Making a L-shaped through hole?

Layout Footprints
1

Hi all.

I have here a USB-C receptacle which according to the drawing requires L-shaped through holes. I write this post to discuss the process of making such a footprint and to get a better search result in case others stumble on the same challenge.

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I believe I managed to get something close to the described shape, my method (applies to Kicad 9):

New pad, make it through hole, oval pad and oblong hole.
Right click the pad, select Edit Pad as Graphic Shapes.
Add lines and arcs to make the prescribed shape.
Select all graphical shapes excl. the pad, right click → Create from selection → Create polygon from selection.
Right click on the canvas and select Finish Pad Edit.
Now the pad has the correct outline.

To make the lower part of the L-shaped hole, add another pad, much like the prior, in this case with an x-axis offset between pad and hole and placed it carefully.

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The second pad/hole will remain separate from the original. Same pad number though (in my case SHIELD.

Inconvenience:
I’m not able to mirror this pad. Nothing happens when it is selected and mirror button is pressed.

EDIT: The pad can be copied and mirrored! No problem! Seems to have been some crap behind the keyboard. No inconvenience :slight_smile:

Question:
Is there any other way of making such a shape, that allows mirroring it?

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I’m still using v7 so, can’t comment on newer versions. But, this is how I do it…

It’s not an ideal way and I’ve often thought about making a Plugin to do it (simple enough to do but, so is the approach shown in video… and, I’m lazy and already have too many homegrown plugins)…

After the first Copy/Paste/Mirror, I Grouped and Flipped. Don’t need to Flip if Edit as desired/needed but, Flipping is quick. However, the downside is Copper gets placed on other side of PCB - Doesn’t matter for some projects… so use commonsense…

(not shown are the Keystrokes for Copy/Paste and Flip (F) )

1 Like
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I re-looked at your posted image; perhaps it’s just a coloring thing but it seems like you don’t have Copper on the Walls of the L-Cutout…

Many parts don’t need the Copper on Walls or Pad (if not Grounding Tabs or other Connection…)

So, either way, and for your knowledge, especially since you stated a “Through Hole”, you can use the Mirror-Tools on Drawing elements (and then add Cu-Pads/or Cu-Fill to them, if desired).

Video below shows simple way of making a Through-Hole without Cu on it walls but (Yes) wanting Pads… I did Not bother with details/geometry… you’ll get the idea…