kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Vesa Solonen <vsolonen@...>]

I didn't choke on black powder smoke and still have most of my hearing 
left (cheated a bit by using half plugs...) so back to business. 
Also congratulations for the release, everyone!

On Tue, 23 Mar 2010, viking632 wrote:
> --- In kicad-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Vesa Solonen <vsolonen@...> wrote:

> Finding old posts is a nightmare, and the search function doesn't work, so :-(

Yeah, I dislike Y! not working more and more... Anyway it is _very_ nice 
to see you here :)

> I'll add the missing capacitors when I get 'round to it: Ceramic, tantalum, more axials.
>
> I've renamed the resistors yet again, now they're called R-{IM}<pitch>, with an optional 'V' on the end
> (Vertical mount).
> This groups all the resistors nicely together in cvpcb :-)

Very nice. I'm not too concerned about the changes yet, as I have not 
started the automatic symbol-footprint bridge. Feel free to change as 
much as you like ;) I'll ask before doing a pull to KiCad official 
distribution anyway and this may be somewhat further away than next month. 
I'll have to finalize some pending problems on symbol side too.

> > That pin mapping functionality is not yet there, but if those with greater
> > coding skills agree with my proposal it will be some day. Along with pin
> > swapping, etc. That's my long term goal anyway. Footprint library should
> > just stick to the standard numbering and nothing else. Otherwise the
> > system is a mess after a while. Anyway it's few clicks of work to change
> > schematic symbols pin numbering, so that should be the way.
>
> Off hand, I can only think of transistors that needs pin mapping,
> but yes, it would be very nice to have (any volunteers ?-)

Blue sky ideas here:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-devel/message/4421

I'm aiming a bit further than just discrete transistors pin mapping, but I 
already know I'm not capable of pulling it myself. Other commitments, 
etc... So I can not take enough time to learn everything needed. But I'm 
willing to put my effort where my skillset applies better as is.

Some more examples would be freely selected resistors grouping to resistor 
array and two terminal unpolarsed components that would convey the pin 
freedom to layout side too. Say, single inductor is most of the time 
unpolarised, but may have unsymmetrical pinout or pads that will make 
better layout if swapping is allowed (currently rigid connections).

> Done :-)

Way too fast :D

> I've added three variants: Heatsink up, heatsink
> down w/o pad and heatsink down with (SMD) pad.
> In all three cases, there's also a mounting hole on the PCB.
> I've added all three variants for all the TO-PPs (Plastic
> Packages), even the fully isolated ones, but I'm thinking
> that maybe we could skip the padded variant for those ?

IMO the padded version is useful there too. If someone wants to use 
internal (gnd/power) layers as a heatsink, but needs the isolation. Maybe 
you agree?

> I haven't added horiz versions of the TO220-5R (PentawattV)
> and TO220-11R, as these have already had their pins bent.
> I can add them if you like ?

Like very much. Also the housing TDA1562Q comes in, DBS17P or SOT243-1 
would be nice. The package may also be fitted horizontally by some 
bending, but I have no dimensions to give yet. Maybe they are deduceable 
from the data sheet. Reverse horizontal would be very usable layoutwise. 
The chip is EOL, but very handy for ultra simple USB subwoofers for in car 
use (or under the working desk, just pull 12V from the desktop). An old 
USB VoIP handset (8ksps) with PulseAudio+LADSPA Linkwitz-Rileys @60Hz 
feeding TDA1562Q ;) To be designed with KiCad, naturally... Even crappy 
strereo pair and amp sounds good when the bass induced intermodulation 
distortion is gone. This surprised me very much some years ago when the 
whole setup was an analogue dead bug construction. Even the boss came 
looking after the good sound and not to demand the volume down :D

> I've also added a horiz version of the SIP3 and 4, but I'm not
> sure if they're useful. Let me know if I should keep them ...

Keep. They may be sandwiched between the PCB and heatsink (or housing?) if 
needed. I'm quite sure someone will find some use for them some day in 
some project... Hobbyists can do all kinds of unconventional stuff that no 
one can imagine beforehand. Old weird components no one would use 
commercially, etc. If supporting such will take almost no additional 
resources, let's support it.

Thank you again for your work.

-Vesa