Product Suggestions - Body Outline in Designer

Body Outline in Designer

Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: PCB Footprint Expert
Forum Name: Product Suggestions
Forum Description: request new features
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3203
Printed Date: 12 Oct 2024 at 5:18pm

Topic: Body Outline in Designer

Posted By: kmiha
Subject: Body Outline in Designer
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2022 at 3:05pm

I used the Designer to make a series of terminal blocks of 2,3,4,5...12 pins.

First I made a 12 pin terminal block and then I used this as a starting point to make the rest parts by deleting 1 pad each time.

The problem is with the body outline. When you shrink the size, it is shrink around a center point and this way you have to re-adjust the positions of all pads. It will be a useful feature to change the position of the edges of the body outline rather than define the body x/y dimensions.

Another feature is the ability to move around the body outline rather than moving the pads. I tried to move the pads like a group but I failed.

Also, I cannot draw additional lines on the silkscreen layer.

Replies:

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2022 at 3:24pm

I'm using V2022.15 Footprint Expert.

The best way to create a series of terminal blocks is to create an even number of pins version (like 12) and an odd number of pins (like 11).

When you reduce the Body Length to it shrinks on both ends.

So we recommend that you create a 12 pin version and then a 10 pin version and delete the 2 end pins. Then reorder (renumber) the pin names by entering 1 in the Incremental Numbering Options. Then select the fist pin and Right Mouse Button select Reorder pins.

This way you can quickly create 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 pin versions. Then repeat the process for the odd pin versions.

Or some users create a 12 pin version and save to FPX. Then change the Body length, then select a window around the pins and delete them and re-insert pins 1 - 11 by reducing the X coordinate by the pin pitch value.

Deleting and reinserting pins is the fastest way.

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