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Re: Unclear documentation

 

Hello,
Normally the SMT is in 2 files. One for top side and one for bottom side.
This would normally carry through for Through hole parts file as well.
One of the reasons is the mirroring of the position coordinates for the bottom mounted components. For the assembly process the company we have been using has been very happy with the format that Kicad (2010-05-05 BZR 2356) has produced in the past. The Through hole and Hand mounted files would preferably follow the same system. A separate summery file that included all part types with an extra field for type seams more likely useful for planing and documentation than production.

Regards Peter

P.S. sorry Jean-Paul for sending directly to you instead of the list, the mail browser I use has changed features and I mix them up.

On 12/05/15 09:53, Jean-Paul Louis wrote:
I would prefer at least 3 files.
One for SMT devices.
One for TH Insertion.
One for hand placement.
Or one file with an extra field (SMD, TH, HAND).

Just an extra $0.02,
Jean-Paul
AC9GH

On May 11, 2015, at 5:09 PM, Andy Peters <devel@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On May 10, 2015, at 9:25 PM, Jean-Paul Louis <louijp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Andy,

The distinction between SMD, TH and Hand-placed is VERY important, as a SMD placement machine cannot handle TH parts and vice-versa. So you want to be able to segregate the parts for each assembly step.

Just my $0.02.
Jean-Paul
AC9GH
Right, so then this option needs even more consideration, and perhaps the result will be not one, but two files for the automated stuffing machines.

-a


On May 10, 2015, at 10:24 PM, Andy Peters <devel@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

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
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