KiCAD FPC-connector - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: spilihps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 08:52:22 pm
content: Hello.So i have this LCD witha 25pins FPC connector. with 0.9 pitch.I cant seem to find any kicad footprints that has fpc-pads with 0.9 pitch.Any tip on were it can be found?Thanks!

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2019, 09:17:35 pm
content: 0.9", 0.9mm what units are we talking?I am going to presume you have looked in the GitHub libraries for KiCad?You will have to find a similar one and modify it to suit or make your own.You could look at places like SnapEDA or footprint helper tools, in fact have you checked what KiCad has by default in the way of helper tools?Cheerio

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 09:47:40 am
content: Libraries for any PCB package will never be complete.Learn to draw your own footprints when needed.This is pretty intuitive in KiCad, and there are also built in Wizards and array functions to help you draw a footprint fast.The first 2 or 3 will take some time, but after that you can draw most custom footprints faster than you can find them on the 'net.https://forum.kicad.info/search?q=footprinthttp://www.kicad-pcb.org/help/tutorials/]https://forum.kicad.info/t/tutorial-how-to-make-a-footprint-from-scratch/11092http://www.kicad-pcb.org/help/tutorials/

author: spilihps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 01:05:39 pm
content: Quote from: Wilksey on January 28, 2019, 09:17:35 pmThank you for your response. Sorry, i meant 0.9mm. That, in terms of FPC, seems to be a bit odd i have noticed.I think i will have to try to do the footprint by my self.Quote from: Doctorandus_P on January 29, 2019, 09:47:40 amThanks for your tip!Will def have a look at those links. Think i will have to make my own footprint, the 0.9mm pitch seems to be really odd.There is no PCB connectors that i can find, would really have liked that.However, so i guess that you just do "finger" traces for the solderpads for a FPC solder connection then?

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2019, 01:24:09 am
content: Do you have a part number for the connector?

author: spilihps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2019, 08:46:06 pm
content: Quote from: Wilksey on January 30, 2019, 01:24:09 amNo partnumber, but the data sheet for the LCD is here:https://www.buydisplay.com/download/manual/ERC240160-1_Series_Datasheet.pdf

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2019, 11:49:12 pm
content: That datasheet doesn't give much away about the connector, in fact it says FPC connector: N/A, which means it is a solder type not connector type typically.You need to find one with a connector interface, like:https://www.buydisplay.com/default/3-4-inch-graphic-touchscreen-lcd-cog-module-240x160-single-sided-fpcHope that helps!

author: spilihps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2019, 01:03:31 pm
content: Im sorry that i did not make that clear from the beginning.But the footprint for kicad is going to be a solder connection.The display i really want to use is the red negative lcd. and it is only available with the solder pad pcb conn

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2019, 03:47:39 pm
content: Ahh, right, OK, well then you'll have to make your own.It doesn't look that difficult to be fair, have you made any PCB footprints before? Even in another package it's easy to adapt if you have.

author: spilihps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2019, 04:29:08 pm
content: No, i have not done that.I have had such luck that the footprints i need always have been available online!

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2019, 07:13:23 am
content: I never even bother to look for footprints like this, it's a waste of time. It's much faster to just create your own, then you have just the ones you need and if you go off the datasheet you know it's correct. Learn to create footprints and it will save you a ton of time in the long run.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2019, 01:23:10 pm
content: Again: Agree with james_s.It seems you want to solder the fpc directly to the PCB, in which case the footprint is a simple row of pads. You can create them with one of the footprint wizards in KiCad, or use an array or repeat function. One you've learned to do this you can draw such a footprint in less time than reading this thread takes.It really is a trivial skill, just get over your aversion and do it.

author: spilihps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2019, 09:06:50 pm
content: Yes i will do that then!Thanks guys for your input.Also if you happen to stumble over a connector for that fpc please do tell!I rather use that than the solderpads!

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2019, 11:20:26 pm
content: I doubt you will find one, the connector variant are 0.5mm pitch if I recall, and the solder ones are 0.9mm

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2019, 05:06:25 pm
content: In KiCad the basic procedure for drawing a FPC connector footprint from scratch is:1). Open the "Footprint Library Editor".2). Click Icon: "New footprint using footprint wizard".3). Click Icon: "Select wizard script to run".4). Select "FPC" connector and enter pad parameters for n, pitch, width, height.5). Similar for parameters of the "shield" (= pads for mechanical stuff).6). Add custom stuff in the Footprint Editor after the wizard.7). Save your custom footprint in a convenient place.

author: spilihps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2019, 01:15:42 pm
content: Thank you very much!That wizard was great.Thanks for your time.