Digikey and other KiCad footprints

Layout Footprints
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I am looking at downloading the Digikey libraries. A check of Github from the digikey provided link seems to reveal that only a small amount of parts are there. Did I miss something or is this a feature that was never well developed?

Is there some other place to get KiCad foot prints from the vendors–I did not see any looking about the internet?

Thanks
Fritz

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Generally, suppliers do Not provide Footprints, they provide Model outputs, such as .STEP, .WRL, .OBJ…etc.

We, the users need to make the Footprint and use those outputs.

Why? Because there a too many PCB design apps to keep up with, and that would be a full-time job for someone. Even Kicad goes through changes - WRL was the toy of the day, now, it’s STEP…

Best to learn the basics of 3D modeling (perhaps using FreeCad, the best, most compatible choice, at present time)

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Friends of KiCad at SnapEDA provide KiCad footprints. As does Octopart for a smaller subset of parts

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Thanks for the replies.
The reason I was looking to Digikey for footprints is somewhere in their documentation they mentioned that they do this for KiCad. But the library I found for them was only a miniscule subset so probably things did not work out for the reasons mentioned.
I use Fusion (and sometimes FreeCad). BlackCoffee–to be clear-are you indicating that there is a converison tool like FreeCAD–>KiCad?
Seth–I will check out the libraries that you mentioned. Personally I am always afraid to post my own footprints because I am afraid I have messed up and will lead someone astray!

Thanks again
Fritz

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No. Given that you have only a 3D model (such as .STEP), you need to make a Footprint and use the .STEP file.

It’s fairly simple - all that’s needed is to Open the Footprint Editior, Create New Footprint, Add Pads/etc and Draw a Silk (and/or other desired graphics). In the Footprint Properties panel of the Editor, you load the .STEP and place/orientate it as desired. There are many Tut’s and Video’s on making Footprints.

With a .STEP file in hand, it takes only a few minutes to have a nice, custom footprint…

ADDED: Here’s a link to one of my YouTube vids’s - there are several but this may be the simplest to learn from…

First 10 minutes is making a .STEP model, remaining few minutes is making a Footprint with it…

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The Digi-Key KiCad library seemed promising when it first came out, but there hasn’t been much activity on it in the last couple of years. Digi-Key offers so many parts that I don’t think the library would have ever been more than a small subset. But, I had been hoping that it would at least be a subset that would gradually grow over time. Not sure why they lost momentum, but I guess corporate priorities change.

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I agree Patrick–at the time I saw the announcement form Digikey I was surprised and suspicious. The only thing I could figure was that perhaps vendors already had drafts and Digikey had written a converter for KiCad.
Sure - that and a solution for World Peace

Thanks
fs

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I don’t know, but I suspect that it was something more along the lines of some Digi-Key employee liked KiCad and made a bunch of KiCad symbols and footprints, but then they either left Digi-Key, lost interest, or have been busy with other work.

I don’t think they came from vendors, because Digi-Key has a separate partner library for that. (Which contains even less.)

I also don’t think they used a converter from some other format, because their footprints are KLC-compliant.

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I am using this repo: https://github.com/Digi-Key/digikey-kicad-library.git
Updated it on 2020 December. 484 footprints, well made, 300 symbols. I don’t know if that is many or little but enough for me, and very useful.

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