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Footprint/Symbol ASCII Format

edmund

Hi All,

 

just wondering does anyone out there know how to convert Footprint/Symbol of ASCII Format to CAD tool format such as EAGLE, Altium and PADs.

 

Appreciate anyone who can enlighten me.

 

Cheers

Edmund

  • 0

    The Power PCB (or Pads) can support ASCII format lib file.

    using "Import ..." in Power PCB software

  • 0

    Matt Collinge wrote on Sun, 24 October 2010 22:28

    just wondering does anyone out there know how to convert

    Footprint/Symbol of ASCII Format to CAD tool format such as EAGLE, Altium

    and PADs.

     

    There is no such thing as a standard "ASCII format" for a footprint or

    symbol.  Various packages have their own format, some of which can be

    exported/imported to/from some kind of ASCII format.  For example, Eagle

    can export most things to a script file.  So I guess the answer to your

    question is you look at the documentation for whatever ASCII format you

    have, and write a program that reads it and writes out the same information

    in as a Eagle script.

     

    The real question is apparently how to make a package and a symbol.

     

    You look in the datasheet for the package dimensions and make the Eagle

    package accordingly.  Take into account the worst case outer edges of each

    pin and leave a little slop.  I like to leave 20 mil past the maximum end

    of the pin to make manual soldering easier should I need to use a iron.

    The sideways slop should be less.  Generally you don't want the pad width

    to exceed half the pin stride.  You have to do a few calculations from the

    datasheet information, but overall the process is pretty easy.  Personally

    I don't even look at the suggested footprint from the manufacturer.  It

    would take longer to check whether they followed my conventions than to

    just make my own.  Again, this is easy.

     

    As for the schematic symbol, this is partly a matter of personal taste,

    although there are definitely good and bad symbols.  I like my schematics

    to be neat and readable, so am willing to spend a little time to make the

    symbol nice and clear and as meaningful to how it will be used in the

    circuit as possible.  Lazy people (and most manufacturers) just draw a IC

    as viewed from the top with the schematic connection in package pin order.

    That may save a few minutes making the symbol once, but will cost in

    decipering time and confusion many times thereafter.

     

    --

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