Hi Folks
I am new to KiCad…I am doing a project which involves sensor modules like MPU-6050 (3 Axis Gyroscope+Accelerometer) , ESP Wroom 32 (Wifi Module), HW-201 (IR sensor) etc etc…
However I failed to find footprints for some of them either in KiCad or online.
And some , even if I found it in SnapEDA , when I measured its dimensions in KiCad , they differed from the ones given in Datasheet or found using scale by about like 0.2-0.3 cm
I am really worried whether it may cause the component not fitting in when I print my PCB!
This is when I came up with the idea of placing 2 straight lines of set of female pin headers at required distance and fix the module in them just like we do in breadboard!..
Also I felt this gave an added advantage of being able to remove the modules (and replace if found defective) …
Is this method going to lead to problems ? Or is this by any chance the right way to attach Sensor modules to PCB?..
Any opinion is highly appreciated…Thank you again…!
Welcome to the forum !..You could create the footprint you want yourself using actual dimensions obtained from a trusted source. These are very common items people have been using from day dot so you could take some ideas from other projects, I am surprised that the MCU is causing problems and I know the ESP Wroom footprint is around as I have used it unfortunately I’m not at my workstation. The 'pin header is a tried and trusted method and as you say it allows for easy exchange in the event of a release of magic smoke, this is a method used by many noobs at the start, to be honest there are many ways to skin this cat and this a working and used idea and shouldn’t lead to any problems. Of course something a lot of people do in the very beginning of their first try (my self included) is print a 1:1 paper layout and physically check the components on your paper PCB. ! I hope some pointers here that help 
Absolutely.
Sometime you will find these pre-assembled modules are supplied with holes in the PCB instead of pins, in which case you purchase, then solder, some male pin headers to your module so that can be inserted to the female pin headers on your mother PCB.
Thanks for the tip and quick reply…!
Have a nice day…
That was really helpful ( and funny too)
Thanks for the advice…have a nice day!
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.