kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Andy Peters <devel@xxxxxxxxx>]

> On May 9, 2015, at 2:27 AM, jp charras <jp.charras@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Le 09/05/2015 00:08, Andy Peters a écrit :
>> I was just skimming the kicad.info forum and a person had a question about why some parts did not end up in the position file needed for assembly. Another thread mentioned that that can be handled by setting an “attribute” for each part in pcbnew. So I looked it up. (It has not affected me because I haven’t submitted any boards for 3rd-party assembly.)
>> 
>> There are three options for the Attributes setting, and the following comes right from the pcbnew documentation:
>> 
>> 	• Normal is the standard attribute.
>> 
>> 	• Normal+Insert indicates that the module must appear in the automatic insertion file (for automatic insertion machines). This attribute is most useful for surface mount components (SMDs).
>> 
>> 	• Virtual indicates that a component is directly formed by the circuit board. Examples would be edge connectors or inductors created by a particular track shape (as sometimes seen in microwave modules).
>> 
>> The second and third options seem clear. It’s just the first one that’s vague.
>> 
>> What is meant by “Normal is the standard attribute?”
>> 
>> -a
> 
> Should be:
> Normal is the attribute for footprints which cannot be automatically
> inserted on the board (they are not listed in automatic insertion file)

OK, but the term “attribute” in this case is still quite vague. Seems to me that automated stuffing is the rule, not the exception, so the “normal” mode is “in the stuffing list.” I don’t see why there’s a distinction being made between SMD and THT parts.

Perhaps this would make a lot more sense if the term “attribute” was changed to “Assembly Option” or “Stuffing Option” or something more indicative of its function. Then the options should have reasonable labels: “Include in Insertion File,” “Do not include in insertion file,” “Virtual part.” The latter, of course, includes things like edge connectors and mounting holes which must have a valid net (electrical) connection. 

I suppose you have to make a distinction between a part that must be on the BOM but must be stuffed by hand vs a part that is a “not installed” and does not appear on the BOM.

I can certainly see instances where a physical part needs to be hand-stuffed, such as an LCD or a pot that can’t be washed.

Just my two cents.

-a