Creating a star ground component?

[paulvdh]

1). Make a schematic symbol with 2 pins.
2). Switch to the Footprint Editor.
3). Make a Footprint with 2 SMD pads.
4). Draw a line on the silk screen between the 2 pads.
5). Right Mouse Button and change the layer of the line to the right copper layer.
This is quite dirty hack because PcbNew does not know about lines on the copper layer and it can not use it for DRC checkecking. This problem can be mitigated a bit by placing the 2 smd pads close together.
You also have to adjust the solder mask etc of the pads.
More info with screenshot & link to a youtube video/tutorial below.

Polygonal SMD pad for footprint/module

Just found a video which exploits a hack to draw footprints on Copper. The Idea is to first draw some graphics on the silk screen in the Footprint Editor. Then Right Mouse Button and change the line segment to a copper layer. The “very dangerous” part is that KiCad can not do DRC error checking and such on these line segments, so you have to check manually. [image] The Footprints are also text files and you probably can change the layer name of some graphics right there with an editor. (Ha…