I hereby certify that I am not simply asking someone else to design a footprint for me.
This is an auto-generated message that is in place on the “footprints” section of the KiCad.info forum. If I remove it and ask for a footprint to be designed anyway, I understand that I will be subject to forum members telling me to go design my own footprint or referring me to a 3rd party footprint site.
What’s the best way of coping with a potentiometer with a switch?The pot goes on the pcb bur the switch may or may not, depending on the pot in question.
You can make a combined footprint, that has pads for different components. You can draw tracks (as graphics) inside the footprint and even add features such as used in the solderjumper footprint. This way you can leave the final mounting options open for final assembly.
A commonly used trick in KiCad is to use pads with the same pad number. KiCad will assume these pads have to be connected to each other. So even if you don’t connect them inside the footprint, then it will generate a ratsnest line in the PCB editor until you draw some copper to connect those pads.
Soldering wires directly to a PCB is generally not a very good option. the sharp transition between the bare wire and the soldered part is a fatigue point that easily breaks the copper over time. some sort of mechanical support for the wire is recommended.
You can also use a connector for the switch. In that case you can even assign a footprint for the switch to the symbol of the connector. This works for the PCB part, but it is not convenient for the BOM.
First, I “Save as” a pot from the Kicad library to a new symbol in a Personal Library and named it POT/SW.
Next, I found a SPST switch from a different Kicad library, made a left to right box selection of the switch image and then “Copy” that image.
Next, I reopened my new POT/SW symbol and Pasted the switch below the pot.
Next changed the grid to very fine and placed some line segments to symbolise the sweep pin of the pot and the switch section were connected mechanically.
Finally, I changed the pin numbers on the switch part to Nos. 4 & 5. and saved.
This symbol could also be created directly on the Schematic by Editing, but it is then only available for that schematic. If going to this trouble (5 minutes) it is probably worth completing the task in a Personal Library so the symbol is easily accessible for use in the future.
Thanks jmk. That’s exactly the thought process I was trying to follow.
Unfortunately, having only very recently moved from No.1/Easy-PC, the work flow is completely different and has got me stumped. e.g. One can’t seem to be able to open a library and edit an existing part. The “Edit Library Symbol” option is greyed out in the symbol editor! How is it done?
You can open a symbol in the Symbol editor and then save that to a custom Library . . . the supplied KiCad symbol library is read only. So open the Symbol editor first, then open the symbol you want to copy from . . .
@RaptorUK mentions “custom Library” and I mentioned “Personal Library”. These are the same library. They are a library you must create. See this FAQ for how to create Personal Libraries.
Create a personal library as per the link just above and name that personal library “My Pots” (or whatever you choose).
Open the Symbol Editor in Kicad.
Scroll to the Pots in the Kicad Device Library to find a suitable Pot.
Right mouse click on the suitable Pot symbol and a window will open.
Left mouse click the “save as” and a new window will open.
At the top of this new window will appear the name of the Kicad Pot. Give it a new name and Save.
Find a SPST switch from the Kicad Switch library, make a left to right box selection of the switch image and then “Copy” (DO NOT Save as) that image.
Reopen your new POT/SW symbol in your new Personal Library and Paste the switch below the pot.
Change the grid to very fine and placed some line segments to symbolise the sweep pin of the pot and the switch section were connected mechanically.
Finally, change the pin numbers on the switch part to Nos. 4 & 5. and Save.
I have already created by own library. So - what you’re saying is I can only edit parts from my library?That’s to ensure you don’t mess up the standard KiCad parts, I guess.
I don’t actually want to have the pot and switch as one symbol with the parts placed together and joined by a dotted line. I’d rather treat them as a dual op amp, where the two opamps are placed first then the power pins are placed as a third part. All separate on the schematic, numbered as a, b and c parts of the same ref des - but all three are obviously in one package on the pcb.
i.e. I want the pot as part a and the switch as part b.
Sorry I mis-read your post, I thought you meant separate symbols . . .
I’ve not created multi unit symbols so I have no first hand experience, but It may work, you have the option to mark them as Not interchangeable and perhaps you will need to make one of then, maybe the pot, a power symbol . . .
