Re: [kicad-users] Re: Unplated hole in module editor
Hi, this thread seems interesting, but... When do you realy need a hole *not* to be plated? Specialy it that will be an extra manufacturing cost (you may negociate and not be billed, but the cost is there) What I usualy do, and manufacturers understand is this: the pad *and* the hole with the same size. This is usefull just in case where there may be doubt, and may otherwyse thing that I made a mistake. This usualy result in a hole that *is* metalized, but has no copper around it. Sometimes for mechanical reasons I can even make it just a little bigger just because it will be more rigid so a plastic fixture may need the extra space. I am interesting in some feedback :) Alain dennevi escreveu: Hi again Your exactly right Pedro. The problem is that there's no good way of telling the pcb-maker. You can give him additional information in a comments layer or in some instruction, but it would be great if this were automatic. Some PCB applications has the ability of generating two separate drill-files with plated and unplated holes. This would save a lot of manual work and confusion. As you say, when all the holes are in the same drill-file it's very hard to tell the difference. But I'm not complaining! I love the application and I very much appreciate the huge work that has been done in the last year! Yours Albin, Sweden
Re: [kicad-users] Undo option in PCBNEW
+1, I also vote for it. This is probably the most needed feature in Kicad. At the moment kicad's internal are getting a big cleanup. I also hope the after that an undo will come... Alain abhi_tech_2004 escreveu: Is there any undo option in PCBNEW. In manual routing I am missing this option very much. I am also missing the option of curved track in PCBNEW.
Re: [kicad-users] any tips for measuring distance in PCBNEW ?
Andy Eskelson escreveu: What can happen is that you may set out your component with a 25 grid, and your circuit with a 20 grid. The component will sit on the grid OK, with the reference dot on a grid point, but things like pins and pads (if you are talking about a module) will be out of step, and will not connect. there is an easy and very good solution fot that. It is called magnectig pads and it dinamicaly conects to unaligned pads. Alain
Re: [kicad-users] any tips for measuring distance in PCBNEW ?
It does here. So if it doesn't for you , that is a setup problem. Alain Andy Eskelson escreveu: I don't think magnetic pads cure that problem. Magnetic pads are useful in that when you are adding tracks the track will snap to the pad, however it does NOT (as far as I know) solve the position issue unless the grids of the mod/lib and pcbBew /escheema are compatible. i.e. the pins/pads must fall on a grid point on the layout/circuit that you are working on.They should be, but I have sometimes made the mistake of getting the pins half a grid point off which causes quite a bit of trouble until you notie what you have done :-) Andy On Mon, 25 May 2009 15:15:47 -0300 Alain M. ala...@pobox.com wrote: Andy Eskelson escreveu: What can happen is that you may set out your component with a 25 grid, and your circuit with a 20 grid. The component will sit on the grid OK, with the reference dot on a grid point, but things like pins and pads (if you are talking about a module) will be out of step, and will not connect. there is an easy and very good solution fot that. It is called magnectig pads and it dinamicaly conects to unaligned pads. Alain 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 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
[kicad-users] Ubuntu version
Please, where can I find a .deb package for 20090216 version of kicad? What I want is a complete debian package that I can recomend to unexperienced users and that winl install on 8.04, 8.10 and 9.04 (if possible) In the official download site, there is a kicad-2009-02-16-final-UBUNTU_8.10.tgz but that is neither .deb, nor generic... Please help, I just want to recommend kicad (I have mine running ok from sources, but i cannot recommend that...) Alain
Re: [kicad-users] Re:KICAD success stories ?
Lothar Behrens escreveu: Does this mean a feature like 'virtual components' with prerouted wires and vias will be possible? That is a very important kicad limitation. No tracks in a componente and it you use a workaround (like I did) anything that you place on a copper layer wil be ignored by DRC and ZONEs filling, probably leading to shorts :( This is considered won't do for the moment :( And will probably olny change if a lot of people feel it is important... Don't take me wrong, I AM a kicad fan, but some limitations are a PITA... Alain 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 * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:kicad-users-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:kicad-users-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: kicad-users-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[kicad-users] Feedback about Zones
I am just back from a visit to my manufacturer, having visited all facilities and processes for more than one hour. It was very interesting... I can give some feedback about zones: 1) I was proud of my filed zones, smooth with polygons. I just found that they have to convert all those back to segments because their photoploter has bugs related to polygons... This can be a warning for users to check with their manufacturers !!! 2) They reported a very common problem: many CADs make some zones too thin... KICAD id *better than most* because it has a minimum zone width parameter. Congratulations Kicad :) Alain PS: sending to both devel and users
Re: [kicad-users] Zone fill issue. Another one...
Hi Jean Pierre, I also found a problem in the new version with Zone fill: I needed a pad to be round on one side and right-angled on the other side. To do that, I ploted an ARC on the solder-side. This makes an extra copper area exactly as I need. The only problem is that Zone-Fill is ignoring that extra copper area and is making a short :( (I could workaround using the zone clearence) Do you need a sample file? If I send only the .brd file, is it ok? Thanks, the zones are great!! Good work. Alain jean-pierre charras escreveu: In very rare cases the zone filling algorithm fails in zone calculations. This is due to a non fixed bug in the kbool library (that is a great library do to polygon calculations) used in kicad to handle zones. Currently only one case is known. A workaround could be to slightly change a zone parameter (like zone clearance) For the known case, a change from 0.381 mm to 0.386 mm solves the problem.
Re: [kicad-users] Drill chart
There is an automatic way that is just fine: Menu Post-process Create drill diagram (2nd opt) Drill diagram (top center), I use Postcript. It will automaiicaly generate a sympol for each drill size and a list and count at the bottom. Alain Andy Eskelson escreveu: From the plot menu, if you select postscript as the output format you can select a small drill point on the pads rather than the real drill size. Not a X as you are used to, but it might be good enough. Andy On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:19:30 - evlotus7 btre...@sympatico.ca wrote: Hi, As many of you, I'm a beginner to KiCad. But I know it for a couple of years, especially EESchema that I used to draw schematics before transferring them to the PCB designer. Now in my new job, I'm doing all the design. I almost finished my first board and I got a question about drilling. I'm use to see a drill chart with the PCB and different little cross symbol on the board layout marking the position and size of each holes. Do I have to draw and place by hand each cross on a layer (drawings, comments, Eco1 or Eco2) or is there a more automatic way? Bruno 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 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
[kicad-users] Re: Eagle to KiCAD
Hi, mostly I redraw ALL my libraries and modules, but using some existing library. It is so easy that I turned it into a habit... There are a lot of Eagle converted libraries by Renie (also Brazilian) at http://www.reniemarquet.cjb.net/kicad.htm I am answering to the list, maybe you get more answers from there, including Renie ;) that is what the list is for... Alain andrej_georgi escreveu: Dear Alain, I am not sure if your the right person to ask. I just found an atmel atxmega library for eagle and lookn for a solution to convert it to KiCAD. Since you got experience in KiCAD convertions I just ask you how to do that? Kind Regards Andrej Georgi
Re: [kicad-users] How do you make a ground plane on the board edge
Hi, that is a feature, not a problem ;) But you can disable it. In kicad, when you redraw a track, it removes the old one, which is suposedly not wanted anymore. There is an icon on the left side with a pink rubber to disable/enable that feature... Alain wdoe999 escreveu: Hi - I'm going bonkers with this one. I want to put a 50 mil ground plane around the edge of the board. The board has 4 mounting holes in the corner. I first tried making a zone around the edge of the board on both sides and then filled it. I then loaded the board into the freerouter and when it gets near the end of the routine phase, the number of passes goes berzerk. I stop it and check the unrouted nets and there is an error that states it cannot route the conduction zone to ground. The conduction zone is clearly connected to the grounded mounting holes, and the router is smart enough to connect a bunch of grounds to the conduction zone, but it somehow complains that it can't route the conduction zone to ground. Ok, there's more than one way to skin a cat. I decided to just use kicad to draw 50 mil traces around the edge of the board. So a draw a trace from mounting hole to mounting hole all around the board component side. I then go to draw the same trace on the solder side of the board. I then go back to look at the first trace (on the component side) and there are traces on 3 sides of the board but the fourth side is missing. I then try and redraw the missing piece. Every time I fillin the missing piece, the piece on the opposite side of the board disappears. Did somebody specifically write code to drive me crazy doing the simplest thing? At this rate, the board should be done in 10,000 years. It must be common to put such a ground plane around the edge and then use the freerouter. Any thoughts? 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] How do you make a NET with 2 different track widths
I can tell you what *I do*, even if most people don't like it. It does makes board up to my standards: 1) I route manualy only the part that I want with wide tracks, usualy a contour and a few connectors. 2) then there is a problem: the autorouter does not use that track very well (not only kicad's, most don't, don't know about freeroute), so I have to connect manualy most ground pins with thin tracks to the wide track 3) then the autoroute usualy runs smoothly Alain wdoe999 escreveu: Hi - I tried using the free java router and it seems pretty neat. I typically want to make my power and ground tracks wider than the others. However, I do not want simple I/O lines that are connected to power and ground to be wide. How can I design my schematic or PCB so that the router will only make wide tracks for the actual power and ground nets? I suppose that, on the schematic, I could make completely separate nets (one set for real power and ground, and another set for I/O lines connected to power and ground). However, the problem that I see if that with separate nets, an I/O pin may want to route to another pin on the other side of the board when there is a power/ground pin available from the other net that is closer (I hope I'm explaining that right). The only other thought I have is manual routing, or let th autorouter so as much as possible and then ho back and change the trace widths manually. Thanks 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] Re: How do you make a NET with 2 different track widths
I assume that this is an answer to my suggestion... (you have been overly economical deleting all the previous text) wdoe999 escreveu: Thanks I will give that a try. I'll find this out when I try it, but I'm assuming that the autorouter does not optimize the manually routed tracks? In other words, I should make an effort to carefully route these big tracks and live with the extra vias that the autorouter will use to try and cope with the immovable tracks? what usualy happens is this: a component's pad in the GND net can be just next to a wide GND track, but the router will not see that track. It will try to connect to all other pads in the GND net. Sometimes if the track is broken in two segments it works, but I am not sure of that Alain
Re: [kicad-users] Re:how to change all via diameters at once?
I found these explanations, but am am missing something... I have a board will all vias=.045 drill=.028 and I want to chage to vias=.040 drill=.024. With the explanations bellow, I can change the drill size easely, but the via diameter does not change :( I also tried edoting the file, but it is not self explanatory to me, I changed the line ViaSize 400 but it has no effect. Another question, How do I display the keep-out zone for vias? Please help, Alain Dick Hollenbeck escreveu: When vias are created, they are created with the default drill size or the current alternate drill size. The default drill size is recorded in each individual via as a magical value of -1. The current alternate drill size is whatever the current mil or mm setting is for the Alternate Drill size in the Dimensions | Tracks and Vias dialog. That value is used in place of the -1 in each such via. The interpretation of any AND ALL vias subject to the default via drill size can be instantaneously changed merely by changing the default drill size in the same dialog. You do not need to visit each default drill sized via. Only vias which have an alternate drill size setting need to be revisited individually. And of course, as always, you can edit these Kicad files with a text editor, but the format is not self evident so always keep a backup before you begin experimenting with a text editor. The file formats are documented elsewhere however. Dick 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] Telling eeschema that it is ok to connect some bidirectional pins to ground
I had a similar problem with a strange pin in an ARM processor, I solved it maquing it passive so that everyting is accepted Alain Andy Eskelson escreveu: No (unless there is a really odd problem) Making a copy is always a good idea when you are messing about, but I think the problem is a bit more fundamental. You do NOT want to have a library part in the system if it is wrong, it needs fixing, so that you don't get caught out with the same problem next time you use the part. Have you checked what type of function is assigned to the pin using the eeschema library editor? Forget all about the ARM operation. From what you are saying it looks like eeschema does not know that the pins should be bi directional or whatever. This would be easier if I could look at the device... Please state: the library, the device, and the pin name and pin numbers that you are having problems with. then we can all look at the same thing. Andy On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:20:28 +0200 Pertti Kellomäki pertti.kellom...@gmail.com wrote: On Sun, Mar 22, 2009 at 10:24 PM, Pedro Martin pki...@yahoo.es wrote: I think that Andy means the pins must be identified in Eeschema, not in the programming of the ARM. With the components editor you can tell Eeschema whether the pins are bidirectional, power, etc. So basically the approach would be to make a copy of the ARM and modify the relevant pins of the copy? Sounds reasonable. -- Pertti 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 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] Re: two supply voltage and Vcc
That is an annoying part of Kicad... but I once solved that editing the .sch file. unfortunatly I don't remeber how :( can anyone help fixing that? just one guess: create another 74HC00-3 and edit the invisible pin... Alain PS I hope that one day someone will work on Kicad's useability. Today Kicad has all the features that we can need, but lots of annoying details make life difficult. yamamaya_com escreveu: Hi Jeff, Hmm... It sounds reasonable. I tried to do like that, that is; place 4 units of 74HC00 and connect all VCCs of them to +3.3V, but unfortunately nothing improved. Also, it really sounds reasonable, but inappropriate. It may make schema too complicated. - Mao --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, jeffs_cc j...@... wrote: Mao, I am new to KiCad so this is just a guess, but have you placed all the sections of the 74HC00 that is connected to 3.3v? This part has sections A-F, and each section has the hidden VCC and Gnd pins. If you have not placed all the sections on the schematic, perhaps KiCad is picking up the VCC from the unused sections and assuming they are all tied together. You might try placing all 6 sections of the 3.3v 74HC00 on the schematic and show and connect VCC on all 6 to 3.3v. Jeff 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] NEWBIE question
Explaining more... the project is the .pro file, then you create the schematic, it's the .sch file, when you save it you get the file :) Alain kajdas escreveu: Did you save the project/schematic? NJ wb8...@arrl.net wrote: I'm following the tutorial and when instructed to create a new projest the .sch file never gets created. Help! 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] Re: connection algorithm/wish list items (or to be alone or not be alone)
jean-pierre.char...@inpg.fr escreveu: These enhancements inside kicad code are not always visible by users, but they are mandatory to allow Kicad to be more robust IMHO there is one big enhancement that is missing in kicad and would have a great efect for users: *User interface*. I am talking about both pontual improvements and general kicad behaviour, some things are very odd to new users and cumbersome to old runners: project management, library management (system+user+project), multiple windows open, net list error messages, etc... just my 2c, it can wait, but should get forgotten. Alain
Re: [kicad-users] Trouble with new component
jean-pierre.char...@inpg.fr escreveu: clark.leach a écrit : I created a new component and placed 4 copies in my schematic. After annotating, the components are labeled #U1 - #U4 and do not appear in the netlist when I run Cvpcb. I am just trying KICAD for the first time so I am totally unfamiliar. Anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong? I am pretty sure you have (in libedit) set the Power symbol option in Properties . Uncheck it. Quit Eeschema. Reload your schematic (to reload and reinit component properties in schematic) and reannotate (with old annotation removal) Obviously it it not a power symbol (power symbols are only symbols created to handle power connections: VCC, GND...) Because power symbols are not physical symbols, they do not appear in netlist as components. And one hint, don't create your own power conection. It is very tricky, so if need be, make it work first with one ready made. Alain
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Flat Hierarchy Supported
yes, but don't connect anything to it hierarchy-like. So it will just sit there in a corner of the first page. Alain circular.file escreveu: Hello Alain, When you say include the second file in the first, do you mean add a page via the hierarchy tool? --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Alain M. ala...@... wrote: You include the second file in the first one, this makes eeschema know that it is all one schema. Then you connect the pages using the new type of connector, which is what really is a flat hierachy. Alain yajeed2000 escreveu: --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, circular.file circular.file@ wrote: The News page on the KiCAD Wiki states that EESchema now supports flat schematics: 15.07.2008 New release candidate : EeSchema : improvements (flat hierarchy supported) However, the only page tool I see in EESchema is the place hierarchical sheet. Does anyone know how the new flat hierarchy works? Thanks! Hi, Try looking at some of the demo files. There may be a demonstration of this amongst them. David. 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 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] Re: Plot issue on PCBNew
in fact that issu was *not* solved with that brazilian user :( I was in the discussion because I made a board with Kicad and sent to the same manufacturer without any problem. My suggestion: - I don't belive that this is version related (with latest ones) - try making a new small board and simulating the problem - try drawing the edges before the tracks If you can make a small example (of if your board is not confidential) we can try the devel list, sending that board to one of the developpers Alain dandumit escreveu: Alain, Please give me some other hints . I have tryed to do everyting that has crossed trough my mind : - unsitalled and reinstalled the kicad (stable and svn versions) - deleted all edges and draw them again - deleted globally tracks - deleted some mounting holes that I have added manually (douille 4mm) - track operations optimisation - export to spectra and import again - append the board to other board - I have deleted all the Kicad keys in registry - I have opened a board from sample projects which are delivered with installation kit , tryed to plot them and sam result . Same result. cannot plot board ! all coordinates in gerber or PS file are the same. Do you have any ideea if it is an stand alone executable who generates pho and .ps files ? Maybe I have a wrong version and might be in other place Thank you, Daniel %ADD21C,0.01*% G04 APERTURE END LIST* X0Y0D02* X0Y0D01* X0Y0D02* X0Y0D01* X0Y0D02* X0Y0D01* Regards, Daniel A similar issue was discussed on the Brazilian list... It was Renies's suggestion to check if you a good board edge. It's something to do with Gerber's limit that default to the first track in the file. As this is a recurrent problem, maybe it could be addressed in the Gerber genetation code... Alain 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] pcbnew - Reuse Layout?
Dave Stensland escreveu: Is there any way for pcbnew to reuse layouts? Maybe there's another solution? 1) most obvious one: copy the file and delete some of it (I use it sometimes) 2) copypaste: select a block and paste it on the other board. I just don't remember the details, but it has been explained here some time ago Alain
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Printing problems
well, that sounds like a real bug... But have you tried to generate the Gerber files and print them? Alain NdK escreveu: yajeed2000 ha scritto: From some testing I just did, it seems that text is shifted 13 mils to the left (pads are at the correct coords in gerbview, text is not)). Note the text is not! Try plotting to a postscript file and then open each file with ghostscript viewer. If you then print out these files I have found that they are more dimensionally accurate. Give it a try. My problem is *not* about scaling. I could easily bypass scaling problems by just using print dialog settings (and some tries). BTW, on my printer, accurate 1:1 *is* quite accurate (the 28ell300 fits well w/ the actual IC). The problem is that: - when plotting, text on copper layer gets moved by about 13 mils - when printing, test is NOT moved, but 28ell300 pads are no more elliptical but rectangular and with a hole whose diameter is more than the short side of the rect. The only thing I can do is to add those 13 mils, hoping the move is consistent (or just keep AT LEAST 20 mils all around text areas). BYtE, Diego. 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] no top-side tracks
Hi Emanuel, I see that you are pursuing this, so I may perhaps help you in some other way... Considering that you said that it is a simple board, I am assuming also that it is reasonably small, then what I would do is this: 1) with all in place, components and nets, save what you have 2) auto-route once, just to see what you get 3) use the Recover or Previous version to undo the routes, 4) if you like what you see, route some tracks manualy using the rat-nets, otherwise move things around for a better layout 5) check DRC to see if there are errors, 6) repeat from 1) or 2) a few times This is not auto-route at all, I know, but you will get what you want very fast. The integrated router is so easy to apply, that I use this procedure even for dual layer and in the end 99% is hand-routed. I hope this helps, Alain Emanuel Rumpf escreveu: How to make a board single-sided ?? In the tutorial I read: We wish to make a single-sided board for this simple circuit, so we'll tell the auto-router to use only one side. Right-click in an empty area and select Global AutorouteSelect layer pair. In the dialog, select Copper for both Top Layer and Bottom Layer, and click OK. (Some people call it the solder side instead of the copper side.) BUT if I try, I get the message The Top Layer and Bottom Layer must differ why, please ?? (mode: track and autorouting was selected) thanks 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] Re: How to remove Mask Cop from tracks?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] escreveu: Hi, Please guide me that how do I remove 'Mask' (green coating) from certain tracks to increase current. Maybe I am missing something, but how does removing the solder mask increase current in a trace? Are you saying that the solder mask reduces heat dissipation to a significant degree? If the track is open, you can solder a wire to it, or flow a thick solder path on it, to significantly increase the flowable current and increase the surface/mass to better heat dissipation. It's a good solution, when no space for a wider track, nor board type with thicker copper layer. Yes this is often the best solution on boards where you have only a very few tracks with that problem. This is often done in power supplies. There is another very important situation: sometimes you need a shield line to be uncovered so that surface currents (due to dirt and/or humidity) get shielded too. Another use is sparkers: a component is made simply of sharp points close to each other and *not* covered my solder mask. Alain In Eagle I can simply make a track (graphic line) on Mask_x layer, over the track I want to make open. As I can see, in Kicad I can draw graphic line on Mask_x layer, too, but I can't change its width! Right click on the line, and the Edit Drawing does nothing. Perhaps is it a bug? (v.20080715RC) I should also know the solution, because I also need it sometimes. 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 * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Multiple sheets
oecherexpat escreveu: But you DO HAVE a root sheet, right? Yes. BUT it is *only* used to hold the other sheets I actually never tried not to connect global signals on the root sheet. Is it that what you mean? That is what global stands for. You don't have to connect them And I have to use seperate files for seperate sheets, right? Yes, of course Alain Cheers, Heiko. Just use the Global Labels that eliminate the need to connect them at the root level. Officila argument (past messages) is that you will need a list of files somewhere, so consider the root list to be that ... A better solution would require a new project manager, which in fact is one of todays limitations of kicad, jist my humble oppinion :) Alain 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] Re: Dragging multiple pads?
From the manuals and tutorials: Hold the Control key... bobysgotguns escreveu: Guys, I still have no solution to this. Can someone help me out? I'm about to give up --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, bobysgotguns [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How do I drag multiple pads at once? Selecting pads with only allows move, not drag.
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Component with differnet parts ???
Yesterday I found 2 bugs related to this: 1) in the edit pin window there is an option [ ] Common to all elements (may not be the exact wording, I am retranslating). This option is *off* but the pin is used in all elements. *Workaround*: set it to ON, press Ok, edit the pin again and set it to OFF. Then it works as expected. 2) if I edit a component like 74HC14, in the library there are 2 connections to VCC and GND. There is nowhere to edit or delete them. *Workaround*: edit the file manualy Please, anyone, tell me if there is a better way of doing it that I was unable to find, or if theis is a really a bug Thanks, Alain sroux93 escreveu: OK, i think i understand now. Thanks. But what about ground and power inputs ? Must i make them appeared or not ? (invisible option ?) for example, for a audio filter or an ampli op., there is +Vcc - Vcc. thses pins must be drawn for each parts or only the first one ? thanks --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, rohchar [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, using a quad nand 74hc00 per ex., you have one component with 4 gates. Adding an 74hc00, you always get the first gate (pins 1, 2 3). So, you need to select which unit you want to use (Edite Composant = Unite = Unit 1, 2, 3 or 4). When you create a new component, you have to specify the number of parts or units. Default is 1. You can also use this feature to split a big component. You can see here a xc2v3000 fpga (one part) and a xc2v3000 with 9 parts : kicad.rohrbacher.net/temp regards, Charles. --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, sroux93 sroux93@ wrote: Someone can explain to me what are component with different parts (eeschema program -- when you create a new component from a existing one, in the properties, you can select number of parts... but but means this function ???) I am french if you want to answer in french. And i read english Thanks
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Netlist Generation and Custom Power symbols
tjoho65 escreveu: Knowing it can work makes it easier to debug. What made this work was either to make the pin length 0 and/or hidden. That makes it work! Yes this is one of the problems. IMHO this should be considered a *bug* or is it considered a *feature* ??? Alain I suggest that you go back to the power.lib, export again and change only the drawings, step by step. Some things are not permited but most are ok... tjoho65 escreveu: Hello, I cannot get the netlist generator or ERC check to accept a custom GND or +x.xV power symbol. I want to have a custom GND symbol, and I removed the GND symbol from power.lib. I moved it to my own lib and changed the way it looks only. After this, the ERC and Netlist generation no longer accepts this as a power net indicator, the net it is connected to simply gets enumerated, but never connected to e.g. the GND net. Reverting back to the Kicad original GND symbol (renamed to avoid collision), works as expected. Does Kicad only accept power symbols physically located in the power.lib library? Any ideas anyone? /S
Re: [kicad-users] Netlist Generation and Custom Power symbols
I have managed to do what you want but it was tricky... I suggest that you go back to the power.lib, export again and change only the drawings, step by step. Some things are not permited but most are ok... Alain tjoho65 escreveu: Hello, I cannot get the netlist generator or ERC check to accept a custom GND or +x.xV power symbol. I want to have a custom GND symbol, and I removed the GND symbol from power.lib. I moved it to my own lib and changed the way it looks only. After this, the ERC and Netlist generation no longer accepts this as a power net indicator, the net it is connected to simply gets enumerated, but never connected to e.g. the GND net. Reverting back to the Kicad original GND symbol (renamed to avoid collision), works as expected. Does Kicad only accept power symbols physically located in the power.lib library? Any ideas anyone? /S 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
[kicad-users] Documentation problem
in file board_file_format_EN.html it states that an ARC is: DA x0 y0 x1 y1 angle width layer where: X0,y0 = Start point x1,y1 = end point I am led to believe that it should be x0,y0 = center x1,y1 = start point but I am not absolutly sure, it could be something similar --- I am working on the conversion from eagle (with Renie) and I am having trouble with this part. plase HELP :) Alain
Re: [kicad-users]Re: How to make little holes in the pads centers printing from Gerbview?
Vladimir Kalyaev escreveu: If I'm not mistaken Print prints out FULL-SIZED holes, not SMALL centering hole! Other explanations: for .6-8mm drill open area should be 0.2-0.3mm. For 0.8mm thru-hole element a drill open area produced by Print command equals to the drill diameter. I think it's impossible to use 0.8mm open area for centering a 0.8mm drill! I did some tests (some years ago) and I finaly settled that holes *half the real size* are ideal. That is because dril centers are bigger for bigger drills, if you have a .8mm center for a 3.2mm hole it is just useless. What I used to do was to define all my pads with half the real diameter and fix that in the docs acompanying the drill file... Alain In OrCAD there is an option keep drill holes open which produces a same-sized holes for each thru-hole element. I can write a script for overruding every thru-hole padshape to force a Print command work correctly. Is it an only way? Just the same, a script could be made to fix that and generate the print file. On option could interest some people... Alain
Re: [kicad-users] imported components
Darryl Jewiss escreveu: Just finished a double sided PCB with SMD components. Just a word of warning. I used a few components imported from the Eagle libraries. The through hole components did not have the solder mask enabled on the copper side, it could have been a problem if my PCB manufacturer had not noticed it. Where did you get them from? Alain
[kicad-users] SVN snapshots
Dick Hollenbeck escreveu: You can always find out his latest build from the top of the page here: http://kicad.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page I noticed that the source versions are not exactly the same as the binaries. Does it mean that the snapshots availabe there are tested ones? I am asking because the las time I built from SVN it did not compile, which I could do 2 days later with help from this list (IIRC from Dick) and a fixed version. Thanks, Alain
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Placing a wire
Dan Andersson escreveu: On Wednesday 30 January 2008 14:45:05 glinelec wrote: --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, glinelec [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: My EeSchima seems to have stopped allowing wire placements. If I select the add wire button the bottom right status shows Add Wire. When I click on a pin the status shows Block Move and the operation switches to block move even though the Add Wire button is depressed. I am have been using the system for a while and have not experienced this before. Same occurs with add bus but not with add component or add powers. Any ideas what I am doing wrong? Version is 19 11 2007 Windows. Posting a reply myself with more information. The file was originally loaded from the Kicad main screen. If I reload the schematic directly from the file menu in EeSchemea all is ok. The Linux version on Kubuntu 7.10 behaves in a similar way. Depending on the level of zoom, I have to try 2 - 5 times before the wire placement bites. Also,it's common that I have to cancel a component move while trying to get the wire started. I noticed this with the last version of KiCad. I' using an AMD 64 dual core 4000+ and enough dual port RAM. As a workaround, change zoom leve ( increase ) and try a couple of times and it'll work. //Dan I noticed a similar problem: the place wire command doesn't byte. But I started using a faster click (shorter in time) on the mouse and it may solved the problem, although it is not reproductible so it is more like e feeling. Sorry for the imprecise report, but there surely is a problem there... That was on svn version 2007 dec 13, I did not test enough on the new svn 2008 jan 28. Mandriva Linux 2007.1 and 2008. Alain
[kicad-users] New to Kicad
Hi, I have been trying kicad (2007-12-08 Linux Mandriva 2008) with the help of Renie, who made the Brazilian translation. I miss very much only 3 things: 1) undo 2) undo 3) undo is it planed to be included in pcbnew anytime soon? I am a former Tango for DOS user, and I am trying to do something that I used to do very much: reroute track. It more orless like this: I reconvert parts of a track to ratnet and then I can place it again. Is it possible? thanks, I am almost converted to kicad loving :) Alain
