History

PCB Libraries was started in 2003 as a sole proprietorship and was based on a couple of decades worth of work. We developed simple scripts to automate the creation of PCB libraries. The original scripts were based in Microsoft Excel and we named them the LandCalc and LandWiz. The LandWiz initially output PADS ASCII, the most popular CAD tool at that time with a clear-text CAD library file format. These tools caught on very quickly, and we incorporated in 2004.

A stand-alone application, the LP Wizard, was started in 2004 and supported only standard component packages. IPC asked us to create a version they could give out for free to anyone who purchased the IPC-7351, and the LP Calculator was born. The LP Wizard was in rapid development and we developed ability to output standard package footprints to over a dozen different CAD formats - still only for standard component packages. It was acquired in 2008 by Valor. Valor was later acquired by Mentor Graphics.

Since the acquisition, support for most CAD formats other than (understandably) Mentor Graphics' own was either dropped or significantly reduced. The original PCB Libraries team regrouped in 2011, with bigger and more ambitious goals. We rewrote the IPC Calculator code from scratch, keeping it more agile and easy to upgrade.

PCB Libraries regrouped in 2011 to create the next generation of PCB Library automation. We named the new program "Library Expert", which was officially released on July 11, 2012. In 2019 we started to rewrite Library Expert, totally redesigned the User Interface. The new program was called the "Footprint Expert", and was released January 2021. Major feature updates were completed in September 2024, but the Footprint Expert is continually updated to ensure compatibility and enhance existing features.

The new program was developed with improved ways of calculating and generating part libraries. Key among these were the FP Designer module, which allowed creation of footprints for non-standard packages, and 3D STEP. We also provided a new part database and part-request service named Parts on Demand. While component manufacturers produced mostly standard packages, most of the non-standard packages could be created by the FP Designer module. Where component manufacturers introduced irregular terminal leads that required interactive graphic editing, we turned to PADS ASCII to develop these very unique packages and convert them to the Footprint Expert's neutral FPX format.

Our software is now a powerful footprint and 3D STEP library tool that lets you create standardized footprints by entering component dimensions, but can also be used to import previously created part content, or even new part and Bill of Material (BOM) requests.

Below is the history of the footprint software, listed by major revisions.