On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:34:44 +0530, you wrote:
>In another current threads, I saw a number of people say that they make
>their own parts/components including the PCB footprint.
>
>Wondering if anyone of you would be kind enough to make a screencast
>video-tutorial, showing / teaching how exactly you do it, i.e. how you
>translate the footprint from data-sheet into a new component for your
>personal library.
I'm not going to do that, but I'll detail the process.
Two things you want to do that are relatively critical, location of
the pads and the relationship between the pads and the overall
outline.
I use a set of digital calipers, and pick a reference point (not the
one that the part will use). All measurements are relative to that.
I then borrow a trick from corel, and that is to run grid lines at
specific measurements. As an example, take a display with mounting
ears at the corners, a frame, and an inner display area. I do a
series of guide lines for each dimension. I then place the holes
where they are needed. You could use an unwanted layer for the layout
lines, then select only that layer and delete as needed.
I place pads where they are supposed to be, and if the manufacturer
numbers them in an order, I do that.
Some details are cosmetic, and all I need to do is get close.
If the dimensions are in MM, then I switch to a millimeter grid, if in
inches, then that. Zero does not change.
All that supposes that the package you really want is not already in
some library, somewhere.
If it comes to outside dimensions, and I can't get the exact
dimensions I want, I'll go a little over, so the part is fractionally
larger than reality. This gives me a bit of added clearance.
Study a part to see what is on the top doc layer, the documentation
layer, and the like.
Harvey
>Instead of Eagle, if someone chooses to do it in KiCad, that might be well
>enough as well, since having used both a little (still a n00b level usage),
>I see quite a few similarities, so I am hoping that with a little more
>efforct, I could do the conversion on my own.
>
>thanks,
>bd
>
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