Part creation howto part13-ICs

[RAPTOR7762]

This is a continuation of

Part creation howto part12-slots-in-parts

this is a continuation of To some extent the title is incorrect. This does not allow slots in standard parts, but rather enables the creation of a part which contains a board outline (which is still a very useful thing to do!) That means you can have a part which will create a pcb with slots in it without having to (for every new sketch) load the outline file. The template for this is in Fritzing in File->Open example->Shields->ComposedArduinoR4WifiShield. But that part assumes you know how i…

As I lately decided to merge this tutorial with Peter’s part creation series, I left the links behind. Never mind, I’ll just leave them there as a reminder.

In this tutorial, you are going to learn how to make Fritzing Parts.

You need these apps ready:

1. Fritzing (of course)

Download Fritzing here:
https://fritzing.org/download/
Alternative payment method (without using PayPal):
https://fritzing.org/download?payment_method=alt

2. Inkscape

Download Inkscape here:

Download Inkscape 1.4 | Inkscape

3. Inkscape Fritzing Schematic Extension
Download it here:

@just_randy

https://github.com/revolt-randy/Fritzing-Schematic-an-Inkscape-Extension.

To install:
In Inkscape, the edit menu → user preferences → system will have an option for ‘User extensions’ - allowing you to open the folder to store user extensions in for Inkscape. Simply copy fritzing-schematic.inx and fritzing-schematic.py to this directory.

Now, let’s proceed with chapter 1.

(Note: The tutorials have been tested with Fritzing 0.9.3b, Fritzing 0.9.10, and Fritzing 1.0.4. For the best result, use versions above 0.9.10)

[RAPTOR7762]

Chapter 1.1: ICs (DIP package)

---

You are going to be creating an MCP3008 IC in this chapter

The main reason why I created this part is because the one by Adafruit

adafruit/Fritzing-Library/blob/master/parts/MCP3008 8-channel 10-bit ADC.fzpz

doesn’t look very nice (the schematic is gigantic!)

When you access the datasheet here:

MCP3004-MCP3008-Data-Sheet-DS20001295.pdf

You’ll see that on the first page, there is the pinout of the part

Please save this image somewhere as you’ll need it later.

Then, follow the steps below.

1. Open Fritzing, go to the breadboard tab and delete the breadboard.

2. Drag out the “Generic IC” part from the core parts
   

   

3. In the Inspector, change
   

   
   
   to
   
   
   
   (Changes are boxed in green. If you are creating another IC, please change the fields above accordingly.)

4. Press Edit Pin Labels
   

   

5. Change
   

   
   
   to
   
   
   
   (If you are creating another IC, be sure of the pin labels and change the fields accordingly.)

Once done, press save.

6. Right-click → Edit (new parts editor)
   

7. Check the order of the pins in the Breadboard, Schematic, and PCB views.

8. Go to the “Icon” tab

9. File → Reuse Breadboard Image
   

   

10. Go to the Metadata tab

11. Change

Title: DIP 16 pins
Author: Fritzing Part-o-matic
Description: A DIP stand-in part for whatever IC you want. With 16 pins on a 300mil dual inline package (DIP) footprint.
…
URL:
Family: Generic IC
Variant: variant 2
Properties:
chip label: MCP3008
…
package: DIP (…) [THT]
…
pins: 16

Tags: DIP, fritzing core

to

(note: there is an error in the image. It should have been "variant: MCP3008 and not “MMCP3008”. The part label should also be “U”.

Note 2: the URL has been cut short. Please copy and paste the full URL)

12. File → Save as new part → change “prefix#0000” to “mcp3008” (without the quotes) → OK

Time for checking

To check your part, you must connect each pin to a pin header. I reckon you do so in the schematic view like this

Then in the breadboard and PCB views, align the IC and the header like this:

For the schematic view, the wire cannot terminate to the centre of the pin, and the label should not fly out of the box.

If your Schematic not work, please use Randy’s Inkscape Extension. Instructions are in the forum post

@just_randy

To use:
Start the extension via Inkscape’s Extensions menu option under → Fritzing → Fritzing_Schematic… option. This will open a new window in Inkscape for user input with 2 tabs.

The Schematic Symbol tab is for defining the size of the symbol and the label:

The Schematic Connectors tab is for defining the number of connectors per side of the symbol, pin number/label options and terminalId creation.

Once the settings have been entered, clicking the ‘Apply’ button starts the extension.

Note that you have to change the height to 0.9, and the width to 0.5 (or 0.6). Please also set the no. of left and right connectors to 8 (pins on each side)

Model Answer
After following all the steps above, you will get a part like this:
MCP3008.fzpz (7.2 KB)

I have changed the module ID of the part, so you can compare your part against mine.

Chapter 1.2: ICs (TO-220 package)

---

A year back, I requested a TC74 part.

This time round, I decided to adopt the TO-220 Package Design from the Voltage Regulators Bin (not found in part versions before Fritzing 0.9.10)

So I compiled some breadboard view SVGs (for your future use) and here they are (right-click on the image → Save as…)

Now, let’s start making the Fritzing Part!

21462D.pdf

Start with a Generic IC
Drag out a Generic IC from the Core Parts

Then in the inspector view, change from

to

(Changes are boxed in green. Note that there is an error in the image. The no. of pins should’ve been 5. If you are making another IC, please change the fields above accordingly)

Click “Edit Pin Labels”

Change

to

Once done press save.

Now, right-click the IC → edit (new parts editor)

Breadboard View
Please download the SVG here:

File → Load Image for View → Select .svg file → Open

It is good practice to change the family from Generic IC first before loading image for view so that the Part-o-matic will not get confused (I think a few users experienced schematic view problems because of this!)

Then check if the pins are configured correctly.

Schematic View
I think the parts factory’s schematic looks fine, so you can use it.

Should your Schematic not work (i.e. the label flies out of the box, etc.), please use Randy’s Inkscape Extension.

PCB View
Leave it as it is.

Icon View
File → Reuse breadboard image

Metadata
Change

to

Once done, save the part. Then follow the testing steps above.

@RAPTOR7762

Time for checking

To check your part, you must connect each pin to a pin header. I reckon you do so in the schematic view like this

Remember: The wire should never terminate at the centre of the pin in the Schematic view. Your schematic cannot lack terminalIDs (if you’re using the extension.)

---

If you have/there are any issues, please post!