- Overview
- Library Service Options
- Library Footprint Creation
- Library Footprint Validation
- Library Footprint 3D Models
- Library Sustainment
- Quote Request
- Library Introduction
- What's Your Structure?
- Why Conformity Matters
- Who's Your Librarian?
- Library Clean Up
- Symbol Style Guide
- DFM Library Example
- Library Resource Videos (18)
- Avoiding Gotchas
- Altium Vault Offerings
- Configuration Setup
- Vault Management Videos (16)
- Overview
- Point of Entry
- L9 Videos (4)
- L9 vs. Vault
- Evaluation
Library Clean Up
The Mythical Quest for the Utopian PCB Library
In a perfect world, designing a PCB wouldn't require any library work. Every component would be readily available, graphics would share a cohesive "look and feel," and data would be both consistent and complete. In this world, a perfect Bill of Materials (BOM) would simply appear the moment you finish your schematic design.
Unfortunately, this "Utopian Library" is far from reality. Here's why:
- Sheer Volume: There are over a billion components on the market, and the landscape is shifting daily as parts are introduced or rendered obsolete.
- Complexity: With dozens of component types serving different purposes, each requires unique parameters.
- Lack of Standards: Unlike mechanical engineers who use the universal STEP standard for making 3D models publicly available to the designers, the EDA industry lacks an equivalent unified standard for symbols and footprints.
- Fragmentation: Most libraries begin as individual efforts. Without a shared structure, these "islands of data" are difficult to integrate later.
Libraries are like gardens: they only flourish when maintained by someone with a vested interest in their health. But where do you start when all you have is an eclectic pile of components?
It's All About Consistency
Consistency is the keyword. A truly consistent library addresses two distinct levels:
- The Individual Component: Each part must be complete with formatted parameters, a symbolic representation, and a corresponding footprint.
- Continuity Across the Library: Every component type should be represented by the same parameter sets. Symbols must use uniform fonts, colors, and orientations, while footprints must adhere to the same mechanical layer sets.
Consistency in Action: 3 Key Areas
1. Naming and Descriptions
There are lists of component names, and then there are useful component names. Consider this list:
On the surface, this looks reasonable. To a designer, however, it is woefully incomplete. Nothing here conveys the component's essential characteristics. While tools like Altium Designer's "Part Choices" can help identify manufacturers at the schematic level, that data rarely finds its way back into the library where it belongs.
In this improved example, the user can identify the part at a glance. It uses a "trickle-down" naming convention - starting with general categories and progressing to specific details - making the library easily sortable. Note, in a database library such as A365, a good description alone will provide sortable detailed information.
2. Parametric Data
Consistent data is the backbone of an automated BOM. Without it, procurement becomes a nightmare. Consider this real-world example of inadequate data:
Here, the information is so sparse that the manufacturer's part number is missing entirely. This forces designers and purchasers into a tedious, error-prone manual search. If you are still manually polishing your BOM in Excel, your library parameters have failed you.
Contrast that with a library optimized for procurement:
3. Symbols and Footprints
Consistency in discrete components (resistors, capacitors, etc.) is often overlooked. When a library features several different graphic styles for the same resistor, it's more than an eyesore - it's a sign of "whim-based" contributions.
In the example above, while all the symbols are technically "valid," a professional library should standardize on a single representation to reduce editing time and visual clutter.
The same logic applies to footprints. Well-defined mechanical layers ensure accurate placement and documentation.
Though a viable footprint, the mechanical information is a mystery. What is Mechanical 1? Is there a courtyard or an assembly layer? It is not visible, nor does the mechanical layer give any indications.
A complete footprint uses clearly named mechanical layers. In this version, the courtyard and assembly layers are obvious. Silk markings are reserved strictly for orientation, ensuring a clean, professional layout without consuming any more board real estate than necessary.
Ready to Scrub Your Library?
Efficiency in PCB design is impossible without a structured library. The video below dives deeper into the restoration process, including:
- The architecture of a library management system.
- What it takes to "scrub" a legacy library.
- The time commitment and long-term maintenance required.
Let Us Do the Heavy Lifting
There are libraries that just hold parts, and then there are libraries that empower designers.
Whether you need to "scrub" existing data, fill in missing parameters, or build a unique company style guide, Nine Dot Connects has the expertise to turn your eclectic pile of parts into a streamlined asset. We've done it for others, and we can do it for you.
