KiCad-Library

KiCad-Library holds the schematics and footprints for all components used in the Aharoni Lab.

Getting Started

• Clone KiCad-Library to your local computer. We suggest placing it in "documents/KiCad/" where it will be along side your other user created files. You will then need to add the schematic and footprint library paths to KiCad.
• We suggest configuring a new path as something like "KICAD_AHARONI_LAB" with the path to the location to this repo an then using "KICAD_AHARONI_LAB" for each library path.

Prerequisites

You will need KiCad v5.x to use these libraries. We also suggest getting the free lite version of PCB Library Expert to generate new footprints to be added to this library.

Installing

• Clone KiCad-Library to local computer. We suggest placing it in the KiCad documents folder "documents/kicad/".
• To simplify adding each schematic and footprint library to KiCad, we suggest creating a new PATH pointing to the local location of the cloned repo.
  • In Kicad, preferences -> Configure Paths
  • "Add"
  • Create a name like "KICAD_AHARONI_LAB" along with the path pointing to the root directory of this repo.
• Now you will need to add the name and location of each library to KiCad.
  • Click "Symbol Library Editor"
  • Preferences -> Manage Symbol Libraries
  • Click "Append Library"
  • Add Nickname and Library Path

For example

Nickname : .Device
Library Path : ${KICAD_AHARONI_LAB}/Libraries/.Device.lib

• Now do the exact same thing but for the Footprint Libraries using the "Footprint Library Editor".
• NOTE : All symbol and footprint library Nicknames should be prefixed with a ".". This will cause them to show up at the top of the library lists and also make it so these libraries do not conflict with the included KiCad libraries.

Contributing Requirements

• KiCad library conventions should be followed whenever posisble.
• All footprints should be generated in PCB Library Expert and the footprint file should denote "_M", "_N", "_L" for most, nominal, and least footprint size respectively. Generally we make all footprints that will be assembled with a PnP machine with the least footprint setting to minimize their size.
• Atomic component conventions should be followed whenever you have a specific component and not a generic symbol.
• While KiCad comes with a bunch of part schematics and footprints, all components used in lab should be placed in this KiCad-Library with the correct PCB Library Expert footprint.

Built With

• PCB Library Expert - All component footprints and 3D step files
• KiCad - PCB EDA

Authors

• Daniel Aharoni - Initial work - DAharoni

See also the list of contributors who participated in this project.