KiCad

Using Edge.Cuts in the footprint editor

Asked by Bart Bilos

I recently came from Eagle and had a library that had all my board outlines + drill holes for all the different boxes/cases I used. This helps me not copy and pasting the board layout with the drill holes and also specifying the connector positions on the board (in case of stacked designs).

When redrawing/converting these libraries I noticed you are not able to use Edge.Cuts in the footprint editor, the option is grayed out. I have googled this and seen some discussions but no conclusive answer why this is so.

Is there a reason for this? Is there a workaround for this, at least keeping board outlines somehow fixed? I am currently working around this by redrawing the board outline in the user layer, redrawing it in the PCB layout tool and putting the proper drill holes there too. But it is a bit cumbersome in my opinion. Are there plans of adding this or willingness to accept patches for this functionality?

Thank you in advance for your answer.

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Eldar Khayrullin (eldar) said : 		#1

Try to start the standalone Pcbnew.
Create template board file.
If you add new prj then again start the standalone Pcbnew then:
Select in the menu File->Append Board and Open your template board file.

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PCB Wiz (1-pcb-wiz) said : 		#2

BB: " But it is a bit cumbersome in my opinion. Are there plans of adding this or willingness to accept patches for this functionality?"

I have the same issues when working on a Translator into kicad.

You can externally create a BOARDOUTLINE with Edge.Cuts just fine, and that imports just fine, and limits Fills as expected.

- So you can do that, as a workaround - ie just avoid the broken Footprint Editor, with your own Text editor :)

However, when you load that working outline into Footprint Editor, the Editor tries to restrict the layers.

Footprint Editor should NOT do this, as Kicad seems just fine with the information created externally, and SW should not prevent users from being in control of the design data.

Suggested fix would be to remove the current imposed Footprint Editor restrictions, so that Translators from other packages can work better.

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pe bu (pebu64) said : 		#3

The problem is not only with the boardoutline but also with components that need between the pins milling (increase creepage distance) in order to reach the required voltage ranges. The afterwards always in the board to trace is nonsense.
I just do not understand why the layer edge in the footprint library is grayed out. If the layer were active, many would suddenly be much easier.

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Bart Bilos (sq-uantmuts) said : 		#4

I have one "workaround" but I noticed another problem that would be complicated to fix.

I now define the board outline as a component but the outline is traced on the top documentation layer. The thing I notice right away, when this component is on my board and I have not traced over the board outline. It will detect this footprint EVERYWHERE on the board! Eagle does this different as it only detects a component when you click on one of its visible items, like pads, silk, outline etc.

So enabling layer edge in the component editor would show another problem. The issue of that component selection within kicad is based on general area instead of elements on a layer.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Bart Bilos for more information if necessary.

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