Stephane, I noticed this problem long ago. I use kicad professionally, but I cannot see how *anyone* could use these footprints as they are except by simply producing boards without a silk screen. However, I don't understand why you find this such a show-stopper. When I find such a footprint I simply save it in my own library, modify the silk screen, and carry on. It takes a few seconds, and I usually use the opportunity to set text visibility and size to my own personal preferences. And therein lies the rub; whoever creates the library, no matter how careful they are they will likely have different requirements from you, so you end up having to edit the supplied footprints anyway.
What I personally find a big show-stopper in commercial PCB packages is the appalling UI. This generally seems to originate from a Unix command line app that was ported to a DOS graphical interface and then the resulting irregularly octagonal peg has been rammed into a Windows round hole (the authors of the last such package I used were so proud of this "feature" they made it part of their marketing). After a day of using such a package I'm generally absolutely furious, which does nothing for the quality of my work. I'm producing boards far more professionally with kicad than I ever did with a commercial product, and that is almost entirely down to the kicad UI. It isn't perfect, but at least it largely follows current practice. Footprints I can fix easily; fixing the UI is rather more difficult. Since you're clearly upset by the existing library, have you considered donating your own library to the kicad project? Regards, Robert. Stephrac74 wrote: > I’ve got these libs… thanks. They are converted from an other CAD software > (Eagle I guess). You will notice that these libs can’t be viewed or managed > by the Lib management tools which are in portugese or so (Mod2mod, Lib2lib, > …) for some reason. > > > > To illustrates what I was saying, on the www.kicadlib.org, most of the SMD > parts which can be seen from this link have the issue. For instance : > > http://www.kicadlib.org/modules/d2pak.png > > http://www.kicadlib.org/modules/tssoic28.png > > http://www.kicadlib.org/modules/vqfp80.png > > http://www.kicadlib.org/modules/3M_Serie_2500_SMD.PNG > > > > You see the silkscreen on pads ! no way to industrialize a PCB from this. It > must be modified… > > > > Same remark on some libs I’m using from <http://library.oshec.org/> > http://library.oshec.org/ like the vishay 153 caps, diods, transistors or > power transistors… > > > > this one is correct : http://www.kicadlib.org/modules/lm4674_llp_sqa16a.png > > > > After a deeper look at these additional libs, I think most of the SMD part > numbers have the issue L > > > > So what I’m doing now is to pick up the component I need from these libs, and > then duplicate it into a own lib and modify it ! > > I’ve spent all the day doing that and I’ve not finished ! This is a nightmare > ;-) > > > > For this project I guess I’m going to continue but for new projects I may > switch to another CAD system. Altium Designer looks good and is not so > expensive. It’s a pity as I like Kicad and the job done for the development > is fantastic, but … these 2% details makes me wasting my time so my money… > > > > Best > > Stephane > > > > > > > > De : [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] De la > part de Andy Eskelson > Envoyé : jeudi 21 janvier 2010 17:40 > À : [email protected] > Objet : Re: [kicad-users] libs silkscreens unusable > > > > > > I understand, there is not really much that can be done about that apart > from a reedit. > > The only thing I can suggest is to have a look at some other libs. > > If you have a look here: > > http://library.oshec.org/ > > There are 1000's of converted libs and mods, and looking at some of them > the outlines do keep clear of the pads, (at least on the sides needed for > solder on the dpacks I looked at as examples.) > > At the top of the page is a link to download the whole lot, about a 12Mb > download. > > That might save you a bit of time. > > The above site is linked via > > http://www.kicadlib.org/ > > then via > > http://per.launay.free.fr/kicad/kicad_php/composant.php > > Both the kicadlib and Pierre Launay's sites are worth bookmarking > > Andy > > On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:18:25 +0100 > "Stephrac74" <[email protected] <mailto:stephrac74%40wanadoo.fr> > wrote: > >> Hi Andy, >> >> >> >> In fact this option only enables you to add or not the pads footprint on the >> silkscreen. >> >> >> >> The problem is different. The components silkscreens in libs are drawn on >> pads making soldering impossible. I do not see other option rather than >> making the modification on each concerned component. >> >> This is usually the problem when libs are made by contributors and not >> checked. The problem occurs for instance for Vishay electrolytic caps, SMD >> crystals, sot223, DPACK, etc… >> >> >> >> I’ve started 5 hours ago to modify all the components I’m using on this >> board and once modified, creating my own libs. In the same time I can >> arrange libs in a better way but the work is huge and I’ve not really the >> time to do that for that project… but no way… >> >> >> >> Stephane >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> De : [email protected] <mailto:kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com> >> [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com> ] >> De la part de Andy Eskelson >> Envoyé : jeudi 21 janvier 2010 12:30 >> À : [email protected] <mailto:kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com> >> Objet : Re: [kicad-users] libs silkscreens unusable >> >> >> >> >> >> Have you unticked the "print pads on silkscreen" option? ( plot menu >> lower left hand corner) >> >> Andy >> >> On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:03:07 +0100 >> "Stephrac74" <[email protected] <mailto:stephrac74%40wanadoo.fr> >> <mailto:stephrac74%40wanadoo.fr> > wrote: >> >>> Hi group, >>> >>> >>> >>> I’ve noticed that most of the library components have unusable silkscreens. >>> Most of the time, the lib silkscreen shows the component itself with pads >>> and so on instead of a simple square or so, and the silkscreen often covers >>> the pads which is amazing ! >>> >>> >>> >>> This is not usable for PCB industrialization. I’ve decided to don’t use >>> anymore the Kicad libs and to redesign all my needed components ! This is a >>> major issue according to me and a major waste of time… I have no time >>> anymore to change the software. >>> >>> >>> >>> Regarding the different limitations I’m facing for a professional use, I’m >>> starting having regrets to have chosen Kicad … L This is a fantastic >>> software, and free, but the 2% of missing details makes this software not >>> usable for professional use according to me and requires a lot more time >>> even for an amateur use than an other software. >>> >>> >>> >>> Hoping it will be improved, but last release is already 1 year ago and the >>> wish list is so long that I have not added my comments. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Best >>> >>> Stephane >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------- >> Orange vous informe que cet e-mail a été contrôlé par l'anti-virus mail. >> Aucun virus connu à ce jour par nos services n'a été détecté. >> >> >> > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Orange vous informe que cet e-mail a été contrôlé par l'anti-virus mail. > Aucun virus connu à ce jour par nos services n'a été détecté. > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.730 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2636 - Release Date: 01/21/10 > 07:34:00 >
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