where to get components footprints? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Prime73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 07:37:53 pm
content: Hi All,Being a long time user of Eagle decided to take a look at Altium to see if it worth to switch to. Can't figure out where to get components footprints. In Eagle if a component is missing I would just design it along with footprint and I was under impression the biggest advantage of Altium is a huge database of components to use with updates from all major distributors, etc. I've figured out how to use component search, etc. However I don't see how to get component footprint from my supplier and apply it to a component on my schematic.Say I wanna add a bridge rectifier lets take this one as an example :http://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/GBPC5010-G/641-1383-ND/2074848and I want this bridge rectifier mounted on a pcb. I figured out how to assign this particular part and it parameters from digikey's catalog to my part on schematics, however it doesn't include a footprint. Where do I get a footprint for this part from?thanks in advance for any pointers.

author: MatCat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 07:51:23 pm
content: One of Altiums biggest advantages is how easy it is to MAKE a component, the IPC Footprint wizard will cover 90% of most footprints and take you less then 60 seconds. I wouldn't trust downloaded components, in-fact I have not ever used a single component design that came with Altium.

author: Arp
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 08:02:46 pm
content: Second that. I was also looking for libraries until I sat down and learned how to make my own components by watching youtube videos. It's very simple

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 08:03:57 pm
content: Once you make a component on your own, you will never need to search for hours for a library. You will have your own library."Teach a man to fish..."

author: Prime73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 08:16:55 pm
content: I make my own components in Eagle on a regular basis. I thought Altium would allow me select a part from digikey catalog, put it on my schematic and automatically get a footprint for pcb. Seems like it's not the case and I have to still design my own components?

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 08:18:04 pm
content: Pretty much, yeah.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 12:03:02 am
content: Quote from: Prime73 on March 12, 2014, 07:37:53 pmAltium have changed the way they handle components now. They are held in a "Component Vault" which you can only access on-line if you have a current subscription.New components are added monthly, however many (like myself) object to having to take a maintenance package or pay for the latest version ................... hence I have not upgraded since AD 6.9 (Altium quoted me AUD$3.6K to upgrade to AD 14).This policy has p*ssed off many Altium users, however it is paying dividends as Altium's profits for the second half of 2013 are up 177%.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/altium-designer-new-pricing-model-and-high-end-low-end-tool-in-development/msg406199/#msg406199It also means I guess that there is less incentive by professionals to cr*ck the software as you end up with only a few "sample" components to work with.Altium have had massive problems in this area since moving into the China market.

author: Prime73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 12:36:24 am
content: thanks for the explanation. in other words Altium doesn't seems to be a good option for diy guys who don't make any money off projects, etc.?Quote from: DerekG on March 16, 2014, 12:03:02 am

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 01:22:47 am
content: Quote from: Prime73 on March 16, 2014, 12:36:24 amGenerally, Altium is purchased & used by professionals who work on large/complex boards where accurate cross probing between the Schematic & PCB is critical along with many other time saving features such as setting up multiple design rules, autoplacement & autorouting (even though you will likely need to do quite a bit of cleaning up after running this).If you search my posts from yesterday I listed a few more "benefits" of using Altium.Having said that, a tool is only productive if you can drive it well. Altium has a reasonably steep learning curve for the new comer. I grew up with Protel/Altium since 1990, but openly admit that I can only drive about 85% of Altium Designer 6.9There are several other packages that I consider much easier to learn, but yet will get the job done very nicely.These are:DipTraceCircadand probably AutoTRAX EDA (I'm having a look at this at the moment but it has a couple of issues that I'm currently talking about with the developer).I did not include Eagle (owned by Farnell/Element 14) in the list above as I do not find it very intuitive - ie not nearly as easy to drive as those above.Target 3001 & DesignSpark (owned by RS Components) are two other packages available.Protel 2.8/3.0 & CircuitMaker 2000 Pro were also excellent packages, however they are not sold/supported anymore.What would my choice be if I did not want to fork over any (or very much) cash?DipTrace.Why? You can produce small boards on the free version, move up to larger versions for very little money & the screen interface is one of the easiest to learn.It is reasonably powerful for an inexpensive program.Now for the great bit ................ if your hobby turns professional & starts to earn some serious money, you can import both your DipTrace schematics & pcbs into Altium (via the PCAD filter - Protel/Altium purchased PCAD in 2000 & stopped support for PCAD in 2006).The DipTrace schematics & pcbs import very well - in fact I often design the schematic in DipTrace, convert to PCB in DipTrace, export via PCAD filter into Altium to then finish of the pcb using all the powerful Altium tools. I do this for boards of 50 or 60 components as I like the ability to easily swap/change footprints on the fly in DipTrace & HATE all the rigmarole you go through in Altium to convert from the Schematic to the pcb. Remember, this is just my view. Others who know the Altium software backwards & design very complex boards would likely not agree.Circad is also excellent software, very intuitive, but it will set you back US$995. There is only one of the original developer's working on the software & there have been no updates for approaching 2 years now. When this code developer retires, what will happen to the future support of the software?This worry also applies to AutoTRAX EDA.

author: Prime73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 01:52:20 am
content: ok. thanks!I use eagle extensively for quite some time (years) now and I think I know my way around it pretty good ( I design 4 layers boards without any issues in Eagle). My biggest issue with eagle is a lack of a normal "library search". As I've mentioned before I usually buy components from digikey and ideally would like to pick the components from its catalog I need put them on my schematics and have all the footprints, etc ready to go. I thought altium provides this option and that's why I'm trying to look into it. Seems like my "desire" to have easy vendor integration goes beyond diy and to get access this service in altium I would have to use vaults - i.e. subscription, etc.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 04:33:17 am
content: Quote from: Prime73 on March 16, 2014, 01:52:20 amIf you already know your way around Eagle, then this is 90% of the battle already won.Some thoughts for you regarding components:When visiting Digikey you will note they provide the link to the manufacturer's components PDF. The PDF will contain the footprint information for the component. This footprint will be given a specific code ie SOIC-14, SOT-23 etc etc.Have a good look in Eagle for other parts that contain the same footprint. I'm sure it is possible to copy those footprints into a new library component for you to use.The nice thing with DipTrace is that they have a library that contains many (most) of these industry standard footprints. When placing the schematic part you get a view of the associated footprint. If the footprint is not the one you want you can "swap it" for any others in the industry standard footprint library. There is an easy checker to make sure the number of pins are identical & that the schematic & pcb pin numbers match. If they don't you can change them on the fly.I have not looked at Eagle for about 5 years now, but take a good look to see if you can locate an industry standard footprint library. If so, I would assume there is a not-too-difficult-way to swap the footprint over to the one you want.Please let us know how you go.EDIT: I have just located this Eagle PCB library link:http://www.element14.com/community/community/knode/cadsoft_eagle/eagle_cad_librariesSearch the Farnell/Element 14 website for your components. If located, then there is a good chance the above link will contain the component schematic & footprint for you.It appears that Element 14 are following the "ModelSource" idea of DesignSpark (RS Components' competing software) - or it might be the other way aroundRemember that Farnell/Element 14 own Cadsoft/Eagle PCB & so they are trying to make it very easy to design in the components they sell, then produce the BOM, then proceed to their on-line ordering system.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 04:38:57 am
content: go download my altium librarywww.siliconvalleygarage.comit got all the footprints you can possibly think of.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 06:51:10 am
content: Quote from: 8086 on March 12, 2014, 08:03:57 pmcan this be an excuse for an EDA developers not to include their sooo many built-in libraries with the EDA? i hope sowill this also implies that existing libraries in Altium are less usefull?

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 12:45:08 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on March 16, 2014, 06:51:10 amAltium provides a massive amount of libraries to paying customers, you can get themhere, if you don't have an account and your desired component isn't available in f_e s library, the altium provided vendor libraries that were released with AD 10 are still compatible and may help you out, they are availablehere.Though, as 8086 said, if you can make components on your own, you won't need to search online for them, they are either in your own library or you can make them form the datasheet. As a result of making your own library, you will know immediately if you have the component in your library or if you need to make it.I do wish altium's library management was a little more elegant though; currently, f_e s library is how i have my own library set up, however, I would like to see more selectivity/filtering so I wouldn't need a separate library for specific types of components, in practice it wouldn't make it any more efficient time wise, but it would make it neater/cleaner as far as interface goes, and easier for newer people.