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KiCad Mounting Holes
- Thread starter Ian0
- Start date
ronsimpson
- Joined Oct 7, 2019
- 4,645
There are many different ways.
One way is select the board edge line and make a copy of it, then move it in 5mm, then change it to an unused layer. (not a coper layer) By doing this you will have lines 5mm in from the edge. Now use them to place the mounting holes.
Another way is to place the mounting hole on the corner, then move it -5mm, -5mm. (in some cases +5mm)
One way is select the board edge line and make a copy of it, then move it in 5mm, then change it to an unused layer. (not a coper layer) By doing this you will have lines 5mm in from the edge. Now use them to place the mounting holes.
Another way is to place the mounting hole on the corner, then move it -5mm, -5mm. (in some cases +5mm)
That's how I expected it would work, but I tried to place the mounting hole on the corner and it won't snap to it.
ronsimpson
- Joined Oct 7, 2019
- 4,645
Place the hole anywhere close. Then find the corner, X,Y. Do some math to get the right numbers. Edit the hole location.
I often do X, then do Y separately because my head is too old to hold two numbers at one time. lol
Very often I use "used defined layer1" to place lines where mounting holes need to be placed. Also I keep track of keep out areas and areas where only low parts can be placed. Turn on/off that layer when you needed it.
And lock down these lines so they don't get moved. Mounting holes also need to be lock so they don't move.
I often do X, then do Y separately because my head is too old to hold two numbers at one time. lol
Very often I use "used defined layer1" to place lines where mounting holes need to be placed. Also I keep track of keep out areas and areas where only low parts can be placed. Turn on/off that layer when you needed it.
And lock down these lines so they don't get moved. Mounting holes also need to be lock so they don't move.
MaxHeadRoom
- Joined Jul 18, 2013
- 30,557
What VER of Kicad is it?
They use actual mounting holes now rather than a single pad as before.
I use/place them with very little effort?
Did you set a suitable snap grid value?
They use actual mounting holes now rather than a single pad as before.
I use/place them with very little effort?
Did you set a suitable snap grid value?
I'm on version 8.0.1, but I'm still on the single pad that has to be included in the schematic. I hadn't noticed the change!
panic mode
- Joined Oct 10, 2011
- 4,864
if the corner is not on the grid then it is likely that default grid choices are not going to give you the "snap".
in that case you can just place it on the corner itself - that WILL snap easily enough. then you just need to move it.
select the item, then use shift+M to "move it exactly" (or rightclick to get to menu "positioning tools>move exactly").
in that case you can just place it on the corner itself - that WILL snap easily enough. then you just need to move it.
select the item, then use shift+M to "move it exactly" (or rightclick to get to menu "positioning tools>move exactly").
I couldn't make it snap to the corners of "edge cuts".
My workaround was as follows:
Edit the mounting hole footprint so that the "front courtyard" is a 5mm radius circle (with a 0.1mm line thickness to match edge cuts)
Then place the mounting hole anywhere on the pcb and select it together with the outline, then align to top and align to left and it puts it in the top left corner exactly 5mm from the edge.
My workaround was as follows:
Edit the mounting hole footprint so that the "front courtyard" is a 5mm radius circle (with a 0.1mm line thickness to match edge cuts)
Then place the mounting hole anywhere on the pcb and select it together with the outline, then align to top and align to left and it puts it in the top left corner exactly 5mm from the edge.
