Module management is fairly easy, but it does not seem to be very well
used.
This is probably due to the way that the modules are installed, where
everything is pretty much set up ready to go.
If you have a hunt around in kicad/share/modules you will find some .brd
files. these are the recommended method of managing / documenting
modules. from the .brd files you can generate all the modules on them
by using the archive footprints function. This method is documented in
the help files of pcbnew.
You can add modules to the .brd files then run the archive function to
recreate the modules as needed. It is recommended that you create your
ow .brd files for your own modules, as there is always the danger that
modules can be overwritten during re-installs.
I was not convinced at first by using .brd files for module management,
but I've been convinced that it's quite a easy method.
With the imperial / metric versions. the only thing I can think of is that
it may be that because kicad (at least the 2009 versions) use imperial as
it's base measurement system that someone created the imperial versions to
avoid grid mismatches.
Andy
On Tue, 11 May 2010 21:25:03 -0500
Karl Schmidt k...@xtronics.com wrote:
I'm not sure I understand why the library of modules is in the state it is?
I would expect to see
module files like SO.mod, DO.mod, DIP.mod, PLC.mod, discreet_SM.mod, etc. Am
I missing something?
Anyway, it appears that I should not trust what is in the library anyway. I
got a copy of
LP Calculator to work. should probably be three versions of the modules
library for surface-mount
work - General purpose - high reliability and very-high density. (There are
settings to get these
numbers out of LP-calculator).
A = Most - reliable - but bigger
B = Nominal - mid sized
C = Least - very small
For others that want to generate these pads - here are the clues
From http://landpatterns.ipc.org/default.asp Download this link
http://landpatterns.ipc.org/files/PCBM_LP_Calculator_V2009-0831.zip
Get Winetricks from: http://winezeug.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/winetricks Save
the script Then using
a Terminal type in sh winetricks in script directory Select using the GUI
dotnet20 and install
There is one other detail that should get worked out - there are two ways
that cap footprints are
specified - and it generates confusion - metric and imperial - thus 0201
(02x01mils) = 0603 in
metric (remind me to once again curse the creeps that stopped metrication
back in the '60s).
Complete list
http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/Capacitor_Codes#Imperial_and_metric_case_size_codes
There are two that overlap - there is are 0402 0603 in both imperial and
metric.
The library name ought to give a hint as to the units used..
The current lib lists these as SM0603 in imperial.. I'm thinking of
creating a metric named lib
with 0603M?
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
Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
-- Mark Twain
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