Re: [kicad-users] Re: Images/Logos in KiCad Schematic
Hi, I tried the same operation with the latest kicad and it works great ! Regards Yukku From: yukku yukkoo yukku19752...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, May 24, 2010 6:09:37 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Re: Images/Logos in KiCad Schematic I got the same result as well. Maybe the mod file syntax has changed in newer versions of Kicad. I am using KiCad-2009-02- 16-final- WinXP_autoinstal l.zip. Let me try a more recent version and I will let you know. Yukku From: Shivakumar R shazanaz2001@ yahoo.com To: kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Mon, May 24, 2010 7:14:51 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: Images/Logos in KiCad Schematic Hi Great effort, and Thank You! I get an error message when I try to place the module: err Pad: Id inconnu, and then the logo module is shown as just one horizontal line I used an image 8K in size (the png source) The logo has two parts - upper and lower - does that make a difference? I am using KiCad ver 20080811 r 1188 windows32 build My jre is 1.6.0_20 I tried using the negative image option. No go. Once again. Thank you for making this. It will be a really nice addition to KiCad. --- In kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com, mgebha mar...@... wrote: Hi, I like the idea of converting images to KiCad modules. Since I am the author of JavE (a free Ascii-Art editor), I experimented with extending its Image2Ascii converter to also support KiCad module file output. It might seem a little strange to use an Ascii-Art editor for this purpose, but hey: The Image2Ascii converter already contains all of the required image processing - including various dithering algorithms. And it provides a decent user interface to keep things simple :-) It only took me a few hours to make it work. So here is a step-by-step instruction how you can use JavE to do the conversion: http://www.jave. de/docs/kicad/ image2module. html Some comments: - JavE is based on Java, so it is platform independent - The pixels in the module files are be formed of SMD-like pads (Type MECA). I decided to use pads instead of the segments being used in the AWK-script, in order to make them rectangular. I am etching the boards myself, so I don't know if this makes any problems when having more options for PCB production.. . - The image size/resolution is limited to 16k pixels in order keep the module files small. - The converter does a bit of compression by merging adjacent pads in the same row. It still happens that the output results in 300kB module files. Please let me know if you have any comments or ideas for improvements. Regards, Markus
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Images/Logos in KiCad Schematic
I got the same result as well. Maybe the mod file syntax has changed in newer versions of Kicad. I am using KiCad-2009-02-16-final-WinXP_autoinstall.zip. Let me try a more recent version and I will let you know. Yukku From: Shivakumar R shazanaz2...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, May 24, 2010 7:14:51 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: Images/Logos in KiCad Schematic Hi Great effort, and Thank You! I get an error message when I try to place the module: err Pad: Id inconnu, and then the logo module is shown as just one horizontal line I used an image 8K in size (the png source) The logo has two parts - upper and lower - does that make a difference? I am using KiCad ver 20080811 r 1188 windows32 build My jre is 1.6.0_20 I tried using the negative image option. No go. Once again. Thank you for making this. It will be a really nice addition to KiCad. --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, mgebha mar...@... wrote: Hi, I like the idea of converting images to KiCad modules. Since I am the author of JavE (a free Ascii-Art editor), I experimented with extending its Image2Ascii converter to also support KiCad module file output. It might seem a little strange to use an Ascii-Art editor for this purpose, but hey: The Image2Ascii converter already contains all of the required image processing - including various dithering algorithms. And it provides a decent user interface to keep things simple :-) It only took me a few hours to make it work. So here is a step-by-step instruction how you can use JavE to do the conversion: http://www.jave.de/docs/kicad/image2module.html Some comments: - JavE is based on Java, so it is platform independent - The pixels in the module files are be formed of SMD-like pads (Type MECA). I decided to use pads instead of the segments being used in the AWK-script, in order to make them rectangular. I am etching the boards myself, so I don't know if this makes any problems when having more options for PCB production... - The image size/resolution is limited to 16k pixels in order keep the module files small. - The converter does a bit of compression by merging adjacent pads in the same row. It still happens that the output results in 300kB module files. Please let me know if you have any comments or ideas for improvements. Regards, Markus
Re: [kicad-users] Re: New to KiCad
Hi, The only thing to watch out for is that when you've defined the Vcc pin to be a power pin, it needs to be driven from a power source. On this simple design, the power is coming in from the connector, which of course should have all pins as passive. You therefore need to add a pwr_flag from the power ports list to tell Kicad that it's ok. Kicad is a very useful software, and I tried to do a circuit with 386EX in it. But I ran into problems where the pins were defined as bidirectional or had multiple uses. How do I represent such pins on Kicad ? Yukku
[kicad-users] Re: A friendly forum for electronic hobbyists
Thank you everybody for the suggestions !!! I am eager to try them out. Regards Yukku
[kicad-users] A friendly forum for electronic hobbyists
Hi all, Sorry to ask a question not comletely related to Kicad. I like Kicad very much. Do you know of an equally friendly mailing list where newbies can get in touch with experts on electronics circuit design and component behaviour ? Thank you (in advance) very much , I appreciate your response. Regards Yukku
[kicad-users] Auto place in Kicad
Hi, I am not happy with the Auto place in Kicad. What solution do you all use which can give me a better auto place ? Regards Yukku
Re: [kicad-users] Re: windows 7 new laptop old 1.4ghz liux ubuntu laptop has faster refreshing
I do have Vista.. but other than occasional crashes I do not see any speed problems on PCBNew. So I too prefer Ubuntu, its better Yukku From: o00batman00o anthony.siegr...@free.fr To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 5:39:20 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: windows 7 new laptop old 1.4ghz liux ubuntu laptop has faster refreshing It seems there is some performance issue since windows vista. I run kicad on ubuntu via VirtualBox. By this way it's 10 times faster than directly on Windows 7. I did not found any workaround for the moment. From my investigation it look like a poor OpenGL implementation since windows Vista. Using a PC with or without graphique card has no performance impact. So my conclusion is that there is no OpenGL hardware support since windows Vista. Maybe Microsoft wants favor directX.
[kicad-users] Auto place using Free route
Hi, I did not find any method to do auto placement in Free Route. Does anybody know if we can also do autoplacement using Free Route ? Please let me know how this is done Yukku
[kicad-users] Free route in Kicad
Hi, I tried free route in Kicad and observed these things 1. On Vista I am unable to open my design using the Free route Java program. The file browser window for selcting my design does not open up. I shifted to Ubuntu and it works fine. 2. I did not find any method to do auto placement in Free Route. Does anybody know if we can also do autoplacement using Free Route ? Please let me know how this is done. But if I do the auto place in Kicad and and then do a freeroute it seems to work add the tracks fine. Regards Yukku
Re: [kicad-users] PCBnew : module with same pin numbers causing fatal error when filling zone
I hope you are not using Vista.. Zone fill crashes are common in PCBNew/Vista. It works ok for me on Ubuntu. Regards yukku
[kicad-users] Footprint for a Relay ?
Hi, I am using the Relay RELAY_2RT from the EEschema device library. I have a couple of question about it - 1. Why does it not use contiguous pin numbers instead using pins 1,3,5 8,9 and 12,14,16 ? My guess is it uses a standard package with missing pins to get double spacing. Please confirm. 2. What foot print should I use for it in cvpcb ? Regards yukku
Re: [kicad-users] Footprint for a Relay ?
Hi, Thank you for the answer. That brings me to the question as to what to do if I do not have a data sheet for the part. Can I measure various lengths on the part and gaps between the pins and create my footprint ? What should be the minimum tolerance (in inches) to get a decent footprint ? Regards shyam From: Veronica Merryfield veronica.merryfi...@shaw.ca To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, January 23, 2010 2:51:38 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Footprint for a Relay ? It all depend what actual device the part was based on, but essentially it is as you say. Relay bases have a long history. Find the data sheet for the actual relay you are going to use and pick the footprint from that. My suspicion is that the device in the library is a DIL16 part so you would need a 16 pin DIL 0.3 footprint for the library device if you are using the same part that the library is created for. Datasheet time. On 2010-01-23, at 1:09 AM, yukku yukkoo wrote: Hi, I am using the Relay RELAY_2RT from the EEschema device library. I have a couple of question about it - 1. Why does it not use contiguous pin numbers instead using pins 1,3,5 8,9 and 12,14,16 ? My guess is it uses a standard package with missing pins to get double spacing. Please confirm. 2. What foot print should I use for it in cvpcb ? Regards yukku Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Footprint for a Relay ?
Andy, Thank you. Please send me the schematic part as well as the foot prints. Regards yukku From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, January 23, 2010 4:36:45 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Footprint for a Relay ? Many relays have a standard numbering system, especially if they are intended to be plugged into some form of holder. there are some variations, but generally they are two digit such as 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23 and so on, the coils are normally A1 and A2. I have also seen some bases with a letter and a number as well. The numbers refer to the poles and contacts, so 11 is pole 1 contact 1, 12 is pole 1 contact 2, 21 is pole 2 contact 1 and so on. I can't remember offhand which is the normally closed/open and common connections, I usually end up buzzing it out to be sure :-) Miniature PCB mount relays tend to be a little more variable. As for footprint, well you use the footprint that matches the relay... (I cannot see one in the standard lib) I drew up a simple footprint the last time I used a relay. I've used this SPST 12V 10A directly soldered into the PCB http://www.rapidonl ine.com/searchre sults.aspx? style=0kw= 60-4600 and the 60-4110 Double pole socket http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Relays-Solenoids/PCB-Relays/Miniature-relay-sockets/28667/kw/60-4110 I have simple footprints for both, if they are of any use you are welcome to a copy. Andy On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:09:33 -0800 (PST) yukku yukkoo yukku19752000@ yahoo.com wrote: Hi, I am using the Relay RELAY_2RT from the EEschema device library. I have a couple of question about it - 1. Why does it not use contiguous pin numbers instead using pins 1,3,5 8,9 and 12,14,16 ? My guess is it uses a standard package with missing pins to get double spacing. Please confirm. 2. What foot print should I use for it in cvpcb ? Regards yukku
[kicad-users] No pins for VCC and GND in LM555N part in shematics library
Hi, I added the LM555N part to my schematics and noticed that the VCC and GND pins were not visible.. It seems to be so by design than by mistake. If so how do I connect the 555 to power supply (and ground) if they are not visible ? Regards Yukku
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Any update on undo function for PCBNEW?
David and team, Another newbie suggestion, for people who want to conveniently browse the component list, Today when I click on Place a component and then click somewhere on the schematics I get a component selection menu Then if I click on List all I go to the Select lib menu Then if I Select a library I go to the Select Component menu. But if I do not find my part in that library there is no back to Select Lib button. I have to click cancel and start all over again from the beginning. It would be convenient if I hit the back button and go on to choose some other lib in the list of libs It would useful for component browsers Yukku From: David da...@djsbriscoe.vispa.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, January 12, 2010 5:20:26 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: Any update on undo function for PCBNEW? --- In kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com, jeffs_cc j...@... wrote: I tried Kicad nearly a year ago. I really liked it and found it to be easy to learn and use. The only thing keeping me from using it and recommending it to others was the lack of undo in PCBNEW. To me, laying out a PCB is a creative process and knowing that any step I try is permanent really stifles the creative process. No way I could use a layout program without it. Does anyone know if an undo function is in the works? Hi, Try one of the latest snapshots of Kicad at http://kicad.1301.cz/ All you do is overwrite the executables in your present installation (back them up first) with the ones from the downloaded snapshot archive. I'm about to try this myself so I hope it works as well. Theres a new release of Kicad being worked on at the moment. I think they are aiming for the end of January or thereabouts. David.
[kicad-users] Kicad and making home made PCBs
Hi, I am interested iu making home made PCBs and a web site mentions its a a nice feature to have a small hole in the middle of the the filled circle (at the end of a track) so a home made drill can be accurately used to drill a hole into the PCB right in the centre. I saw Kicad does not provide holes in the middle of the PCB at the component position. Can I force Kicad to do this using some option ? Yukku
Re: [kicad-users] getting started with kicad
Puppala, I also installed kicad recently and found a tutorial.pdf in the installation directory (KiCad\doc\tutorial\en\KiCad Tutorial.pdf) which though slightly outdated is quite useful. Follow the tutorial and also read the help .pdf files which are quite informative. yukku From: puppala pvijayanan...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 2:47:17 PM Subject: [kicad-users] getting started with kicad iam a new user of the kicad.so i want information how to start with kicad.is there any examples exist to know more about kicad
Re: [kicad-users] Pcbnew crash while filling a zone
Marc, Thanks for the tips. But I am new to the field of PCB design. I will try them out. yukku From: marc olanié marc.ola...@decision.fr To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, December 31, 2009 9:01:45 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Pcbnew crash while filling a zone Hi Yukku Don’t worry… you’re not alone :- ) This “bug” (I will call it a bug as it seems difficult to qualify it as a “feature”) is a very strange one. It seems to appear on vista and Win7 platforms –but I never used kicad under windows XP). You have 3 ways to circumvent it First method : totally suppress both grounding zones, and recreate an upper and a lower grounding zone but far smaller than the size of your pcb. Fill these zones, and then use the “summit drag and drop” function to resize the grounding zone to the right area and dimensions. Second method : kill your pcb perimeter (the yellow contour) and define a new one with slightly different dimensions (you’ll have to readjust these drawing later) and redraw your new filling zone with the exact size you initially intend. Third one : use the second method an suppress all the grounding vias at the same time. Don’t ask me why, but I had this frustrating bug several time and couldn’t find a precise answer on this mailing list. It could look a little bit “shamanic” but it works The first method don’t seems to work every time. Marc A good working kernel doesn't allow a program crash unless it says “please” Traduction : Da Power Fantudjû, RuleZ Tartiflette [Attachment(s)from yukku yukkoo included below] Hi Andy and all, I followed the procedure given in the Pcbnew help .pdf file, and I still get a crash while trying to fill the Ground zone on a 2 layer board. I am attaching the .brd file in this mail. It was saved just before attempting the refill. Can you open it and see what I have not done right ? Sorry if this is some more newbie issues. Thanks for the help yukku
Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic
Thank you very much. I will open the help files and read more carefully. Warm Regards shyam From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, December 29, 2009 6:35:06 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic The tutorial is very old and gives a basic overview. Each of the component parts of Kicad has it's own help system, section 9 of the pcbnew help file deals with zones. It is worth reading through both the eeschema and pcmnew help files as there is a LOT of additional info in them. You can access them either via the help menu option in each program or directly (they are .pdf files, they live in /usr/local/kicad/ doc/help along with some other help related files. If using windows they live under kicad/doc/help (wherever you installed kicad to) The basic process for zones is fairly easy. Click on the zone tool A window pops up, select the net that you want the zone to attach to, or no net for isolated zones click on OK Draw the outline of the zone End the tool then if the zone is not filled, right click and select fill/refill all zones. That's it, job done. Remember that the relative co-ord display is very useful to ensure that things align correctly, space bar will zero it. Andy On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:45:43 -0800 (PST) yukku yukkoo yukku19752000@ yahoo.com wrote: No, it appears the tutorial is for an older version of Kicad and the new Kicad GUI is somewhat different (probably better) . I guess the tutorial has not got updated yukku _ _ __ From: Donald H Locker dhloc...@comcast. net To: kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 11:25:47 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic Does the tutorial include the power flag? Sorry - I just use it and haven't done the tutorial. Donald. - Original Message - From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy. co.uk To: kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 12:50:25 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic You are prob. falling into the very common trap of not telling the system that there is power on a net. This gets confusing because sometimes you don't have to do this. The VDD and VSS pins of the chip are both defined as power IN types. You can check this by using the part editor. For DRC to would correctly it much see a power OUT net attached to these pins. If you have some form of regulator chip on the board, the output of the regulator is normally defined as a power out type, so that takes care of the VDD voltage. However the GND/VSS connection is NOT defined as a power OUT. Next take the situation where you don't have an on board regulator, in this case neither the VSS nor VDD is defined as having a power OUT available. To overcome this is easy enough, in the powerport symbols, select a power flag, and attach this to the GND of you power net. The power flag simply tells the system that there is power applied to that net. You can also add a power flag to the VDD line if you are using external power. All you may then need to do is add a VSS power port to the circuit and attach that to the GND net, then everything should connect and DRC run without errors. Just remember that you almost always need to add a power flag to the GND networks, but sometimes not to the +ive power nets. Andy On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:49:45 -0800 (PST) yukku yukkoo yukku19752000@ yahoo.com wrote: Hi, I am a first time user of a PCB design software and also the Kicad software. So I tried the example Kicad tutorial, but I got stuck when after finishing the example, I constantly get an ERC error with arrow at pin 8 of the PIC12C508A (VSS to be conencted to Ground). I tried deleting the wire and reconnecting many times and still not able to make the error go away. Do you know what I am doing wrong ? yukku
[kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic
Hi, I am a first time user of a PCB design software and also the Kicad software. So I tried the example Kicad tutorial, but I got stuck when after finishing the example, I constantly get an ERC error with arrow at pin 8 of the PIC12C508A (VSS to be conencted to Ground). I tried deleting the wire and reconnecting many times and still not able to make the error go away. Do you know what I am doing wrong ? yukku
Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic
Hi, Lots of Thanks for this info ! The DRC went through fine after I added the PWR_FLAG to GND. Then I was proceed with the tutorial which is probably for an older version if Kicad. I was however able to figure out the right options/buttons and proceed. Now I am getting a consistent crash when I try to Fill the GND Zone as mentioned in the tutorial the many number of times I tried. I am not able to get past this crash. I am using version 16th Feb version of Kicad. Is there a later version that fixes this issue and how I get/install it ? Thank you in advance Regards yukku From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, December 29, 2009 4:58:23 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic Not that I recall, but it is covered in the EESchema help (which is much more extensive than the tutorial) it's in section 8.3 Andy On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:55:47 + (UTC) Donald H Locker dhloc...@comcast. net wrote: Does the tutorial include the power flag? Sorry - I just use it and haven't done the tutorial. Donald. - Original Message - From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy. co.uk To: kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 12:50:25 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic You are prob. falling into the very common trap of not telling the system that there is power on a net. This gets confusing because sometimes you don't have to do this. The VDD and VSS pins of the chip are both defined as power IN types. You can check this by using the part editor. For DRC to would correctly it much see a power OUT net attached to these pins. If you have some form of regulator chip on the board, the output of the regulator is normally defined as a power out type, so that takes care of the VDD voltage. However the GND/VSS connection is NOT defined as a power OUT. Next take the situation where you don't have an on board regulator, in this case neither the VSS nor VDD is defined as having a power OUT available. To overcome this is easy enough, in the powerport symbols, select a power flag, and attach this to the GND of you power net. The power flag simply tells the system that there is power applied to that net. You can also add a power flag to the VDD line if you are using external power. All you may then need to do is add a VSS power port to the circuit and attach that to the GND net, then everything should connect and DRC run without errors. Just remember that you almost always need to add a power flag to the GND networks, but sometimes not to the +ive power nets. Andy On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:49:45 -0800 (PST) yukku yukkoo yukku19752000@ yahoo.com wrote: Hi, I am a first time user of a PCB design software and also the Kicad software. So I tried the example Kicad tutorial, but I got stuck when after finishing the example, I constantly get an ERC error with arrow at pin 8 of the PIC12C508A (VSS to be conencted to Ground). I tried deleting the wire and reconnecting many times and still not able to make the error go away. Do you know what I am doing wrong ? yukku - - -- Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/kicad- develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic
No, it appears the tutorial is for an older version of Kicad and the new Kicad GUI is somewhat different (probably better) . I guess the tutorial has not got updated yukku From: Donald H Locker dhloc...@comcast.net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 11:25:47 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic Does the tutorial include the power flag? Sorry - I just use it and haven't done the tutorial. Donald. - Original Message - From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy. co.uk To: kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 12:50:25 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Problems with ERC check on example schematic You are prob. falling into the very common trap of not telling the system that there is power on a net. This gets confusing because sometimes you don't have to do this. The VDD and VSS pins of the chip are both defined as power IN types. You can check this by using the part editor. For DRC to would correctly it much see a power OUT net attached to these pins. If you have some form of regulator chip on the board, the output of the regulator is normally defined as a power out type, so that takes care of the VDD voltage. However the GND/VSS connection is NOT defined as a power OUT. Next take the situation where you don't have an on board regulator, in this case neither the VSS nor VDD is defined as having a power OUT available. To overcome this is easy enough, in the powerport symbols, select a power flag, and attach this to the GND of you power net. The power flag simply tells the system that there is power applied to that net. You can also add a power flag to the VDD line if you are using external power. All you may then need to do is add a VSS power port to the circuit and attach that to the GND net, then everything should connect and DRC run without errors. Just remember that you almost always need to add a power flag to the GND networks, but sometimes not to the +ive power nets. Andy On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:49:45 -0800 (PST) yukku yukkoo yukku19752000@ yahoo.com wrote: Hi, I am a first time user of a PCB design software and also the Kicad software. So I tried the example Kicad tutorial, but I got stuck when after finishing the example, I constantly get an ERC error with arrow at pin 8 of the PIC12C508A (VSS to be conencted to Ground). I tried deleting the wire and reconnecting many times and still not able to make the error go away. Do you know what I am doing wrong ? yukku
