Hi,
This is hopefully my error somewhere along the line.
I draw a Schematic using basic standard symbols,
I go on the hunt for real world components.
I then want to replace / update the schematic with the actual part details
I want to keep the standard symbols R,C etc but KiCad symbols are in the main 50% smaller that the symbols provided from the Manufacturers.
How do I fix this without needing twice the space for symbols or editing every symbol I download
What exactly are you doing in this step:
The normal way is to keep the (default) symbols in KiCad, but only add or change the footprints. The schematic is an abstract thing and does not exist in the real world. Only the PCB and the footprints on it interact with the real world.
And KiCad has quite extensive footprint libraries. I see quite a lot of beginners importing footprints from external sources, while KiCad already has footprints for the same IC types and sizes, and KiCad’s own footprints are generally of better quality then the imported footprints. KiCad’s footprints go though a quite rigorous process via the KLC, while most external footprints are from a “generic database” and then exporters are used to create footprints for any of a myriad (often 20+) different EDA suites.
Especially with passives (R’s and C’s) KiCad has footprint libraries for all commonly used sizes, except the very big power resistors. There generally is no need at all to use external sources for those.
I guess it’s time for you to read some basic Getting Started in KiCad tutorials. Especially the chapter about footprint assignment.
Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Probably been using it for about 8 months now and I am used to assigning footprints etc.
I could as you say easily use the standard footprints for my chosen component - However, At some point I am going to need to specify the actual components for manufacture.
Are you suggesting I skip this step and just detail it on the BOM?
I know the Schematic is just a pretty picture but I figured there was value in it being technically complete with component detail - easiest way to achieve this seemed to be to use actual component data.
Thanks
Skip what step exactly?
It is common to create and maintain your own KiCad libraries (Especially for symbols), and then you can add extra meta information to the symbols that will also appear on your BOM. This is a common approach for hobbyists and small companies.
For bigger companies, KiCad provides an interface to database driven libraries. The goal is to add all data to the database, including things like:
And then you take symbols out of the database and place them in the schematic, Those symbols already have all information attached, and you can create a complete BOM from them. (Or maybe the BOM goes back into another pipe, for part substitution based on price fluctuations in different shops or other reasons).
For the rest, it is a bit vague what sort of information you are thinking about. Maybe it’s better to create a simple KiCad project with real parts you are interested in, and then use it as an example test case on this forum.
So you said it was common for new users to use manufacturer data rather than KiCad data and that this was not preferable.
If I just use KiCAD data on the Schematic & Layout, eg. I add R1 through R10 and assign 0603 footprints for them there is still no data on those resistors in the schematic or layout beyond their value & size.
At some point I am going to need to specify the part in the real world… and even for my fairly small projects surely it would be beneficial for that data to be somewhere on either Schematic or Layout?
When using Standard KiCAD symbols & Footprints for the Schematic & Layout at what point should I be specifying the actual physical component?
Thanks
Again: There is no single “best practice” for doing this. Having a complete BOM in KiCad that you can directly send to a shop may seem ideal, but it makes you very dependent on that shop. Some people may like that approach, for example EasyEDA, combined with ordering from JLCPCB and parts from LCSC. I think you can order an assembled PCB directly from EasyEDA.
Apparently there is also some plugin or script that makes the LCSC parts database available to KiCad, but I never looked into that.
Yes, that is the method I use. My BOM has a “Resistor 0603 10k” without further information. Then put that BOM in a spreadsheet and go though the items one by one. Such generic parts I have on storage myself, others I have to order in various shops, and you can log which parts are from where (and their costs if you like) in the spreadsheet. That is all the info I need for my hobby projects, and I solder them myself.
If you want to outsource assembly, then a BOM like that is probably enough for the most part. If they see a “Resistor 0603 10k” they are smart enough to use a generic resistor, and not the 0.01% variant with a guaranteed 2ppm temperature coefficient. It’s also quite common you have to source the parts yourself, and then send them to the PnP assembly factory yourself.
But this is also getting outside of my knowledge area. My own BOM requirements are pretty minimal, and I don’t really know how others handle the details.