I’m trying to figure out how to measure the relative distance between my potentiometers (shaft centers) so I can drill out an enclosure. How do I set the location of the SNAP point (to the center of my pot circles) ?!
TIA
you’d have to go change the footprint of the pot to be the center (or whichever point you want to measure to). instead of having the “zero” of the pot pin-1 or some other point.
the other way I’ve used to measure things like that is to draw a circle or other “construction” line on another layer (user.1 sometimes) and use it’s center as the measuring point.
You can get a reasonably accurate result by using the “Ruler” icon (bottom RH icon beside the word “viewports” in the PCB Editor.
There is also dx/dy at the bottom of the screen in the middle. Hover mouse over one pot centre, press the space bar, move mouse to the other centre and read the changes in x & Y.
For both these methods, a fine grid is needed for accuracy.
If you wish to change the anchor of the pots to the shaft centres, you will first have to copy the footprints to personal libraries as Kicad supplied libraries are read only.
If you are still drawing your board, there are positioning tools in the select menu to help locate your pots on a board.
Thanks for your replies … checking this out tonight
first, my apologies - I only get to use Kicad 5~6 times a year and seem to have to re-learn it every time
I figured out a simple cheat here …
I’m using Alpha 9mm footprints in my layout
and when I copy/paste the new footprint instance gets locked to a snap point that I assume is placed where the shaft center would be …
and so with this I can technically measure all the distances I need
but then, I just spoke with my box-maker dude
and he says I don’t need to do all that
he says he can take CAM output from kicad and pipe it to solid-works
now, I need to figure out how to produce CAM output
haven’t found how yet, … any hints ?!
TIA
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