KiCAD HELP

[manyhobbies]

Hello

Anyone out there know KiCAD well that would be willing to use a computer/screen sharing program and help me out with a few problems I'm having with the program? I like Teamviewer6. I have a high speed internet connection.


I'm having trouble with creating new modules and getting them into the program. I'm pretty sure it's a just a couple of things that I'm not understanding and doing wrong.

Please reply to this thread or PM me.

Thanks!

Dan

[ratdude747]

Re: KiCAD HELP

hmm... I wish I could help, as I use KiCAD to draw schematics for my college EET classes.

Could you be more specific?

[manyhobbies]

Re: KiCAD HELP

hmm... I wish I could help, as I use KiCAD to draw schematics for my college EET classes.

Could you be more specific?

Ratdude

Thanks for the reply!

I was able to work through the tutorial and make a simple circuit. So....I've got that part kinda figured out. I'm having trouble with getting a part added to a library so I can add it to the circuit.

Is there a way to import a DXF into KiCAD?

I also know SolidWorks, AutoCAD,..... FYI

Have you used Teamviewer?

Thanks!

Dan

[ratdude747]

Re: KiCAD HELP

Ratdude

Thanks for the reply!

I was able to work through the tutorial and make a simple circuit. So....I've got that part kinda figured out. I'm having trouble with getting a part added to a library so I can add it to the circuit.

Is there a way to import a DXF into KiCAD?

I also know SolidWorks, AutoCAD,..... FYI

Have you used Teamviewer?

Thanks!

Dan

I tried to learn autodesk a few year back... fail

I do know NI multisim and to a degree, xilinx plan ahead, and Labview for that matter.

kicad takes a while to get used to... but it is free. my only complaint is that in order to paste schematics into my documents, I have to crop screenshots. it works but it is a PITA.

[manyhobbies]

Re: KiCAD HELP

I'm trying to add 44-PIN HSOP SLUG DN (JEDEC MO-166) to KiCAD and having trouble. I have it drawn in a DXF format.....and in KiCAD but still can't figure out how to get it in the LIB to get it in the drawing.

[ratdude747]

Re: KiCAD HELP

did you search the libraries for it? I think I saw something like that when looking for something else.

[manyhobbies]

Re: KiCAD HELP

did you search the libraries for it? I think I saw something like that when looking for something else.

Yes I have.......either confused or didn't find the right area.

[Agent24]

Re: KiCAD HELP

DXF format isn't going to help much, I don't believe KiCAD can read them.

Are you creating a symbol for schematic or a footprint for PCB?

[manyhobbies]

Re: KiCAD HELP

I'm creating a footprint for PCB.

Thanks!

Dan

[Agent24]

Re: KiCAD HELP

Just read you had already created the footprint in KiCAD, but can't figure out how to use it?
I'll go through all the steps to make sure you haven't missed anything:

1) Open PCBNew and launch the module editor (5th button from left on top toolbar)

2) File -> New Module and enter name

3) Draw outline, add pads, whatever else.

4) Once created, you must save it somewhere before you can do anything more with it.

• Either save in a new library
• OR export to a separate module. (not that useful unless you want to give someone that specific part)
• OR If you already have a library created, click "Select Active Library" button and you can save to that (Just note NOT save to a default KiCAD library as those can get wiped out during version upgrades)

For example you may wish to save all your own created footprints to 'Custom_Footprints.mod'

5) To be able to assign it to a component, you must add the library (if not already added) to the CVPCB program. Open CVPCB and click "Preferences -> Options" then add either the library explicitly, or the path to where the library resides on disk. You should also then click "Preferences -> Save project file"

6) Now you can assign the footprint you created to any component you are using in CVPCB.

7) The same procedure must also be done in PCBNew: Except the names are slightly changed ("Preferences -> Libraries" and "Preferences -> Save Preferences")


Once this is all done, you can load your netlist into PCBNew and enjoy your new module(s) - hope that all made some sort of sense! (The main thing here is to remember to add the custom library\library paths to the project file you are using, otherwise they are inaccessible!)

[manyhobbies]

Re: KiCAD HELP

Thanks Agent24! I'll give it a shot!