Non-plated hole with net

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Non-plated hole with net. How I can make it?

Very simple question: I must add component with non-plated hole with pad, and connect net to it. Eg. screw hole: 3,0 mm non-plated hole, 5 mm round pad both side, any net connected to pad.

It is possible add net to non-plated hole BUT when try start routing Kicad say “Cannot start routing from a non-plated hole”. Kicad version 5, 6 and 7- same. So I am jumping with this bug many year, but never solve it.

Footprint editor: When select “non-plated hole, mechanical”, “pad”, this type pad is not possible add track.

But if take “Through-hole, copper layers: none”, it remove copper from pads.

So: How I can make non-plated hole with pad? Really this type and possible add track?

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So you want to make a non plated hole with a copper circle around it that has a net?

This is very easy and there are already such holes in the MountingHole library. For example you could place a round SMD pad on the front layer and another one one the back layer for the electrical connection and then place a non plated hole in the middle of it. You might have some problems routing a track to it, as Kicad usually want to route to the middle (where the hole is), in that case just put a few additional small SMD pads with the same pad number on top of the copper ring to have additional anchor points to route to.

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Why do you want to make it non-plated?

I have 2 kinds of connected mounting holes:

  • One that is connected on both sides. Just use a normal pad with a THT pad. There is no reason to choose a non-plated hole. I also placed 8 small THT pads around the hole (but still inside the copper ring), to make the copper more stable (you don’t rip it off with the screw).
  • One that is only connected on the top. So that there is no contact area where the tin can hold to when wave soldering. In this case a place a non-plated hole in the middle of a top SMD pad and 8 small pads THT around that hole (still inside the SMD-pad) and disable solder stop mask (B.Mask) for the bottom layer of this 8 pads.

I don’t see a reason to connect it on top and bottom but use a non-plated hole.

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I can imagine two separate connections at both sides and screw with insulating sleeve and insulating washers.

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SW_molla_slotted_B.kicad_mod (50.5 KB)

“Why do you want to make it non-plated”. In my opinion my question was “how-to”, not philosophical. Really… “why”… hmm… “I can make plated hole and drill it non-plated-manually…hmm”… “no…”…“why”… “why I make any work? Better I go to home and do nothing”… :smiley: :D.

But, in real life, I can show what happen, when solder this component throu-hole in real world. So it is reason. My question is real problem, and this fault was Kicad 5, 6 and 7. Philosophically right answer is “use any other cad”. But if I want do this with Kicad, I must ask.

Ok, I attach it footprint (from Kicad 7).

I want three 1,8 mm non-plated hole, one 1,6 mm non-plated hole, one 2,5 mm non-plated hole. Copper on both side (and again, YES). I need rectangle non-plated hole (and this answer is round work also but reason of practice I make rect).

So:

  • 1,8 mm NPTH hole without copper
  • TOP COPPER. Around it 1,8 mm hole 2,4 x 2,4 mm rectangle and suitable circle. Test good width of the circle and rectangle (line width) and then fill empty areas with filled rectangle. RESULT: 2,4 x 2,4 mm filled rectangle, 1,8 mm hole and a little gap (0,05 mm about) between hole and copper.
  • Then add 1 little SMD-pad inside copper area and “Edit pad as graphic shapes”. Result: TOP COPPER rectangle pad 2,4 x 2,4 mm with solder mask open 2,4 x 2,4 mm with 1,8 mm non-plated hole.
  • Then, add same SMD-pad with same number to shape corners —> this make possible route from pad any point.
  • NOW this special pad is on TOP COPPER. COPY it same and move it to BOTTOM, so, make just same but put it to bottom side.

FINAL RESULT: 2,4 x 2,4 mm rectangle pad, solder mask open both side, copper on both side, 1,8 mm non-plated hole.

NEXT: Copy this to other pads.

(And how I make this in it other Cad, I know anyone recommend it. Pads make it this way: PAD, Pad stack, rectangle 2,4x2,4 mm on top, same on bottom, 1,8 mm hole and “plated”-selection off…)

So… I ask real life help, not philosophical “why you need it” :D.

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For me obvious is that to help with any problem you need to understand the problem. So the question ‘why you need something not typical’.

To made rectangle hole standard way PCB manufacturer will need cutter with diameter 0 :slight_smile:
You can of course order a special punch and make holes with a press. I don’t know how much it costs.

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The Hole in SMD version, mentioned by @Jonathan_Haas and myself should work,does it?

But, in real life, I can show what happen, when solder this component throu-hole in real world. So it is reason. My question is real problem, and this fault was Kicad 5, 6 and 7.

This doesn’t sound like proper English to me, i don’t understand it.
I asked so i can understand what your goal is and may provide a better solution or to learn something new.
Also, connecting to a NPTH is simply not possible in the real world, because you need some conductor somewhere to connect to. You could connect to copper around the NPTH but that isn’t the NPTH itself. In other words: You initial question doesn’t make any sense in a strict sense.

I need rectangle non-plated hole

That isn’t so easy. You can do it in KiCad but it is difficult to manufacture, next best solution is to make round corners, r=1mm would be best but that is probably too large, i guess, general rule in case r<2mm: the bigger r the easier to manufacture.

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In my opinion my need is clear.

Most easy way explain what I want is use other cad, Pads:

image
image530×549 13.6 KB

Simple? Yes.
It is:

  • Rectangle pad 2,4 mm on mounted side- so, top
  • no pad on inner layers
  • Rectangle pad 2,4 mm on opposite side- so, bottom
  • Drill size 1,8 mm
  • NON PLATED: PLATED OPTION NOT SELECTED.

Starting routing is possible from middle of pad, it is, possible go direct to every direction. In kicad I cannot put pad with route option middle of non-plated hole. Difference: Pads I can start routing middle of this type pad and I can go up/down/right/left/any angle, and track take contact. Kicad: Impossible without witch work.

In my opionion my need is very clear :). This is not discussion “Pads is best” (reason it really is not, and every Saturday I select wrong numbers). This is only “In Pads we make it this way. It clarify what I need exactly. So how I do this in Kicad?”

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I have a hard time understanding your English. Do you use a translator? Can you try a different one? If not, can you a translator to translate it from your language? I am sorry but sometimes i have no idea what you mean, for example this part:

(reason it really is not, and every Saturday I select wrong numbers)

Kicad: Impossible without witch work.

What doesn’t work with the solution Jonathan_Haas provided?

In my opionion my need is very clear :).

From your point of view it maybe is clear. For me not, combined with the language barrier it is hard to understand your current problem.
Did you try to do it the way Jonathan_Haas explained it? If so, what didn’t work? If not, what stops you from trying it?

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A moment ago you were writing about rectangle non-plated hole. Both me and johannespfister understood it the same way. We questioned that idea and it looks like you didn’t read our answers. No reaction. Instead you write that it is clear. For me not.
Do you have rectangle hole or not? If yes - why you didn’t noticed what we wrote about it. If not - you should notice that it is not clear what you write.
Software possibilities differ. If you have PADs and it works as you want than why you don’t use it?

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For the original question about non plated through holes (NPTH) with pads on both sides, this earlier thread may be useful to you:
https://forum.kicad.info/t/help-making-challenging-footprint-with-disconnected-pads/

There is some discussion about how to create a ring shaped pad that surrounds (but does not cover) the NPTH. Whether that is done by hand by making pairs of rainbow shapes by hand or using a ring custom primitive shape in the pad editor, the result is the same. By making the pads avoid the hole, you remove the risk of the drilled copper causing shorts through the hole.

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I understand in your opinion it is clear. However, it is, clearly, not clear to the readers of your message, people that are trying to help you. I suppose you wrote your post for the readers, not for yourself. So it is irrelevant that it is clear to you.

You have a strange way of asking for help, I must say.

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In my humble opinion this is an absolutely fair question. Indeed, to help, one needs to understand the problem. It is not impolite nor disrespectful.

I am not sure your statements about philosophy are helpful.

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