First, to answer your original question: the footprints for USB connectors are here. So there are several different Micro B USB receptacles there. You could choose one of those parts, if you didn’t want to create your own footprint.
There’s not necessarily any correlation between those two things. The KiCad library contains things which people felt like contributing to the KiCad library. These might be common or not-so-common. And certainly plenty of commonly available parts will not be in the KiCad library yet.
OK thanks. I wanted to know if there are ready made symbols and subsequently footprints for these two components I am planning to buy (in case any one has come across them earlier):
PS. Which is the library for SPDT switches and oscillators. KiCAD library would have at least basic SPDTs and 4 pin oscillators defined (I could not find it though ). That way I can get going with the schematic at least. If required, I can start a new discussion on this topic. – Thanks. AG.
I checked the molex folder. It most probably has components related to barrel connector. I had already got the the symbol and footprint of barrel connector in KICAD library. I am looking for the symbol and footprint of the mini SPDT switch and 4 pin oscillator as per the links posted last time.
Thanks. The Oscillators are all SMD type in Abracon. The link shows a through pin device (I will be using these devices for the first time; so SMD may be difficult for me to solder) Also, I am looking for sliding SPDT components; not push buttons. Any other library you suppose I should check out pls. (I dont have the dimensions of these devices; otherwise would have made the components myself ). Have written to the sellers on the site; they are looking for the drawings.
OK thanks. I will try that out. Well … that was what quicklib was offering… and I will take it as it requires lesser time and effort. Also, any similar sites for quickly making footprints of the switch ?
Why not use and learn the kicad internal tools?
The only skill required is to read a datasheet. Making footprints is a bit faster if you know how to use the user grid or array function to place your pads quite fast.
OK… I tried to search for the symbol settings in the Eeschema window (the one that looks like a gear wheel – the only gearwheel based icon I could find was Preferences --> Save preferences / load preferences). Pls. be more specific.
OK thanks… I was able to make the symbol and footprint of the SPDT in independent folders. Also could instantiate them separately in schematic and layout files. I wanted to know how to correlate the pins of symbol to the pads of the footprint so that when I use them in the schematic, assign footprint to schematic component, import netlist and read it in the pcb editor, I am able to see ratsnest wires symbolizing connections between the footprint of SPDT and other components’ footprints.
Regards,
Arvind Gupta
(PS: I forgot to add that I did not add .pretty in the footprint library name. Is it OK? How to I rename to set things in order otherwise?)
OK. I did the changes… named the pins and pads with the same corresponding number and renamed the footprint folder as footprint.pretty (I have 2 folders in one folder now: one named as ‘symbol’ and other as ‘footprint.pretty’). I also went to schematics -->Preferences --> Component Library and added the symbol. Next I went to layout --> Footprint Library Manager --> Append Library with wizard and appended the footprint.pretty folder as global library (with plugin type as KiCAD).Then I restarted the tool.
Next, I instantiated two SPDT switch instances and a diode. Saved the test schematic and tried to associate symbols with footprint. I got the following error:
If I selected ‘Yes’, none of my schematic components were displayed. If I selected ‘No’, my schematic components were displayed but the pcb footprint corresponding to the switch was not there in the list of the right side. Pls. see image.
What do I do to correct this problem? I was trying to check if the pins of symbol instantiated in schematic are getting properly associated with the correct pads of the footprint.
OK. That was the problem. I had made the symbol using quicklib (it was an easy way to do so – as mentioned in the ‘Getting started with KICAD’ manual) and footprint with KiCAD. When I remade the symbol using KiCAD, the problem went away. Since I make PCBs part time and presently I was not getting much time to do so, hence the delay.
). That way I can get going with the schematic at least. If required, I can start a new discussion on this topic. – Thanks. AG.
). Have written to the sellers on the site; they are looking for the drawings.
