Creating Library Parts with CircuitStudio (Nov 29, 2018)

It is useful to generate a BOM with secondary manufacturers and why not have the library components have this data included.  I've been working on how best to include a secondary manufacturer for library components.  During the webinar the presenters mentioned that use case, user preference, supplier link, and solutions are all options.  These were all good points and led me to explore the issue a bit more.

I can only think of two use cases;

1. Commodity Component (e.g. resistor, capacitor, etc.) - good candidate use case for different manufacturers.
2. Specific Component (e.g. processor, connector header, etc.) - bad candidate use case for different manufactures (typically).

The first use case is obviously a good candidate because the package sizes and footprints are standardized (e.g. 0201, 1206, etc).  The second use case is a bad candidate because the package, footprint, and functionality of the component will most likely be different enough to cause functional (i.e. electrical, thermal management, etc.) and manufacturing issues (i.e. differing footprints, reflow profiles, etc).    Therefore, I'm implemented the following in Circuitstudio (scratched my own itch).

General Method:

1. Open a commodity component within the schematic library
2. Add the following Parameters: Supplier 1, Supplier 2, Supplier Part Number 1, and Supplier Part Number 2
3. Enter the same distributor name (i.e. Digi-Key, Mouser, etc.) in the "value" field
   1. Write "Digi-Key" exactly as shown, Digikey didn't work
4. Enter different distributor part numbers for the associated alternative manufacturers (i.e. 667-ERJ-1GNF4992C and 603-RC0201FR-0749K9L) and save the schematic library
5. Place the component in a schematic and layout on PCB
6. Generate Output -> Configure BOM (to include both manufactures)
   1. Within Solution 1: Show Manufacturer 1 and Manufacturer Part Number 1
   2. Within Solution 2: Show Manufacturer 2 and Manufacturer Part Number 2
7. Configure column locations and export BOM (we now have a BOM with a primary and secondary manufacture part number for a commodity resistor, cap, etc)

I hope this helps other Circuitstudio users and please comment on better and/or more efficient ways to manage libraries and leverage that data for downstream content (i.e. schematics, pcb layout, BOMs, fabrication outputs, etc)

Happy Designing

Dion

Here is a screenshot of the Library Component Parameters window (note: use "Digi-Key" not "Digikey".  The latter has issues with grabbing supplier link data).  Notice, that Supplier 1 and 2 is the same, but Supplier Part Number 1 and 2 are different manufacturer part numbers (alternate manufacturer).  Lastly, notice Supplier 3 is Digi-Key and the Supplier Part Number 3 is Digi-Key's part number for the primary manufacturer (i.e. Panasonic) part number.  This allows one to use BOM templates to easily generate different BOMs (e.g. production BOM, Alternate Mfg. BOM, and Prototype BOM).