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I have an old advice sheet about how to add fixing holes to a board, but both methods are really work-arounds and have disadvantages. I am a bit surprised that this issue is not documented (as far as I can find). Advice would be welcome.

A hole is just a single pad of the correct dimensions. It can have
copper layers, or none (in which case it becomes a non-plated through
hole). If it has copper layers, they can optionally be connected to
any net (usually the ground plane, and typically with no thermal
spokes). In the past I just defined the hole on the schematic with a
single pin connector, but these days I have my own symbol. Often the
associated footprint that I create will define a board outline and all
the holes (as pads), and typically much more (such as silk screen
elements). I routinely import that from mechanical CAD as a DXF.

So there are no hard and fast rules - you just do whatever cranks your
tractor on the day.

Regards,

Robert.

* Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. *

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Exactly so. I include mechanical things like fixing holes, RF screens, and the PCB itself in the schematic as parts.

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Thank you, but I need a more elementary guide, step by step.

A hole is just a single pad of the correct dimensions.?? It can have
copper layers, or none (in which case it becomes a non-plated through
hole).?? If it has copper layers, they can optionally be connected to
any net (usually the ground plane, and typically with no thermal
spokes).?? In the past I just defined the hole on the schematic with a
single pin connector, but these days I have my own symbol.?? Often the
associated footprint that I create will define a board outline and all
the holes (as pads), and typically much more (such as silk screen
elements).?? I routinely import that from mechanical CAD as a DXF.

So there are no hard and fast rules - you just do whatever cranks your
tractor on the day.

Regards,

Robert.

* Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. *

开云体育

Would that I had your depth of knowledge!

Exactly so. I include mechanical things like fixing holes, RF screens, and the PCB itself in the schematic as parts.

--
Regards,
Tony

On 21/06/2024 17:24, Robert via groups.io wrote:

A hole is just a single pad of the correct dimensions.?? It can have
copper layers, or none (in which case it becomes a non-plated through
hole).?? If it has copper layers, they can optionally be connected to
any net (usually the ground plane, and typically with no thermal
spokes).?? In the past I just defined the hole on the schematic with a
single pin connector, but these days I have my own symbol.?? Often the
associated footprint that I create will define a board outline and all
the holes (as pads), and typically much more (such as silk screen
elements).?? I routinely import that from mechanical CAD as a DXF.

So there are no hard and fast rules - you just do whatever cranks your
tractor on the day.

There's a guide in the getting started guide:



If you just want a simple bolt hole, nothing fancy, use a single pin
connector as the schematic symbol, connect it to a net or not as
required, and skip down to:



The second paragraph is "Footprint pads". You just need to create a
single through-hole pad of the correct dimensions.

Once you have your footprint saved, you can go back to the schematic
symbol and select it in the symbol properties.

Regards,

Robert.

* Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. *

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Thank you. I can understand that.

There's a guide in the getting started guide:



If you just want a simple bolt hole, nothing fancy, use a single pin
connector as the schematic symbol, connect it to a net or not as
required, and skip down to:



The second paragraph is "Footprint pads".?? You just need to create a
single through-hole pad of the correct dimensions.

Once you have your footprint saved, you can go back to the schematic
symbol and select it in the symbol properties.

Regards,

Robert.

* Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. *

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I made a note, but I didn't buy. Now I have bought (not without difficulty, but that's life).

You should seriously get the ebooks I mentioned in one of my previous posts, it will take you right through all these aspects, and be a reference for the various questions.

On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 16:52, John Woodgate via <jmw=[email protected]> wrote:

Would that I had your depth of knowledge!

On 2024-06-21 16:47, Tony Casey wrote:

Exactly so. I include mechanical things like fixing holes, RF screens, and the PCB itself in the schematic as parts.

--
Regards,
Tony

On 21/06/2024 17:24, Robert via wrote:

A hole is just a single pad of the correct dimensions.?? It can have
copper layers, or none (in which case it becomes a non-plated through
hole).?? If it has copper layers, they can optionally be connected to
any net (usually the ground plane, and typically with no thermal
spokes).?? In the past I just defined the hole on the schematic with a
single pin connector, but these days I have my own symbol.?? Often the
associated footprint that I create will define a board outline and all
the holes (as pads), and typically much more (such as silk screen
elements).?? I routinely import that from mechanical CAD as a DXF.

So there are no hard and fast rules - you just do whatever cranks your
tractor on the day.

--
OOO - Own Opinions Only
Best wishes
John Woodgate, Rayleigh, Essex UK
Keep trying

Virus-free.

Perhaps worth noting that there is also MountingHole footprint library. You'll find a number of standard metric hole sizes already in there..

Regards,
Jon

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I will study the guide again.

There's a guide in the getting started guide:



If you just want a simple bolt hole, nothing fancy, use a single pin
connector as the schematic symbol, connect it to a net or not as
required, and skip down to:



The second paragraph is "Footprint pads".?? You just need to create a
single through-hole pad of the correct dimensions.

Once you have your footprint saved, you can go back to the schematic
symbol and select it in the symbol properties.

Regards,

Robert.

* Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. *

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I didn't know that. I've never seen it, but now I will look for it.

Perhaps worth noting that there is also MountingHole footprint library. You'll find a number of standard metric hole sizes already in there..

Regards,
Jon

On 21/06/2024 17:38, John Woodgate via groups.io wrote:

Thank you. I can understand that.

On 2024-06-21 17:07, Robert via groups.io wrote:

The second paragraph is "Footprint pads".?? You just need to create a
single through-hole pad of the correct dimensions.

When I add Test Points I add a part number for the type I want and I use GRN for Ground, BLK for Digital Ground, RED for Voltages, YEL, and BLU for various other signals...??
When I add 2-Pin Jumbers I add a separate schematic symbol and part number for the Shunt...? I have my own color code for those too...
You could add a part number for a hole so you would remember to buy screws or have a separate symbol for screws, washers...
Same for stand-offs or other hardware items...
I typically have all of those hardware items on the last page of my schematic...? This makes it easy to open a previous schematic and cut-n-paste them into the new design...? ?

73 Dallas N4DDM
CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day

As others have probably said, it is easy (in the PCB editor) to add
predefined mounting holes to the board as follows:

* Select 'Add Footprint' from the menu on the right-hand side
* Scroll to the 'MountingHole' library
* Select the desired footprint (i.e. 'MountingHole_2.2mm_M2') and click 'OK'
* Place the component as desired on the board, left-click to confirm
placement.

I also 'Lock' my mounting holes once placed to prevent them being moved
accidentally.

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Thanks; that's how I like help to be presented. I just have to find the Mounting hole library.

As others have probably said, it is easy (in the PCB editor) to add 
predefined mounting holes to the board as follows:

* Select 'Add Footprint' from the menu on the right-hand side
* Scroll to the 'MountingHole' library
* Select the desired footprint (i.e. 'MountingHole_2.2mm_M2') and click 'OK'
* Place the component as desired on the board, left-click to confirm 
placement.

I also 'Lock' my mounting holes once placed to prevent them being moved 
accidentally.

On 6/22/2024 1:55 AM, John Woodgate wrote:

I didn't know that. I've never seen it, but now I will look for it.

On 2024-06-21 17:52, Jon Escombe via groups.io wrote:

Perhaps worth noting that there is also MountingHole footprint 
library. You'll find a number of standard metric hole sizes already in 
there..

Regards,
Jon

On 21/06/2024 17:38, John Woodgate via groups.io wrote:

Thank you. I can understand that.

On 2024-06-21 17:07, Robert via groups.io wrote:

The second paragraph is "Footprint pads".?? You just need to create a
single through-hole pad of the correct dimensions.

-- 
Signature OOO - Own Opinions Only
Best wishes
John Woodgate, Rayleigh, Essex UK
Keep trying

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