KiCad footprint for (not trim) potentiometer

[Fancy Lime]

Hi there,

I am trying to create a PCB layout in KiCad and need to assign footprints to the components. What I cannot find in the big ass library, is a footprint for a regular through-hole mounted pot. Does anyone know where and under what name I can find this in the libraries? There are literally thousands of components to scroll through and the names are not always very indicative of what the component actually is.

Thanks,
Andy

[Yazoo]

Strangely enough, as I speak (type), I've got Kicad open. I am using version 5.1 and the potentiometer footprints are in the "Potentiometer_THT" library. This includes trimpots and full-on potentiometers, e.g. Alps_RK163.

[Fancy Lime]

I found the Alps_RK163. However, what I am looking for is basically just three holes in a line with the right spacing for a "stand off" pot like this one here:

https://www.pedalpartsplus.com/product-p/7601.htm

The king that hovers above the board so you don't have to take into account the footprint of the actual pot. Any idea, what those are called?

Thanks,
Andy

[Kevin Mitchell]

I literally ran into this problem yesterday with kicad - same part and all. It's a good opportunity to learn how to create your own footprints!

If you don't want the full footprint just replace the pot with 3 connector_wire pads and space them appropriately.

-KM

[Fancy Lime]

I literally ran into this problem yesterday with kicad - same part and all. It's a good opportunity to learn how to create your own footprints!

If you don't want the full footprint just replace the pot with 3 connector_wire pads and space them appropriately.

-KM

Sounds good. Have a good tutorial for that? The ones I found are a bit overly complex for the purpose. Do you know the spacing on the "normal" pots (Alpha and the like)?

Cheers,
Andy

[Kevin Mitchell]

Sadly I'm still picking away through tutorials myself.

Pin spacing should be normal 5.08mm leg to leg. The default grid spacing in freePCB (their layout software) should allow you to line them up.

-KM

[patrick398]

I have the Madbean library pot's which i converted into Kicad format, can send them over if you want. There's front and back mount as well as dual gang for when you're trying to impress people.

[Fancy Lime]

Alright, got it. I think. Looks good anyway.

Next question: What's your process for organizing the rat's nest of components and connections? I guess there is no silver bullet but, holy mothballs, is that a mess at first. Is there any trick to just get everything spread out a bit to make it easier to organize? I'm trying to make an Opamp Muff Fuzz type circuit simply for practicing the process before attempting something more challenging where proper production PCBs make sense. I start to doubt if that will be as easy as I think it would be and I never thought it would be particularly easy...

Andy

[Fancy Lime]

I have the Madbean library pot's which i converted into Kicad format, can send them over if you want. There's front and back mount as well as dual gang for when you're trying to impress people.

That would be awesome! or just post them here for everyone's benefit?

Andy

[Kevin Mitchell]

Ah the MB lib was the only thing keeping me on eagle for a while. Now that went to crap we're all swarming to kicad 

-KM

[Fancy Lime]

All in all, I must say KiCad seems pretty great so far. A bit overwhelming in its mighty mightyness at times, though...

Andy

[patrick398]

Yeah the move form Eagle to Kicad was a difficult transition at first, I love Kicad now...i've even got used to the weird scroll/zoom thing.
I've got quite a lot of the MB library converted so let me know if there's anything else you need and i'll have a look.

Here's the pots: http://www.filedropper.com/pots

Let me know if you have any issues using them. Remember they need to go in a .pretty folder for kicad to be able to find them...i think

[phasetrans]

Yeah the move form Eagle to Kicad was a difficult transition at first, I love Kicad now...i've even got used to the weird scroll/zoom thing.
I've got quite a lot of the MB library converted so let me know if there's anything else you need and i'll have a look.

Here's the pots: http://www.filedropper.com/pots

Let me know if you have any issues using them. Remember they need to go in a .pretty folder for kicad to be able to find them...i think

Impeccable timing, I would have had to build an Alpha pot footprint today.

If you want to change the zoom behavior, when you first open kicad, go to the "preferences" menu on the "preferences" drop and uncheck "center and warp cursor on zoom"

[patrick398]

Yeah the move form Eagle to Kicad was a difficult transition at first, I love Kicad now...i've even got used to the weird scroll/zoom thing.
I've got quite a lot of the MB library converted so let me know if there's anything else you need and i'll have a look.

Here's the pots: http://www.filedropper.com/pots

Let me know if you have any issues using them. Remember they need to go in a .pretty folder for kicad to be able to find them...i think

Impeccable timing, I would have had to build an Alpha pot footprint today.

If you want to change the zoom behavior, when you first open kicad, go to the "preferences" menu on the "preferences" drop and uncheck "center and warp cursor on zoom"

That's great, thanks for the tip. I'm so used to the old way now though, i'm not sure whether it's going to be more confusing changing it now ha

[Kevin Mitchell]

FIY, you can fine-tune the footprint right through the PCB program (right click, open in footprint editor). I had to shrink the width of the 1/4w resistor footprint so they weren't overlapping at 2.54mm spacing. You can edit the footprint but can only save it into your project folder. Once you save it, update the other ones (right click, change footprint, check the boxes that fits what you need - like applying to all relevant parts and update)

So far I find it much more easy going to create, edit and update footprints in kicad. Eagle was a lot of trial and error. For me at least. In kicad you can pick at everything right through the PCB software.

-KM