hello !
i’ve built a PCB usign kiCad but i realized that the footprint for my pushbuttons dont exactly match the ones i have. instead of re-making the PCB i would like to find the right pushbuttons for this footprint, but i dont know exactly how to look for it. the “pins” are diagonal and spaced of 7 mm. Anyone can give me direction to look in ?
it looks a bit like a TASTER 1022, but the space is wider, or like a Racon RF15, but not quite…
Well you could tell us the full name of the footprint you used (assuming you took it from the official lib. If not link to the source of the footprint.)
Starting with the name of the footprint seems a good start. It may also have other attributes or comment that has usefull info.
Also, updating your sreenshots with measurements may help a bit. It’s impossible to decude the size of a switch from a screenshot without measurements.
Next logical step would be to have a look at the parametric searches through the databases of Digikey, Mouser, LCSC, Farnell, Arrow, and some other big distributers, or shops that are specifically targetting hobbyists such as Adafruit and Sparkfun.
hello, thanks for the answers ;
sorry for the lack of measurements, i had set up a dotted grid, but it didnt show up in the small image
the crucial point is the fact that the through holes are distant of 7.00 mm
the name of the footprint is from library w_switch, and is called PCB_PUSH2
obviously i downloaded it from http://smisioto.no-ip.org/elettronica/kicad/kicad-en.htm
i see in the description PCB pushbutton, TEC R18-801A series
helas, googling that name doesnt provide me further clues of a merchant for such a switch
okay, trying the other prosposition : paremetric search in mouser :
i cannot find a way to reduce the scope to the distance between the pins…
This might help you search for an equivalent part based on appearance.
Dale
P.S. - The footprint posted back at Post #1 is notable for a lack of symmetry. Almost everybody produces switches with symmetrical (or nearly symmetrical) footprints. That may help to explain why the TEC R18-801 doesn’t seem to be available . . . .
wow! great thank you ! may i ask how you found out about that specific web site ? from search engine, or because it’s a known place ?
( and ok for the beer, as i’m in belgium they’re top ! )
Sylvain
Just going to let you know that while you might get away with this approach this time… don’t count on it being as easy in the future.
The best practice is to locate a part that can be sourced, at the desired specifications, and to use KiCad to create a proper Footprint for said physical part.
sure this is a beginner’s mistake. it’s only my 3rd experience with PCB and KiCad - in the meantime i bought a good caliper in order to measure properly parts i had !
thanks anyway to anyone who helped me this time it was interesting to see how you managed to find some pieces…
@maui posted the link to a datasheet for your specific switch (TEC R18-801A). He is the person who can tell you how he landed on that site.
I had already given up on finding the exact switch - I think Digi-Key lists about 3500 SPST, through-hole switches. When I saw the post from @maui, I skimmed through the datasheet just enough to see that it was a square, pushbutton switch. Then I could scan through the Digi-Key listings until I happened to see a switch that looked similar.
It’s an easy and quick way to a fairly accurate way of test-fitting connectors (and other stuff) by printing the PCB on a piece of paper, and the replies list several other methods.
Yes, start with a part you intend to use. Don’t worry about whether KiCAD has a footprint for it in the Library. Symbols and footprints are not difficult to create. Making a symbol or footprint to match a part is MUCH easier than making a part to match the footprint!
Yea, verily, I shall speak a parable:
Are you familiar with the “Cinderella” fable? (Disney has corrupted every culture on the planet, so I am certain you know the Cinderella story!)
After the dance, the Prince had only one shoe from Cinderella - just her footprint! From all the women in his kingdom, he had to find the one who fit the footprint. That’s like you, comparing the footprint to every switch in the Digi-Key catalog!
Epilog.
thank you all for the help and lessons learned in this beginner’s mistake !
i got today my package from Digikey and the thing is just as it should* now
this is a MIDI quadruple delay, working on a Teensy 3.5