ab2tech / kicad Goto Github PK

I have created a library which contains a few items I use. I inserted them to my schematics. Somehow it was removed from the library list, so when I opened the schematics next time all my ICs were replaced with a placeholder (and all the wires got disconnected).
My dcm and lib files are in both the projects root folder and in the default library folder (c:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\library), but I still need to go to the Library Editor / Preferences / Component Libraries / Add command to add the library again.
It would be nice to detect that the ICs are already there and pop up a dialog box to add the library to the library list.

It is very typical that a component has different (even multiple) names for its different footprints.

e,g,
Texas Instruments CD74HC4067 has PDIP, SOIC, SSOP packages with different name endings like
CD74HC4067E -> 24 Ld PDIP
CD74HC4067M -> 24 Ld SOIC
CD74HC4067M96 -> 24 Ld SOIC
CD74HC4067SM96 -> 24 Ld SSOP
CD74HCT4067M -> 24 Ld SOIC

KiCad has a filter option for the components, but it doesn't have the option to pair exact component names to these footprints. It would be nice.

I wanted to use the auto-routing the other day when I realized that it doesn't work.

The Free Routing source code is released and made to work on the new Java version in the https://github.com/cchamilt/FreeRouting repo.

After installing JDK and a half day of trying I could compile and run it on Windows.
Please find the two attached batch files which I used (you need to change the path of the JDK in them if you don't have the latest v1.8.0_77)

Just rename the files to .bat, copy them into the repo's root directory and execute them.
compile_freeroute.bat.txt
run_freeroute.bat.txt

Do you think you could integrate it into KiCad again?

AB2_USB SHIELD has number "SH" in library (.lib) but in module (.mod) the SHELL(ie SHIELD) is not given any name.
so if anyone in schematic use the shield pin, in actual pcb, it would not connect and shows pad missing error.

https://github.com/ab2tech/KiCad/blob/master/library/ab2_usb.lib#L63
https://github.com/ab2tech/KiCad/blob/master/modules/ab2_usb.mod

I have created a few new components in my own library file and I would be ok with the idea of sharing it with others. It would be good to have an option in KiCad to allow KiCad to upload and share my libraries automatically.

I also noticed some small errors in the libraries included by default, which I would fix and make them available for others if it would be easy to do.

Many components have many numeric values which are important when we design a board.

For example all ADC's have bitrate, sps, Vcc range, etc. values.
It would be useful to add these properties as name + value + unit pairs to the description of the component.

A few value suggestions:
text: component category
text: manufactured by
url: general information page
url: datasheet pdf
number: min Vcc (Volt)
number: max Vcc (Volt)
number: sample frequency (sps)
number: bitrate (bit)
number: channel

This would make an excellent source of information about the components and a possibility to implement a great search engine which would help the designing process greatly.

To see such a search engine in place, check http://tme.eu

Please release atleast under CC-BY-SA 4.0
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 is a non-free licence
also, via CC-BY-SA 4.0, code can be imported under GPLv3 (see this) (note: not GPLv3 or later BUT afaiu (inal) possible via indirect compatiblility with future licence)
also, if licenced under GPLv3 or later, that would be too cool! (probebly you are ok, if you atleast licence under CC-BY-SA 4.0)

AB2_USB GND pin is "Power Out".
This should be "Power Input".

DC voltage outputs as “power output” and ground/supply voltage pins as “power inputs”.
ref: http://www.dgkelectronics.com/kicad-tutorial-part-1-introduction-and-how-to-create-a-schematic/

Often used footprints like "Housings_" are very long and they look awkward on the schematics. It would look nicer if it had a short name also like SOIC-24 or SOIC-24-N or SO24 and such instead of the full name of "Houseing_SOIC:SOIC-24_7.5x15.4mm_Pitch1.27".

Wikipedia page about these housings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Outline_Integrated_Circuit