Can't find my part in Altium/Microchip library

[aurmer]

I am new to PCB design, and I have been finding good beginner Altium resources online, but I am having trouble identifying my selected PIC24 out of the Microchip parts library.

Here is where I am.

- https://techdocs.altium.com/display/ADOH/Download+Libraries
- Download "Microchip.zip"
- Add "Microchip Microcontroller 16-Bit PIC24F.IntLib" library into Altium

This is my chosen PIC24F (http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC24FJ128GA204). This particular PIC24F is not listed in the library. I also tried going through Microchip.

- http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC24FJ128GA204
- Documentation -> Schematics -> "PIC24F CAD/CAE Schematic Symbols"
- Unzip the download. This has a BXL file for many PIC24F's. But there is no BXL for PIC24FJ128GA204

Where should I go from here? Please let me know if I need to clarify anything.

[hans]

GA200 series is quite new, so I'm not surprised it isn't in the more outdated libraries on the Altium website.

Maybe the GB200 series is in it? I believe the only difference between GA200 and GB200 is addition of USB.

If not, I personally would stop searching at this point and just create a simplistic symbol with just the port/pin numbers and look-up pin definitions in the datasheet instead. The PIC24 is quite suited for this, because most if not almost all pins are remappable anyway.

[aurmer]

Thanks, yes it makes sense if the device is new. I wasn't even aware of that fact. I was feeling scared to look into custom parts, but it isn't like I am setting up rules for pins, just need to make connections and then design a board layout.

[T3sl4co1l]

I see GA and GB, 110 and 310, in the Altium Vault, but no 2xx.

The library parts are usually ugly anyway; you're better off copying a similar one, then editing it for better quality.  Ditto the footprint, which never looks good.

Tim

[JPortici]

pic24 are usually pin-to-pin compatible, at least to some extent. (Core pins, Analog pins)
also the 128kb (the 128 in the name) might not be present, but the base version (64, 64kb) might be

[Sal Ammoniac]

I never trust vendor-supplied (either the PCB tools vendor or the chip vendor) schematic symbols and PCB footprints and prefer to create my own from scratch.