is loaded. The error says the pins G,S and D cannot be found.
There is a specific module for one specific component that has a TO220
shape but S,G and D pins. Whilst this works it is confusing.

Ian

The document says little about routing. I got the autorouter to work
but I cannot get pcbnew to tack only on the copper layer for a single
sided PCB. Even if I set the number of layers to one the autorouter
still uses two.

And, anyone have an idea how to do manual routing? Clicking on rats
nest tracks does not seem to work.

Ian

--- In kicad-users@..., "ruffrecords" <ianbell@u...> wrote:

The document says little about routing. I got the autorouter to work
but I cannot get pcbnew to tack only on the copper layer for a single
sided PCB. Even if I set the number of layers to one the autorouter
still uses two.

And, anyone have an idea how to do manual routing? Clicking on rats
nest tracks does not seem to work.

Ian

Ian,
I have produced a small single sided board at work.When I get back on
Monday I'll refamiliarise myself with Kicad and let you know how I did
it.Probably post a reply towards the end of the week.

David.

--- In kicad-users@..., "ruffrecords" <ianbell@u...> wrote:

The document says little about routing. I got the autorouter to work
but I cannot get pcbnew to tack only on the copper layer for a single
sided PCB. Even if I set the number of layers to one the autorouter
still uses two.

And, anyone have an idea how to do manual routing? Clicking on rats
nest tracks does not seem to work.

Ian

Hi Ian,

Manual routing works quite fine. You must choose the Add trucks and
vias tool, click on a ratsnest end, and go on "printing" the truck.

Be sure you are working on the components layer for single sided PCB
with SMD components. If you are using default colours all trucks
should be red. If you get green trucks, you are working on the copper
layer.

I hope I'll help you.

Pedro.

--- In kicad-users@..., "Pedro" <pmartin@p...> wrote:

--- In kicad-users@..., "ruffrecords" <ianbell@u...> wrote:

The document says little about routing. I got the autorouter to work
but I cannot get pcbnew to tack only on the copper layer for a single
sided PCB. Even if I set the number of layers to one the autorouter
still uses two.

And, anyone have an idea how to do manual routing? Clicking on rats
nest tracks does not seem to work.

Ian

Hi Ian,

Manual routing works quite fine. You must choose the Add trucks and
vias tool, click on a ratsnest end, and go on "printing" the truck.

Be sure you are working on the components layer for single sided PCB
with SMD components. If you are using default colours all trucks
should be red. If you get green trucks, you are working on the copper
layer.

I hope I'll help you.

Pedro.

Thanks Pedro, that is just what I needed. Now I have successfully
layed out my first single sided PCB.

Cheers

Ian

There may be some useful code in this tool. The website indicates most
of the code is GPL2.


Source code for layout and autorouters download is here:



The description of the various autotrouters is here:

costasloop wrote:

There may be some useful code in this tool. The website indicates most of the code is GPL2.
Source code for layout and autorouters download is here:

The description of the various autotrouters is here:

Looks interesting. Could be a possibility for integration into a later version of kicad.

Ian

--
Ian T-Bell
aka RuffRecords
aka RedTommo
www.geocities.com/ruffrecords

This package looks very capable and seems easier to learn than Eagle
and with out those pesky limitations. I like the idea of the
microwave tool bar.

I think I would prefer to specifiy a standard default footprint
attached to each part instead of having to specifing a footprint for
each item in the netlist.

I plan to make up some parts this weekend. I dont see foot print for
several of te parts I need such as 48-TQFP, 20-PLCC, SOT23, SOT89
Micro-X, SOT323 etc.

kc4yoe wrote:

This package looks very capable and seems easier to learn than Eagle and with out those pesky limitations. I like the idea of the microwave tool bar. I think I would prefer to specifiy a standard default footprint attached to each part instead of having to specifing a footprint for each item in the netlist. I plan to make up some parts this weekend. I dont see foot print for several of te parts I need such as 48-TQFP, 20-PLCC, SOT23, SOT89 Micro-X, SOT323 etc.

Libraries always seem to be a big issue with EDA. One of the things I like about Kicad is it separates schematic component libraries from footprint ones. Like you I already had to create a part, a relay.

The Kicad site has a contrib library so perhaps we could use the group files section for the same sort of thing.

Ian

--
Ian T-Bell
aka RuffRecords
aka RedTommo
www.geocities.com/ruffrecords

I think I would prefer to specifiy a standard default footprint
attached to each part instead of having to specifing a footprint for
each item in the netlist. ?

You can, if you want.

You can edit the component in Eeschema and fill the field "pcb" with the name
of the desired module/footprint.

Pedro.

Hello ALL!

I created a page in my site about kicad in portuguese Brazil (sorry!
my english is poor!) named Espa?o Kicad!

Have tricks in use of Kicad and many components:

- 162 new 3D components

- 21 new modules (footprint)

- 8 new components for eeschema.

Yours visits will are wellcome!



[]'s
Renie S. Marquet

开云体育

Pedro Martín del Valle a écrit?:

I think I would prefer to specifiy a standard default footprint
attached to each part instead of having to specifing a footprint for
each item in the netlist. ?
    

You can, if you want.

You can edit the component in Eeschema and fill the field "pcb" with the name 
of the desired module/footprint.

Pedro.


  

A more convenient method is to create .equ files and use the automatic association command, with cvpcb.

This is because for many components, the "standard default footprint" depend on the value.
Diodes, Polarised Condensators are an example.
And for most of components, you can use a SMD version for a project, and later the "standard" version for an other project.


With a .equ file you can have a "standard default footprint" which solve this, because the .equ files can be spécific to a project.

here is an example ( seen kicad/modules/devices.equ)
'680K'??? ? 'R4'
'1M'??? 'R4'
'2,2PF'??? ? 'C1'
'3,3PF'??? ? 'C1'
'74HC00'??? ??? '14DIP300'
'74LS00'??? ??? '14DIP300'
'74HCT00'??? ??? ?'14DIP300'


* .equ file gives the standard default footprint from the component value, and can be created by your favorite editor.
And the editor replace command can very fastly change the 14DIP300 to SO14E for a SMD based project...

in kicad/modules/ you can find some? .equ files.

Do not forget to configure cvpcb, to select the .equ files you want.

开云体育

Ian bell a écrit?:

costasloop wrote:
  

There may be some useful code in this tool.  The website indicates most 
of the code is GPL2.


Source code for layout and autorouters download is here:



The description of the various autotrouters is here:


    

I know this autorouter, and I have written an implementation for pcbnew, but i do not released it.
This is because unfortunately, there are some problems:
- Some (many?) bugs.
- The *main* problem is the router do no know the 45° for tracks and pcb edges. This is very hard to change because the code
is *very* optimized to handle only 90° tracks and edges.

I believe DJ Delories has solved some of theses problems ( mainly for the free software "PCB"), but I do not know this patched version.

开云体育

开云体育

Renie a écrit?:

Hello ALL!

I created a page in my site about kicad in portuguese Brazil (sorry! 
my english is poor!) named Espa?o Kicad!

Have tricks in use of Kicad and many components:

 - 162 new 3D components

 - 21 new modules (footprint)

 - 8 new components for eeschema.

Yours visits will are wellcome!



[]'s
Renie S. Marquet


  

Very interessant! and a lot of work.

But unfortunately many links use "\" like? <P align=center><IMG src="kicad\capa_gerbview.jpg">P>TD>
and the site works fine only with internet explorer

Please, Renie change all the "\" to "/"

--- In kicad-users@..., jean-pierre charras - INPG <jean-
pierre.charras@i...> wrote:

Hello Jean!

All "&#92;" changed to "/"!

Enjoy!

[]'s
Renie

First, let me reiterate this is a powerful and apparently very
usable package and for free it is amazingly capable. I am not
trying to discourage anyone from trying it. I have been playing
with Eagle for a while and found it unnatural to use because it does
not follow the windows user interface. Kicad seemed more intuitive
and does not have the limitations imposed on the free Eagle
version. I did however see some potential bugs or perhaps I missed
some documentation. Note that my comments are specifically for the
Windows English version (August 27).

1. In NEWPCB Module Editor, the rotate 90 degrees checkbox does
not seem to work while initially placing a pad it does however work
for editing an existing pad.

2. Having a dropdown menu of standard drill sizes seem like it
would be helpful on the pad window to aid a speedy drill selection.

3. How would I use a smt part on the bottom side of the board?
Would I need to new module for bottom side parts?

4. In EESchema the some of the help file text is too small a
font to read and the help file reader has no zoom function that I
have been able to find.

5. In EESchema what is a convert file when creating a part?

6. In EESchema I created save it to an new library I created
and placed in the schematic only to realize that it has an error. I
edited the part and resaved the corrected part the same new
library. But when I try to place it on the schematic the version
before the fix keeps showing up. How do I fix this?

7. It seems that it would be nice to auto increment the each
pin number when placing it on a new schematic symbol like NEW PCB
does for the pads in new modules.

8. In symbol editor, I click on the pin tool and drag a pin to
the location desired. I edit the pin parameters and expect to move
on the next pin. The software is still waiting for me to finalize
the location of the current pin. This behavior seen a little
unnatural to me but perhaps that is just me.

9. I would like to see a mitered 90 degree bend as a standard
block in the microvave tool bar.

Thanks to Jean-Pierre Charras every one supporting him for making
this fine tool and forem available. And thanks for the responses to
my previous thoughts. Please don't take these comments as whining.

Regards,
Eric Haskell
KC4YOE