Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, etc.)

does anyone know of "good enough" general purpose footprints available for these types of discretes for using standard solder?

i know pcbmatrix is the savior of footprints and they're the greatest thing that ever happened to pcb design, but for general purpose footprints are the ones that come with the layout programs good enough?

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

It all depends who is assembly your board. Personally I never use footprints provided by layout tools nor I use PCB Matrix.
We have our own footprint library with define parameters all verified and approved assembly team.

M

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

majnoon said:

It all depends who is assembly your board. Personally I never use footprints provided by layout tools nor I use PCB Matrix.
We have our own footprint library with define parameters all verified and approved assembly team.

M

Click to expand...

What is wrong with footprints from PCB Matrix?

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

After IPC dumped its role in releasing its standards to a private company which uses personal liking of few , we have seen issues with some of their footprints.

Footprint making is fundamental to design if one can not make a proper footprint they might as well forget about designing.

M

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

M[/quote]

What is wrong with footprints from PCB Matrix?[/quote]

I don't have any problems with their footprints and in fact I'm a user. But a poster on another site made a point that I also have noticed.

When making footprints for simple 2 terminal chips like these, you will wind up with a huge amount of different footprints and each has its own long name. The differences are because of the different component heights.

It would just be nice to be able to have one general purpose footprint that I can simply call 0402, 0603, 0805, etc. and not have to worry about changing footprints if I get a component change that has a different height.

There has to be a better and easier way for these types of parts. Isn't there?

Currently I got like 10 different variants for each of these "standard" devices. I'm starting to doubt so many different types are needed and it's driving me nuts with my schematics and what to do if a part becomes out of stock and I use a replacement and it has a different height then the original footprint is wrong for the replacement. It just seems over complicated. What do full time PCB designers do? I'm just an engineer. Thanks

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

Currently I got like 10 different variants for each of these "standard" devices. I'm starting to doubt so many different types are needed and it's driving me nuts with my schematics and what to do if a part becomes out of stock and I use a replacement and it has a different height then the original footprint is wrong for the replacement. It just seems over complicated. What do full time PCB designers do? I'm just an engineer. Thanks

Click to expand...

You said it... as an engineer you gave in to a "footprint maker" and end up with so many different names and craps. A full time designer build a working and lean library.

M

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

Yes. As an engineer, who got pushed into having to handle pcb designs due to staff cutbacks, I definitely have appreciation for dedicated pcb designers who are full time. Someday, maybe my company will be able to hire one or two back and they will be available to work closely with all the engineers

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

It gives you a unique perspective into designer's world. You will be one of few EE that is best to work with. I always have great working relation with EE who have done some board lay out, their guidance and instructions make doing a good layout much easier.

M

Re: Generic two terminal SMT footprints (0402, 0603, 0805, e

gigahertz said:

It would just be nice to be able to have one general purpose footprint that I can simply call 0402, 0603, 0805, etc. and not have to worry about changing footprints if I get a component change that has a different height.

Click to expand...

Which tool are you using? I know with Mentor Expedition, we can define a default height on the footprint, but you can override that value in the Parts Database. So we do end up having one 0402 for the different heights. I thought you could do the same in Cadence, but I am not as familiar with that product.

Use the older IPC-SM782A standard.

It worked exceedingly well enough before PCBM came along

I am also using footprints of PCB Matrix and till the time not found any problem.
Even though they allow you to deal differently with normal/complex designs.
What is wrong on that?