Thank you very much, Karl. VM
From: Karl Schmidt Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 7:51 PM To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Tools for Cadence / Mentor footprint symbols formats conversion to Kicad V M wrote: > I am a brand new user of Kicad impressed from the very short time that has > been necessary to > start working. > > I am going to use in a project two ICs produced by Texas Instruments, that > gently has on its > website the possibility to download their footprints in three formats: > > ** Cadence Allegro v13.6+ > > ** Mentor Boardstation v8.7+ > > ** Mentor PADS-PowerPCB v3.5+ > > Could anybody suggest me a tool capable to convert one of this formats in the > one used by Kicad ? > > > Thank you very much, > > Valerio. You will find that they are industry standard foot prints - most will be in kicad Libs already (lots out there on the web ) there is also a tool to convert all the Eagle footprints. There is also a free software tool from IPC that lets you tweak footprint patterns for different compromises (density vs reliability). footprints from the manufactures might be optimized in a way that doesn't fit your goals. Surface mount processes can be picky on fine pitch - avoid using no-lead processes if at all possible ( Europes ban of lead in solder is not based on sound science anyway - the lead leaching from landfills is from crushed CRTs - not circuit boards). BTW - there are several auto-routers that kicad works with - I use different ones depending on the project. Anyway - if you have more questions - it probably belongs on the kicad mailing list.. kicad-users@yahoogroups.com ---------------------------------------------------------- Karl Schmidt EMail k...@xtronics.com Transtronics, Inc. WEB http://xtronics.com 3209 West 9th Street Ph (785) 841-3089 Lawrence, KS 66049 FAX (785) 841-0434 "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." -- Philip K. Dick ----------------------------------------------------------
