Proper method for aligning Horizontal To-220 tab to mounting hole

Layout Footprints
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1st question…, My board has a to-220 package regulator and it lays on the PCB. I have set the mounting holes but I’m wondering if there’s a correct way of aligning the hole in the heatsink tab and the mounted hole in the PCB. I guess I have it pretty good but it seems like there would be a locking or alignment snapping feature.

2nd question…, Is there a correct way to assign the to-220 to the mounting hole? Right now when I run the error check the I’m getting “drilled holes to close” and “courtyards too close”, (sorry, don’t have computer in front of me). Well yeah, they are too close, the tab hole is literally aligned with the mounting hole. I think I could play with the clearance in both the to-220 and the mounting hole to get rid of the error but I’m assuming there’s a correct method, which I’d rather do.

Thanks micheal

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Are you using the TO-220-*_Horizontal footprints from the official libs?
If so, the hole in the footprint also contains the mechanical hole in the board.

In case you need a different size NPTH in the board, you can change the one in the footprint you laid out (the yellow circle below inside the gray one) instead of placing your own hole on top.

TO-220-3_Horizontal_TabDown
TO-220-3_Horizontal_TabDown1960×1289 20.2 KB

As you can see in the 3D preview, the first hole is free :wink:

to-220
to-2202558×1336 233 KB

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2 posts were split to a new topic: Are the images on the forum currently broken?

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And further reading:

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There is no inherent alignment or locking feature of the TO-220 package for the tab hole in any horizontal footprint. The hole in the footprint is there for you to put a mechanical fastener (like a machine screw and nut, though I’ve seen the occasional board where they pop-riveted the TO-220s down). I hope you left clearance free of traces on the bottom side of the board for the fastener…

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Oh my gosh, guess I’ll remove the additional mounting hole I put in PCB.no, I had no idea it punched one in PCB as well. I figured it was something dumb but not that dumb. Lol. Thanks guys

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It isn’t dumb at all. It is used to thermally connect the package of the TO-220 to the thermal mass of the PCB, and/or sandwich an actual heatsink between the package and the PCB. It might not be what you want for your application, but it is a real and valid reason for being there.

(Also to mechanically attach the TO-220 to the PCB so impacts and vibration don’t flex and weaken the legs of the TO-220.)

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I think they mean they were dumb not that the concept of the hole on the part is dumb.

Think about the number of times you were frustrated with a problem only to find it wasn’t really a problem at all, you just approach it differently

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I’m new to Kicad so I’m bound and determined to make a bunch of DUMB mistakes.I’m just happy it was nice and easy to remedy , I just deleted the mounting holes .

Thanks for the help

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Don’t focus too much on making dumb mistakes.
Try to divert some attention to learning how to use KiCad effectively. :slight_smile:

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