How are components placed on the bottom of the PCB like a 1206

I am getting up to speed on KiCad and having some trouble with placing a couple parts. I’m starting simple and making an adapter board with a couple DIP IC’s. I was able to place those on the board and create a board outline. I need to add a couple small surface mount parts on the bottom of the board. They will be soldered by hand.

I select the bottom copper layer from the drop down but whenever I place that small 1206 surface mount footprint it ends up on the top layer of the board. Is there a trick to placing parts on the bottom?

Are you sure they end up on the top layer?
You can go to View / Show Appearance Manager then down at the bottom of the RH side you can view front or back assembly with “Layer Display Options” to confirm your placement.
See below:

Select the part and press the “f” Hotkey; to FLIP the part to other side of the board.

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Awesome! That worked. It moved the surface mount parts to the back of the board. Learned a new trick. Thank you.

Sorry @robotworkshop
Here was me thinking you were just viewing through the board.
I must not over-think.

I am doing all the layout as viewed through the top of the board. I seem to be able to lay down the traces ok. It was just the surface mount parts were ending up on the top layer and if I looked at the properties I could see it said they were on that layer. I still learning this tool and have a long way to go.

He he, don’t we all! :upside_down_face:

Better that than under-think or non-think e.g. in our political leaders

What leaders?
Don’t you mean followers with non-stick bandaids who like to smile and waffle in front of cameras.

Awgree… this one will definitely close in a hurry. :slightly_frowning_face:

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