I am new to KiCad and still getting the hang of designing with it. I have run into a bit of an issue while creating a custom component footprint, and I was hoping someone here could help me out.
The component I am working with is a small sensor that has a non-standard pinout, and I need to create a custom footprint that can accommodate it. I have managed to create the schematic symbol for the component, but I am running into difficulties with the footprint creation. Specifically; I am unsure about how to set up the pads correctly to match the components unique pin configuration, and I am worried I might be overlooking something important.
Additionally; I would like to ensure that the footprint is properly aligned with the pins on the component. I have read through some tutorials and the KiCad documentation; but I am not quite sure how to set the pad shapes and sizes; as well as the pad to pad spacing; for such an irregular component.
The component also has a few mounting holes; and I am unsure how to best incorporate those into the footprint layout.
KiCad only uses pin numbers to match pins on schematic symbols with pads on footprints. There is no intermediate indirection layer at all in KiCad (some other programs do this, for example to match a symbol with different footprints (I.e. DIP and SMT, which often have pins in different locations). “Pin numbers” in KiCad are alfanumeric strings, so you can use for example “chessboard” coordinates such as common in BGA’s.
You have not shown your footprint. changing properties of pads is quite straightforward, you can either edit their properties or simply move or drag them. KiCad also has options to create an array of pads and to push pad properties to other pads to for example change the size of a lot of pads quickly. I find using the footprint editor quite intuitive. The quality of the symbol and footprint editors was one of the reasons I started with KiCad. Their UI is pretty similar to the schematic and PCB editors.
Again: Component like what? You have not shown any info on what part you want a symbol and footprint for.
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99% of ICs are in a more or less standard package.
Eg old bios chips are in a dip32 package.
Dual inline pin 32 pins.
Modem bioses are soic8
Small Outline I? C? 8pins.
There are thousands of packages, with thousands of footprints, but nevertheless, there is likely a standard package probably in kicad you can simply copy and renumber the pins.
What IC is it?
If you can’t identify a code like SSOP-56 or similar in the datasheet, someone here probably can.
