How to Assign Footprints to Symbols in KiCad | Sierra Circuits
Channel: Sierra Circuits
Date: 2020-05-28

We will demonstrate how to assign footprints to schematic symbols. Footprints are land patterns of where the components will be soldered. In the next KiCad tutorial, we will demonstrate how to create a netlist. A netlist combines the connections between various symbols that can be imported to a board file.

Before starting with the PCB layout, you need to assign some rules. For instance, there are certain spacing requirements between layers and different tracks with different file sizes. There are differential pairs that require a specific spacing between them, etc.

As you can see over here, there are four hole symbols. These are nothing but mounting holes that are connected to the ground. So your entire chassis becomes ground and any grounding problem can be bypassed to the ground.

Let’s start. First of all, we will see how to assign footprints to symbols. You can find many symbols over here. Double click any of the symbols and a window will pop up. Here you can see the footprint value. Click this and the footprint manager will pop up. You can see many different connectors. These are all in-built footprints.

We have selected a simple footprint which was already present, SOT-223. This is a basic regulator footprint. First, select the library, then select the part, and double click this.

We have just assigned a footprint to this regulator. This needs to be done for all the parts. As you can see over here, we have already done it.

After assigning each symbol, click save. 

Try our KiCad quote plugin:
https://www.protoexpress.com/kicad-quote-plugin/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=kicad%2Btuto%2Bplaylist%2Bnov%2B2024

*******************************************

THE PCB DESIGNER'S CORNER

PCB forum SierraConnect:
https://sierraconnect.protoexpress.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=feed%2B2024

Seminars and webinars:
https://www.protoexpress.com/events/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=feed%2B2024

Design guides:
https://www.protoexpress.com/pcb-design-guides/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=feed%2B2024

PCB design tools:
https://www.protoexpress.com/tools/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=feed%2B2024

Sierra Circuits products and services:
https://www.protoexpress.com/products/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=feed%2B2024

Follow us on LinkedIn: 
Amit Bahl, the PCB Guy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-bahl-sierra-circuits
Sierra Circuits: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sierra-circuits-inc
SierraConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/sierraconnect/