I recently created a board using the TC4429 symbol and its associated default footprint. I started assembling this board and noticed it is missing the hole for pin 6. Looking closer at the footprint in Kicad, I can see it says “missing pin 6” in the description.
Can anyone explain what I’m seeing here? Is this an error in the footprint or if there is a reason why pin 6 is omitted for this chip? The TC4429 that I have does indeed have 8 legs. Footprint is “Package_DIP:DIP-8-N6_W7.62mm”
Some of those IC’s do indeed have a missing pin, and this is on purpose. For example the “TNY” series of SMPS IC’s have a high voltage (300V+ ) input , and therefore pin 6 is removed to increase the clearance.
The “N6” in your footprint name means that there is No pin 6.
You should have used the footprint without that part.
I am also wondering why you did not catch this before sending out gerbers. Do you use ERC and DRC? Especially if you used that pin 6 in your design, it must have complained about it. And the missing pin should have been pretty obvious during routing of the PCB too.
In addition, it’s useful to set up a checklist of things to check before sending out gerbers for manufacturing.
Kind of a standard practice here is to maintain a personal library of all parts you use AND VERIFY. That way in the future you don’t have to go through the verification step again.
On small projects it isn’t a bad idea to acquire the parts and check them against the design. If you are shopping for generic replacements this is kind of a ‘must’ if you don’t have the datasheets. Sometimes the supplier might be selling a generic without a proper link to the correct data sheet.