IPC-7351 Footprint Wizard

schoenid · March 22, 2017, 10:27pm

Hi

I’ve tried to do a bit of coding in python and the result are two little footprint wizards.
Included are some basic calculations based on IPC-7351B and IEC 61188-7.
The files are loadable here:
https://elnet.ch/downloads/IPC7351-Footprint-Wizard.zip
There is an explanation file in german (my foreign language).
I hope someone will take it and do some improvements, maybe a script to generate 3D-bodies …
It would be glad, if it could be taken to the standard KiCad package.

Best regards
Daniel

davidsrsb · March 22, 2017, 11:40pm

I will try to have a look at this, which IPC7351 version is used?
This is an interesting paper on where IPC is going
http://www.ipc.org/committee/drafts/1-13_d_7351CGoals.pdf

davidsrsb · March 23, 2017, 2:52pm

I think I translated how to install it, but have not found how to use it or any sign of the plugin (Linux Nightly installation)

John_Pateman · March 23, 2017, 3:26pm

Install the scripts (in linux) in /usr/share/kicad/scripting/plugins. Then use the ‘New footprint using footprint wizard’. Select which wizard to run. (This is also how to access a variety of plugins - like barcodes, capacitative tracks and other footprint wizards. Not sure where it goes in windows - and my OS X version on a nightly build seems to have just lost Python scripting which was in the 4.0.6 build., but I presume will be in the standard Mac pathway. ;(

Where the .pdf help sheet goes is not so clear .

davidsrsb · March 23, 2017, 3:38pm

I only see QR code etc, 13 in all
I tried making the IPC plugins chmod +x like the others and now get an error

File “/usr/share/kicad/scripting/plugins/IPC_discrete.py”, line 27, in
import HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin
ImportError: No module named HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin

File “/usr/share/kicad/scripting/plugins/IPC_leaded_SMD_IC.py”, line 27, in
import HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin
ImportError: No module named HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin
_

davidsrsb · March 23, 2017, 3:48pm

And a search for the missing plugin leads me to a 404 deadend

https://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Rene_Poschl · March 23, 2017, 3:54pm

Found it in the stable source base:

github.com

KiCad/kicad-source-mirror/blob/4.0.6/pcbnew/scripting/plugins/HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin.py

#  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
#  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
#  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
#  (at your option) any later version.
#
#  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
#  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
#  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
#  GNU General Public License for more details.
#
#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
#  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
#  Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston,
#  MA 02110-1301, USA.
#

import pcbnew
import math
import FootprintWizardDrawingAids

This file has been truncated. show original

davidsrsb · March 23, 2017, 4:03pm

@John_Pateman explanation of plug-in operation should be in the pcbnew help file

John_Pateman · March 23, 2017, 4:40pm

Not my plugin - I was just confirming that it ran and the steps that I used to run it. FPWizardDrawingAids and HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin were in my stock 4.0.6 Ubuntu install (and installed on macOS using 4.0.6 but NOT installed in the nightly builds - as Python scripting is not available in latest macOS nightly). Not sure if the lack of scripting might have some bearing on linux nightlies too?

schoenid · March 23, 2017, 6:11pm

Yes I’ve forgotten some infos - sorry about that.

The plugin files *.py should be copied to the KiCad-subfolder:
KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins.

The PDF should be copied to the KiCad main folder. It will be started over the Hints section of the wizard.
Since it is in german it makes only sense for german speaking users. If I’ve got the time I will translate it to english too.

I’m using KiCad Version 4.0.4-stable Build 9200 on Windows 10 64 bit.
I know there are some nightly builds without scripting.

If you build it self, scripting must be enabled in the PKGBUILD configuration.
Something like:

MSYS2_ARG_CONV_EXCL="-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="
${MINGW_PREFIX}/bin/cmake.exe
-G"MSYS Makefiles"
-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${MINGW_PREFIX}
-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${MINGW_PREFIX}
-DDEFAULT_INSTALL_PATH=${MINGW_PREFIX}
-DOPENSSL_ROOT_DIR=${MINGW_PREFIX}
-DKICAD_SKIP_BOOST=ON
-DKICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
-DKICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
-DKICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=${MINGW_PREFIX}/bin/python2.exe
…/${_realname}

make

So this was for a build about 1 year ago. I hope today it’s still the same.

schoenid · March 23, 2017, 6:22pm

IPC-7351B (June 2010)
IEC 61188-7:2009

davidsrsb · March 24, 2017, 1:20am

Google translate worked well with the install information.
Scripting is on and the existing plugins work.
Right now the issue is the missing
HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin.py in the Ubuntu PPA nightly

davidsrsb · March 24, 2017, 1:23am

I know, but your explanation of how to run any of these scripting plugins is the best I have seen so far and missing from the help system

davidsrsb · March 24, 2017, 2:01am

Under Windows Nightly, which has the HelpfulFootprint… script, I get the following trace
File “C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins/IPC_discrete.py”, line 594, in
MyWizard().register()
File “C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins/HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin.py”, line 242, in init
FootprintWizardParameterManager.init(self)
File “C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins/HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin.py”, line 32, in init
self.parameters = {}
AttributeError: can’t set attribute

File “C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins/IPC_leaded_SMD_IC.py”, line 779, in
MyWizard().register()
File “C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins/HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin.py”, line 242, in init
FootprintWizardParameterManager.init(self)
File “C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins/HelpfulFootprintWizardPlugin.py”, line 32, in init
self.parameters = {}
AttributeError: can’t set attribute

edit
The scripts are working with 4.0.6 Ubuntu PPA build

edit
Same fail under Ubuntu Nightly as Windows Nightly after adding two missing scripts.
I think an API has changed

RonTon · April 5, 2017, 8:54pm

When I open the Footprint Wizard the only one I see is the BGA. It along with many others are in …\KiCad\share\kicad\scripting\plugins\

What do I need to do to see them all?

Here is IPC-7351B-Hints.pdf in english:

IPC-7351B-Hints-English.pdf (518.2 KB)

davidsrsb · April 5, 2017, 11:42pm

What version of KiCad are you using?

RonTon · April 5, 2017, 11:47pm

Version 4.0.6 Release Build

schoenid · April 6, 2017, 7:45am

If there is an error in a python script it stops listing the modules, also if a required package like math is not available.

Close KiCad, move the scripts in a different directory, expect one, then restart.
Check the modules.
Close Kicad again, then move the files back, one by one, with restarting and checking after each, until you find the script that causes the error.

Well, many thanks for the PDF-translation. It looks great.

RonTon · April 6, 2017, 10:03pm

Got some time to take a look and found the bad file. It would be nice if it would tell which file caused the error.

Thanks!

davidsrsb · April 6, 2017, 11:21pm

There is an optional trace, see my posts earlier in this thread