kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Dick Hollenbeck <dick@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Matan Gal-Katziri" <matangk@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Oct 5, 2013 11:44 PM
Subject: Re: Kicad-Spice simulation tutorial
To: "Nacho Domínguez" <domalmig@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Miguel Angel Ajo Pelayo" <miguelangel@xxxxxxx>, "Fabrizio Tappero" <
fabrizio.tappero@xxxxxxxxx>, "Dick Hollenbeck" <dick@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Miguel
Angel" <miguelangel@xxxxxx>

Hi Guys,
I had a little time this weekend to arrange my thoughts and write a
coherent documentation of what I did. Conclusions:
1. I think it covers procedures that might look obvious to advanced users.
2. This is my preferred working method and not an absolute truth. Others
might not like it.
3. If KiCad could create sub-circuits out of hierarchies where
local hierarchical labels are the pins it could be great for integration
purposes, don't know if it's on your roadmap though.

Anyway, I attach a preliminary PDF of what I did. If you still find the
content helpful I can convert it to your file format, review and upload to
the repository..

Best regards,
Matan Gal-Katziri


On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 2:21 PM, Matan Gal-Katziri <matangk@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Nacho,
> I feel the same way about qucs. Maybe their choice to work with a private
> netlist format also contribute to bugs and import issues...
> After a short study (my time is very limited..) I chose to work with
> LTspice. It's free, well maintained and has a GUI. don't know about netlist
> size limitations though.
>
> Anyway, I feel that the easiest thing would be if Kicad could create spice
> subcircuits from hierarchies, where the hierarchy labels (local, not
> global) will be the subcircuit pins. I succeeded to do something similar to
> that manually and I bet automating the procedure shouldn't be difficult.
>
> Also, adding a .model/.subckt field to components can save a lot of work
> when exporting spice netlists.
>
> Once you have a subcircuit in hand - use whatever simulator you want.
> Almost all of them can handle spice subcircuits and the purpose of Kicad
> simulation (IMHO) is mainly verification of schematic.
>
> Regards,
> Matan
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 1:45 PM, Nacho Domínguez <domalmig@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I have some simulation samples at my personal blog carried on with
>> Capture Student Version 9.1/Pspice or Qucs. These simulations are based on
>> kicad schematics mainly.
>>
>> So, I try to confirm that it's possible to perform theorical simulations
>> of kicad schematics with a external tool.
>>
>> I prefer Pspice because allows some functions more that Qucs.
>> Unfortunatelly Pspice runs just on Windows systems, and I know that no runs
>> over Win7, Win8 or Vista. I think that Qucs is "green" yet. Qucs needs to
>> add some functions like pointers in track mode over waves, including
>> libraries and subcircuit files, ...
>>
>> I'd like to work with Qucs because Pspice is limited a few nodes in
>> schematic, and for some circuits this tool is not enough.
>>
>> It's a great idea to include a simulation tool to Kicad.
>>
>> Best regards.
>>
>>
>>
>> 2013/10/3 Miguel Angel Ajo Pelayo <miguelangel@xxxxxxx>
>>
>>>
>>> Thanks Fabrizio and thanks Matan!,
>>>
>>> Matan, it sound really interesting, and documentation is never a minor
>>> sharing,
>>> it's one of the parts developers usually are reluctant to work in,
>>> because we
>>> feel that our hours are better spent on writing lines of code (even if
>>> that's no
>>> t always true), usually is that we like more writing code....
>>>
>>>
>>> Fabrizio, if I'm not wrong, and as you pointed, there is a branch
>>> with all the documentation files only,the people working on
>>> documentation just pull / push to this branch
>>> using bzr.
>>>
>>> http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kicad-developers/kicad/doc/files
>>>
>>>
>>> Matan:
>>>
>>> I have a friend -Nacho Dominguez-, (I think he collaborates already with
>>> docs or footprint parts), who's been doing kicad based simulation lately
>>> (but all in spanish), may be he would be happy to join forces with you if
>>> you were interested. I put him in CC.
>>>
>>>
>>> http://astroelectronica.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/an1297-simulacion-de-ruido-del-mcp6241-en-kicad-y-orcad/
>>>
>>>
>>> http://astroelectronica.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/diodos-rectificadores-con-kicad-y-qucs/
>>>
>>>
>>> http://astroelectronica.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/optimizador-con-kicad-y-orcad/
>>>
>>>
>>> 2013/10/2 Fabrizio Tappero <fabrizio.tappero@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>
>>>> Hi matan.
>>>> Little material? I think there are approx 400 pages in manuals and
>>>> tutorials and several languages.
>>>> I however agree that it could be better, especially if i had 2k hours
>>>> to give away.
>>>>
>>>> Have you seen the kicad tutorial that is actually linked with kicad?
>>>> Why dont we extend it with what u have in mind?
>>>> What do u have in mind?
>>>> I am into tutorials and this could  be a chance for something more
>>>> interesting than a pdf or a video
>>>> Cheers
>>>> Fabrizio
>>>> On Oct 2, 2013 8:33 PM, "Dick Hollenbeck" <dick@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 10/02/2013 12:38 AM, Matan Gal Katziri wrote:
>>>>> > Hi Dick,
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I'm a relatively new user of Kicad (few months now) and use it for
>>>>> hobby
>>>>> > projects.
>>>>> > First, I wanted to thank you and the development team -- you are
>>>>> doing a
>>>>> > wonderful job!
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Second, as I got kicad for free, I thought it would be nice if I
>>>>> shared
>>>>> > something back (even if minor):
>>>>> > I spent some time lately on trying to define a complete design flow
>>>>> --
>>>>> > simulation to layout -- using kicad and spice.
>>>>> > There is very little material online in this subject, some not in
>>>>> > English, some incomplete, and it took me a while to get
>>>>> > (most) issues solved.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I would be happy to write a short manual, based on what I've learned
>>>>> and
>>>>> > publish it, however:
>>>>> > 1. The flow involves LTspice which, while free, is still a branded
>>>>> > software. Is there any problem with writing a manual that involves
>>>>> > LTspice? My flow isn't really limited to LTspice, but using it makes
>>>>> > things much easier because it has an integrated GUI.
>>>>> > 2. I do not own any online space (blog, etc.) nor plan to open one.
>>>>> > Could I send a PDF to the development team and have it published on
>>>>> > Kicad site (after review)?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Thanks again,
>>>>> > Best regards
>>>>> > Matan Gal-Katziri.
>>>>> >
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Matan,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am copying Fabrizio and Miguel on this.  I don't know anything about
>>>>> our documentation.
>>>>>  These two gentlemen know more than I do.
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope they can help you.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dick
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Miguel Angel Ajo Pelayo
>>> http://www.nbee.es
>>> +34 636 52 25 69
>>> skype: ajoajoajo
>>>
>>
>>
>