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Electronics => PCB/EDA/CAD => KiCad => Topic started by: CM800 on February 13, 2017, 03:12:56 pm

Title: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: CM800 on February 13, 2017, 03:12:56 pm

I'm curious what the best way to handle components with lots of pins are (64+ ... up to 256, 1000 etc.)

I was going to do a drawing with a STM32F4 but the components they have there have obscenely large packages that are unweidly and larger then a schematic sheet... not ideal.

I'm still very much trying to learn KiCAD, moving from Eagle, as a side note if anyone knows any good tutorials I'd love to hear. Expecially with regards to understanding their components / footprint system.

Title: Re: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: Bassman59 on February 13, 2017, 09:35:20 pm

Quote from: CM800 on February 13, 2017, 03:12:56 pm

I'm curious what the best way to handle components with lots of pins are (64+ ... up to 256, 1000 etc.)

Break them up into multi-part (multi-unit) symbols.

Title: Re: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: CM800 on February 14, 2017, 11:33:21 am

Trying to do so, problem is I've ended up with this:

The text and box stay the same in all units.

(http://puu.sh/u2HcT/e4bad0d912.png)
(http://puu.sh/u2HdI/9fda567bf9.png)

I assume its safe to rename pins?



EDIT:
Fixed it.

"common to all units in component"
(http://puu.sh/u2HnK/c4c462eaf0.png)

Title: Re: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: bson on February 17, 2017, 07:26:42 am

I break them up into functional subunits.  I also label pins with what they're actually used for, say an analog input channel, rather than everything they potentially could be.  I then break them up according to use into units: USB, buses, power and oscillator, etc.  This means complex ICs get a project-specific component library.  Usually I start from kipart, then fix up the output manually.

Title: Re: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: spanner888 on February 18, 2017, 03:01:43 am

When you get to looking at the PCB footprint/s,  I highly recommend MadParts as with fairly simple programming/definition files you can very quickly create complex footprint for BOTH Kicad & Eagle from the one file with no extra effort.

MadParts is really good for creating DIL & QUAD footprints, have a look at the examples.

https://madparts.org/ (https://madparts.org/)

Title: Re: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: Deridex on February 18, 2017, 12:28:36 pm

i tend to break em into "function"-blocks (means multiple Symbols)

As example one block for the powersupply(s)
Another block for the digital io
Yet another block for the analog stuff

and so on ...

That way those components stay in a way i can handle em.

Title: Re: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: technotronix on February 21, 2017, 11:56:41 am

Have you tried to find out solution in KiCAD tutorial? Here is a guide for KiCAd, which may help you. http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/kicad/schematic (http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/kicad/schematic)

Title: Re: KiCAD Components with lots of pins
Post by: richardlawson1489 on February 23, 2017, 06:48:54 am

Did you tried to break them up into functional subunits?