How to find complex components in Altium?! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: billthebuilder
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 12:09:17 am
content: I am trying to make a PCB populated with complex components such as LGA, WLBGA, LGFP, LFCSP, VFBGA, QFN, FBGA, PBGA so that we can test out some PnP machines. I have found parts on digikey for each of the packages we want to test but trying to make them from scratch in Altium would take me a long time. I have made a few of the straight forward ones with the IPC component wizard but some of these have really odd footprints. I figure there must be libraries containing these parts and I am looking in the Altium Unified Components database but not finding the parts that I can find on digikey. How do I find component packages?! Help.

author: crazy horse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 12:50:50 am
content: Sometimes from the manufacturers website. Otherwise just do them yourself, copy and modify closest existing part.Make sure you know what strategy you are using for solder resist and solder paste openings.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 01:04:48 pm
content: If you're just testing PnP, I wouldn't think the footprint matters very much, just plop them down wherever...If you're also practicing reflow soldering, then that's much more involved (paste, reasonable enough footprints..).There are BGAs in the libraries, at least in the Summer 09 set (they're available separately nowadays).Tim

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2015, 02:09:14 pm
content: pull them from the vault.

author: billthebuilder
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 01:18:17 am
content: Free_electron, i thought the vault was a colloborative tool. Does it have component packages and footprints as well? For even weird, rare components?

author: tonyarkles
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 02:52:12 pm
content: Quote from: billthebuilder on November 17, 2015, 01:18:17 amThere's two different things packaged into the same name. The vault lets you do in-house component libraries, but there's also the public vault that has a crapload of parts in it. I haven't used Altium proper, but in CircuitStudio I've had pretty good luck finding "not brand new" parts in there.If you're trying to primarily test a PnP machine, your best bet might be to search through the vault and grab components that have the appropriate features for what you're doing (package, lead pitch, etc) and just order those from Digikey instead.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 03:18:36 pm
content: Quote from: billthebuilder on November 17, 2015, 01:18:17 amaltium has a vault that you can access. it has a truckload of symbols and footprintgs in it

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 04:35:24 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on November 17, 2015, 03:18:36 pmUploaded by a bunch of random people, who design their footprint to anything from hand soldering to high density boards, including totally incorrect footprints. I wouldnt use it if I would get money for it.IPC compliant footprint wizard, or verified good libraries.

author: TheUnnamedNewbie
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2015, 01:04:14 pm
content: Depending on what you designing and what you mean by complex (2000+ pin chips? Strange shape but low pin count? Non-standard footprints?) the altium built-in tools can be a good place to start. Once you get familiar with it, you can do footprints quite fast.