I don’t have Kicad on this machine however I seem to remember I used a plated through mounting hole with a connection to it.
I think the key is to size the hole ID to your expected wire and increase the OD for robustness.
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I think @OCLC is the only one that cares about this. The rest of us just use what works and move on. I have no involvement in managing the codebase, but I’m pretty sure a pull request for this would be DoA.
As for the definitions: A “connector” is used for anything that leaves the board, permanent or not. I’ve even used a connector footprint without ordering that connector, and then soldered directly to it instead.
I’ve also made my own footprints for standard library symbols. An XLR symbol, for example, made into a board-edge “connector”, so I could repurpose the end from a broken mic cord (shattered shield from kids using it as a rope…) by slipping the board between solder cups. Get out my calipers, lay out the pads according to those measurements, and assign it like any other footprint.
What is your source? In the electronic packaging industry, a connector is a supplementary object that is used for connecting things. In your message, you even seem to agree with this when you make the (fully appropriate) difference between a “connector footprint” and the “connector” itself.
I think @OCLC is the only one that cares about this
Before starting this topic, I had searched on the internet and I had seen that several people were confused when they searched for a wire pad symbol for KiCAD.
I’m sorry @OCLC , but I think you are missing the whole concept of Kicad; and probably every other CAD program in existence, whatever discipline:
It is just not possible to have permanently up to date libraries, holding every possible item that could be conceivably used, for that CAD program.
With respect to Kicad, existing symbols and footprints can be edited directly on the Schematic and PCB Editors, or if a permanent symbol or footprint needs to be created, there are the Symbol and Footprint Editors.
If you want something not in a library, use these functions.
As for the several other confused people; if they are unable to solve their problems, they should ask someone, somewhere.
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There is no standard norm definition for “wire pad symbol” as far as i can tell.
There is a junction one named TestPoint_Small in the official libraries though, and i believe this will solve your issue in a nice way if you also exclude it from BOM.
Its name is easy to change, but you will probably need a few custom made footprints too.
I would suggest to open an issue in GitLab in order to discuss an upcoming addition with the librarians team before the MR, and also note that the wire type must then be also defined in the schematic and that would also require some custom symbol(s).
Best regards,
Aristeidis
Different industries have different definitions. A common tool cannot possibly cater to more than just one, so the best possibility is to take a rough average of everybody. (naturally, that’s easier to do for some things than for others) So you’ll have to understand beyond your own little world in order to use…pretty much anything, really, unless it’s so specialized as to be useless to anyone else.
In other words, broaden your horizons, and figure out on your own that <this term that you’re very well used to> has a slightly different meaning in a tool that’s used by everybody. And just deal with it. Make your own internal library, whatever it takes to make you and your specific crew happy.
That goes together with, “…use what works and move on.” I wanted holes in the board to solder wires in, with space to get an iron in there, and that existing footprint with a courtyard gave me those holes and the space. I knew I needed X number of wires, so I grabbed a generic connector symbol with that pin count, put that convenient footprint on it, and that was that. End of effort. No care whatsoever for what any of it is actually called, except to know what search terms to use.
The definition that I gave above, is what works for KiCAD, not necessarily any specific industry. Learn it and use it here. Or make your own private variation and use that.
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