HELP AND INSTRUCTIONS
INVENTFX KICAD PROJECTS [VER#.0]
Inventor eFX KiCad Projects Contain
Schematics & Printed Circuit Board Layouts
Utilizing Custom Designed Symbols, Footprints &
3D STP & WRL Models.
These Same are Required for the Projects to
Display and Function Properly in KiCad.
In Order to Obtain and Install the Required Extra Files
Download and Unzip Foldername: IFXKICADXTRA.zip
Open this instructions help text file:
ifxkicadhlp.txt
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ADD 3D MODEL STP & WRL FILES
Copy Foldername: IFX3D
To —>
RECOMMENDED
%UserProfile%\Documents\KiCad[VER#.0]\3dmodels\
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ADD PCB MODEL FOOTPRINT LIBRARIES
Open Foldername: IFXFTPRNTS_V#
Copy Foldernames:
CMPNT_3D.pretty
ENCL_3D.pretty
R_1-2W_V8.pretty
R_1-4W_V8.pretty
R_1W_V8.pretty
R_2W_V8.pretty
R_3W_V8.pretty
R_5W_V8.pretty
R_10W_V8.pretty
R_20W_V8.pretty
R_125MW_V8.pretty
RV_1-4W_V8.pretty
RV_125MW_V8.pretty
To —>
RECOMMENDED
%UserProfile%\Documents\KiCad[VER#.0]\footprints\
ADD FOOTPRINT LIBRARIES TO KICAD THRU MAIN GLOBAL INTERFACE
Open the Main ‘Global’ Interface —>
‘Click On’ Footprint Editor
Select Top Menu Far Left Tab ‘File’ —>
In Drop Down Box Select ‘Add Library…’
BROWSE TO —>
RECOMMENDED
%UserProfile%\Documents\KiCad[VER#.0]\footprints
Add Foldernames:
CMPNT_3D.pretty
ENCL_3D.pretty
R_1-2W_V8.pretty
R_1-4W_V8.pretty
R_1W_V8.pretty
R_2W_V8.pretty
R_3W_V8.pretty
R_5W_V8.pretty
R_10W_V8.pretty
R_20W_V8.pretty
R_125MW_V8.pretty
RV_1-4W_V8.pretty
RV_125MW_V8.pretty
Press ‘OK’
TO REMOVE USER FOOTPRINT LIBRARIES FOLDER(S)
NOTE! DO NOT DELETE USER FOOTPRINT LIBRARIES FOLDER(S) FROM
RECOMMENDED
%USERPROFILE%\DOCUMENTS\KICAD[VER#.0]\FOOTPRINTS
PRIOR TO FOLLOWINGS STEPS
Open PCB Editor —>
Preferences (File Menu Tab) —>
Manage Footprint Libraries… —>
‘Click On’ Library to Highlight for Deletion …
‘Click On Trash Can Button’ to Delete
Close/Exit Footprint Libraries Manager
EXIT KiCad.
NOW DELETE USER FOOTPRINT LIBRARIES FOLDER(S) FROM:
%USERPROFILE%\DOCUMENTS\KICAD[VER#.0]\FOOTPRINTS
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ADD SCHEMATIC SYMBOLS LIBRARY FILE TO SHARE\KICAD\SYMBOLS
Open Foldername: IFXSYM_V#
Copy Filename:
IFX.kicad_sym
To —>
RECOMMENDED
%UserProfile%\Documents\KiCad[VER#.0]\symbols
ADD SCHEMATIC SYMBOLS LIBRARY FILE TO KICAD THRU MAIN GLOBAL INTERFACE
Open the Main ‘Global’ Interface —>
‘Click On’ Symbol Editor
Select Top Menu Far Left Tab ‘File’ —>
In Drop Down Box Select ‘Add Library…’
BROWSE TO —>
RECOMMENDED
%UserProfile%\Documents\KiCad[VER#.0]\symbols
Add Filename:
IFX.kicad_sym
Press ‘OK’
TO REMOVE USER SYMBOLS LIBRARY FILE
NOTE! DO NOT DELETE USER SYMBOLS LIBRARY FILE FROM
RECOMMENDED
%USERPROFILE%\DOCUMENTS\KICAD[VER#.0]\SYMBOLS
PRIOR TO FOLLOWINGS STEPS
Open Schematic Editor —>
Preferences (File Menu Tab) —>
Manage Symbol Libraries…
‘Click On’ Library to Highlight for Deletion …
‘Click On Trash Can Button’ to Delete
Close/Exit Symbol Libraries Manager
EXIT KiCad.
NOW DELETE USER SYMBOLS LIBRARY FILE FROM:
RECOMMENDED
%USERPROFILE%\DOCUMENTS\KICAD[VER#.0]\SYMBOLS
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ADD 3D MODEL TO FOOTPRINT
EXAMPLE:
In PCB Editor ‘Press A Key’ to load/open Footprint Libraries
or Use Add Footprint Icon [Right Menu Bar] …
SELECT FOOTPRINT TO ADD TO PCB EDITOR PAGE
BROWSE TO —>
RECOMMENDED
%UserProfile%\Documents\KiCad[VER#.0]\footprints\R_1-4W_[V#]
Add Footprint R)1-4W
(Filename: R_1-4W.kicad_mod)
TO PCB EDITOR PAGE
Click Mouse Pointer on ‘Select Item(s)’ Arrow Icon [Right Menu Bar]
‘Double-Click’ on Footprint (Opens Footprint Properties) —>
Select 3D Models (Upper Right Tab)
CLICK ON “+”
ON RIGHT IN NEW SELECTION CLICK ON FOLDER ICON
RECOMMENDED
%UserProfile%\Documents\KiCad[VER#.0]\3dmodels\R_1-4W_3D\
SELECT MODEL
R_1-4W_[VALUE].stp
or
R_1-4W_[VALUE].wrl
Press ‘OK’
Again Click Mouse Pointer on ‘Select Item(s)’ Arrow Icon [Right Menu Bar]
‘Double-Click’ on Footprint (Opens Footprint Properties) —>
Select General (Upper Left Tab)
On Value Tab
Select Value and Type in ***(Value in Ohms)
[R_1-4W_V8] of Resistor 3D Model
Press ‘OK’
NOTE: ADDITIONAL MODELS CAN BE ADDED LATER WITH THE “+”
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(NG)SPICE SIMULATION
Projects that have a Schematic [FILENAME_TST].kicad_sch
also Contain a Spice Simulation [FILENAME_TST].wbk
(NOTE: ONLY Projects without “_TST” in end of Filename are for
Export/Link to PCB Editor as Printed Circuit Board
(CAUTION! Export/Link Files ARE NOT for Simulation)
To Run/View the Spice Simulation
Open Schematic Editor —>
‘Click On’ Inspect (On Top Menu Tab) —>
On Bottom of Drop Down Box
‘Click On’ Simulator …
In Spice Simulator Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ File (On Top Menu Tab) —>
On Drop Down Box ‘Click On’ Open …
BROWSE TO —>
[FILENAME_TST].wbk
Previously Saved Spice Simulation Workbook File will ‘Auto-Run’
Or ‘Click On’ Run/Stop Simulation (Triangle/Arrow at Upper Left)
Close Pop-Out Box to Return to Main Program
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SCHEMATIC EDITOR NETLIST EXPORT
Open Schematic Editor —>
Open Main Project: [PROJECTNAME].kicad_sch
To Export Schematic Netlist
‘Click On’ File (On Top Menu Tab) —>
‘Click On’ Export —> Netlist …
In Export Netlist Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Export Netlist
Export As: [PROJECTNAME].net
Close Pop-Out Box to Return to Main Program
PCB EDITOR NETLIST IMPORT
Open PCB Editor —>
‘Click On’ File (On Top Menu Tab) —>
‘Click On’ Import —> Netlist …
In Import Netlist Pop-Out Box
BROWSE TO —>
[PROJECTNAME].net
At Bottom of Netlist Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Load and Test Netlist .—>
Examine/Confirm Results in Import Window …
At Bottom Right of Netlist Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Update PCB
Close Pop-Out Box to Return to Main Program
‘Save or Save As’ New/Updated PCB Editor File
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GERBER FILES
PCB EDITOR EXPORT
OPTIONAL ‘UNCHECK BOX’: Subtract soldermask from silkscreen
Open PCB Editor —>
‘Click On’ Fabrication Outputs —> Gerbers (gbr) …
In Plot Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Output Directory: (Folder Icon Top Far Right)
BROWSE TO/SELECT Output Foldername: [PROJECTNAME]_GBR
At Bottom of Plot Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Plot
Next …
At Bottom Right of Plot Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Generate Drill Files …
In Generate Drill Files Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Output Folder: (Folder Icon Top Far Right)
BROWSE TO/SELECT Output Foldername: [PROJECTNAME]_GBR
At Bottom of Generate Drill Files Pop-Out Box
‘Click On’ Generate Drill File
Close All Pop-Out Boxes to Return to Main Program
JLCPCB (‘QUICK TURN PCB 7 LAYERS ONLY’) COMPATIBLE INFO
Projects with Exported Gerber Files
Foldername: [PROJECTNAME]_GBR
with Modified/Edited Filenames:
[PROJECTNAME]_1-EDGE.GKO
[PROJECTNAME]_2-DRILL1.XLN
[PROJECTNAME]_3-SSTOP.GTO
[PROJECTNAME]_4-SMTOP.GTS
[PROJECTNAME]_5-CPRTOP.GTL
[PROJECTNAME]_6-CPRBTM.GBL
[PROJECTNAME]_7-SMBTM.GBS
(Optional)
[PROJECTNAME]-DRILL2.XLN
[PROJECTNAME]_GBR.zip
(7 Files in Zip Format)
foldername: KICAD_GBR
with Original Exported Filenames:
[PROJECTNAME]-B_Cu.gbr
[PROJECTNAME]-B_Mask.gbr
[PROJECTNAME]-Edge_Cuts.gbr
[PROJECTNAME]-F_Cu.gbr
[PROJECTNAME]-F_Mask.gbr
[PROJECTNAME]-F_Silkscreen.gbr
[PROJECTNAME]-PTH.drl
(Optional)
[PROJECTNAME]-PTH.drl
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PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD MANUFACTURE
JiaLiChuang (HongKong) Co., Limited
[PROJECTNAME]_GBR.zip
(7 Files in Zip Format for ‘Quick Turn PCB’ Manufacture)
JLCPCB Compatible
‘Click On’ Instant Quote
(Drag/Drop) Add (ZIP) Gerber File
NOTE: Account Registration/Activation Required
to Order Printed Circuit Boards
(and/or Use Gerber File Viewer)
HINT: Least Expensive Shipping
Parcel International Direct 10-16 Days Delay
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