So, long time no see!
Things change and sometimes radically. And now, I’m back using KiCAD (and still likeing it a lot).
So I needed a Mini-DIN 6 connector. But the one provided by KiCAD isn’t the “most elaborate”. Shut up and make it better! So I’m in the process of making the complete set from Mini-DIN 3 to Mini-DIN 9, including 3-D models as a contribution to the great KiCAD-community.
They come in two variants: Single shielded and double shielded. The later do have an extra outer shield around the plastic housing (that is connected to the inner shield).
This leads to questions regarding naming:
I chose, as a library name “Connector_DIN_round” to not confuse/clutter the “DIN41612” connectors. Do you have other/better suggestions as a library name or where to place them?
The connectors will be named (for an 8-pin) “Conn_Mini_DIN_round_8” and “Conn_Mini_DIN_round_8_doubleshield”. Better/shorter suggestion?
Here are two screenshots. With the colors missing! I exported to STEP in the wrong format as I just realized.
One thing I’d like to do in my layout, and I have no solution for, is to place some connectors side by side, so they touch each other. But then, the shielding slots do overlap and give an error (no wonder). What to do? make them just wider so the exactly overlap (and need a lot of solder when there is just one tonge in the slot? Make an extra footprint? Any ideas welcome!
See picture below, the two rightmost connectors.
And finally, for the odd thing:
Why is “J8” and “Mini-DIN 8 doubleshield” head over? I had to rotate the STEP 180° in the footprint-editor. Is that the reason?
So any comments, also nitpicking is welcome!
When finished and polished (naming especially) I’ll be glad to hand it over to the library-maintainers!
I’ll add the pin holes and indexing slots to the 3-D too as I’m learning a new CAD (saying good bye to Fusion360).
Nick
I use a mini-din-6 on a product – nice little connector actually. I don’t know if you want them too close together as the plugs need a bit of clearance and room to grip. I have them about 18mm on center. I just made a footprint with holes instead of slots. Yeah, a bit more solder and a manual operation, but it is a low-volume product. These are actually mounted on the bottom of the board:
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Well, thanks! 
I should have checked that earlier! The plug has 14.8 mm diameter, the connector is 14 mm wide. That won’t work I assume.
I wanted to have them side by side, to make the front panel a bit simpler. I guess I’ll stick with your 18 mm. This also solves the (my) problem with the (no longer) overlapping slots for the tabs. Milling/plating oblong holes is no problem, even JLCPCB offers that at no extra cost. But I had the same idea with big fat holes.
From your layout, I judge that you have assigned the outer shielding to C1/C2 and the inner shielding to SH (good name, I’ll pick that). But aren’t C1/C2 and SH connected in the connector allready? I have no connector at hand to verify. Could you please check?
Thanks for your input!
Nick
Yeah, I used SH as that is the main shield, and C1/C2 for the can (which is optional, but I don’t know why anyone would save a few pennies buying the jack without the can). Yes, SH/C1/C2 are internally connected (see rear solder on the can) – I just verified with a meter.
FWIW, my footprint and little 3d model I did in freecad (has no pins):
J_Mini-DIN-6.kicad_mod (3.2 KB)
J_Mini-DIN-6.step (138.5 KB)
Thanks for verifying that.
But then, what is your reason for having two different nets? I’m not trying to be picky, I’d just want to understand the reason.
Is it better shielding? OTOH, shielding should be connected to ground in a single point. Again, I just want to understand your thinking.
Currently, I tend to have a single shield connection for the symbol (named “SH”), but I don’t want to introduce a road block for other users.
Nick
Yeah, good question. This part goes back many years ago for me and I recall only having the non-can version when I first started with it. I probably presumed the can was not connected to the center cable-shield pin internally. Kinda surprised it is actually as they needed a solder operation that added cost. I tie them all to the esd guard ring on the board anyway. They could all be named SH or something. I originally did this part in eagle a decade ago (later brought into kicad) and perhaps the same name was not allowed on more than one pad in eagle. Don’t recall. I still use this connector as I have custom sensor cables made offshore and they can easily wire and overmold it.
Here we go!
Mini-DIN from 3 to 9 pins.
Made 14 footprints and 14 CAD-drawings (well, derived from a “master”) and tried to make as many errors as possible to later fix them …
The holes for the pins in the STEP are just eye-balled, I found no dimensions. And they don’t matter I think.
I have made an uncanned version and a canned one.
![Mini-DIN-all-3|643x500]
The canned 9-pin version is a bit odd (and hard to find). The tabs of the shield are standing out of the contour of the case. See the bends I made:
If anyone wants to have a look:
Conn_DIN_round.pretty.zip (441.7 KB)
I’ll see how to contribute my work to the community in about a week or so. Just to leave enough time for others to comment.
Nick
Nice work! I grabbed your family and tried out the 6pin (well, just the step, which was a quick test). I could not open your footprints on this laptop with kicad v7 (it says “saved with later version…”), so I’ll peek when I get a chance on another machine with v8.
I see no need to fuss over exactness of the jack pin holes – they look great. The pins that go into the pcb are more important and they are a beautiful fit. Thanks!
lmao…
