All components on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout will have a footprint. A footprint is where your component gets soldered on the PCB. These footprints need to be extremely accurate so that your PCB can be properly assembled at the time of manufacturing. Allegro ECAD-MCAD Library Creator can create the most accurate and industry compliant footprints you could want.
Usually, you might need to create your own custom footprints because you cannot always rely on your design tool to provide accurate footprints. Sometimes, you may also need to create a footprint using an existing package or a vendor-provided STEP Model. Library Creator allows you to do all of this. In my previous blog posts about creating footprints, I have already discussed different methods to create footprints. Today, let us discuss all these methods in brief and refresh our memory.
Create Footprints Using Templates
The easiest and simplest method of creating a footprint is using an existing template. In this method, you just:
- Select a template from the available list.
- Create a new package after updating the parametric values.
- Apply the rules so that the footprint follows industry standards.
- Save and export the package.
Create Footprints Using Packages
This is an easy five-step process. To create a footprint using a package, you just:
- Search and load a package from the Library Creator repository.
- Apply the rules to the package so that your PCB can make it through design to manufacturing.
- Export the footprint to Allegro PCB Editor.
- Verify the footprints.
Footprint Creation Using STEP Model
This method of footprint creation using a vendor-provided STEP Model helps in easily integrating a mechanical and electrical design. This method involves the following steps:
- Import the STEP model file to Allegro Library Creator.
- Specify the contact areas.
- Assign the terminal types, height, and pin numbers.
- Apply the predefined rules to make the footprint as per industry standards.
- Save the footprint.
Create Custom Footprints
This method of creating a custom footprint is a very commonly used method and helps you when creating a new project and your client demands a new component for which you do not have a footprint. To create a custom footprint, do the following:
- Select a package from the templates list.
- Edit the parametric values and create a new instance of the package.
- Move the thermal pads to the desired location.
- Change the shape of the thermal pad shape.
- Update the thermal contacts on the 3D canvas.
- Save the package and apply the rules.
Allegro ECAD-MCAD Library Creator allows you to create custom footprints, create component footprints if you already have a STEP Model, and also create footprints using templates and packages. Also, you would want to ensure that everything is transferred to PCB Editor correctly. For this, you can verify the footprints by loading the package in PCB Editor's 3D Canvas.