Diptrace component pad question (and answer)

Started by boogietone, October 27, 2011, 01:11:12 PM

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boogietone

Does anyone know how (or if it is possible) to create a component in DipTrace that has a pad with two holes? The purpose is to have a trim pot component that has two possible holes for the wiper pin. This would allow the design of PCBs that could use trim pots with either inline or triangle pins.

Or, should I just move to Eagle (assuming that Eagle supports this)?
An oxymoron - clean transistor boost.

boogietone

#1
Figured out a method to do this. It is not perfect but works.

The process is to draw a polygon shape in the signal layer and then convert it to a pad. You can only create an approximation of a circle but it's good enough for me. To create the pad I am interested in start with a basic rectangle that covers the area of the two pads desired. Add extra points along one side. You will need a minimum of 6. Take the two middle ones and move them into the shape and spread them apart as needed. Take the next two points and also move them to the interior of the shape but place them at the same location. The outer two points are then placed at the same location on the outside edge of the shape. You now have cutout triangle in the interior of the shape. Add points and adjust as needed to obtain the approximate interior hole desired. Repeat for as many holes you want in the pad. Right mouse click on the shape and select "Convert to Pad." Access the pads properties and change it to a Through Hole type. Voilà - a multihole pad!
An oxymoron - clean transistor boost.

ElectricDruid

A better/simpler way to do this is to make a new PCB pattern for one of the required trimpots and then add a few extra pads to the pattern. When you connect the trimpot component to the pattern, there won't be enough pins for all the pads, but that doesn't matter.

HTH,
Tom