Pattern Editor-My way of aligning objects precisely

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Ford Prefect
Posts: 43
Joined: 17 Mar 2017, 08:32

Pattern Editor-My way of aligning objects precisely

#1 Post by Ford Prefect » 11 Jan 2019, 04:18

I could not find the component I wanted when looking through the component library - in this case a RV09 potentiometer (Bourns PTV09). So I decided to make my own pattern....
I found a specification sheet on the internet and tried to create the pattern.
I added the connection pads, added the green silkscreen lines and then added the mounting holes. But the mounting holes are more oblong..and it seems you cannot make oblong mounting holes so I used pads for the mounting holes.

I found this a little tricky but the mounting holes and the pads are not 'aligned' in any way (so the aligning tool does not work in this scenario), but the horizontal distance is actually 7mm not 7.03mm as below....even though 0.03mm distance is minute. :D
SS2.JPG
SS2.JPG (108.67 KiB) Viewed 387 times
Anyway, at first I tried obtaining the horizontal distance by selecting the mounting hole and using the left/right arrows keys/mouse but could not get the distance exactly 7mm. so what I did then was to look at the X position of the top pad... which was -5.515
SS3.JPG
SS3.JPG (54.03 KiB) Viewed 387 times
I then looked at the properties of the mounting hole and checked the X position which was 1.515.
SS4.JPG
SS4.JPG (52.8 KiB) Viewed 387 times
I then took the top pad X position (-5.515) and added 7(mm) to get the correct X position of mounting hole to get 1.485 and edited the mounting hole X position.
SS5.JPG
SS5.JPG (55.02 KiB) Viewed 387 times
Now the pad(s) and the mounting holes are exactly 7mm apart.
SS1.JPG
SS1.JPG (103.81 KiB) Viewed 387 times
Does anyone know…Is there any other way this can be done?
Or maybe the aligning tool should be enhanced to accommodate this scenario.
Last edited by Ford Prefect on 19 Apr 2020, 21:47, edited 7 times in total.

dtu2
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Posts: 197
Joined: 20 Jan 2012, 03:50

Re: Pattern Editor-My way of aligning objects precisely

#2 Post by dtu2 » 11 Jan 2019, 06:28

You can set the 'View' > 'Grid size' > 'Custom' and the 'View' > Y Grid Size' > 'Custom' settings to match the pot's datasheet pin / pad spacings and then your pads will just snap into place. You might have to set them more than once to get the 'Y' value of your mounting hole pads to line up but that's all pretty easy.
Jeff

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KevinA
Posts: 639
Joined: 18 Dec 2015, 08:35

Re: Pattern Editor-My way of aligning objects precisely

#3 Post by KevinA » 11 Jan 2019, 19:11

The first thing I do after an upgrade is check my Custom Grid setting: 1mm .1mm .01mm .001mm .5mm .05mm .005mm you get the idea. Makes part building a snap.

d1wang
Posts: 46
Joined: 12 Nov 2018, 19:19

Re: Pattern Editor-My way of aligning objects precisely

#4 Post by d1wang » 12 Jan 2019, 03:14

Don't you hate it when manufacturers can't align their design to the grid?

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KevinA
Posts: 639
Joined: 18 Dec 2015, 08:35

Re: Pattern Editor-My way of aligning objects precisely

#5 Post by KevinA » 12 Jan 2019, 08:22

With a grid of .5mm everything falls into place on a Bourns PTV09 9mm POT.
Attachments
The-Universal-PCB-Design-Grid-System.pdf
Nice quide
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DerekG
Posts: 98
Joined: 18 Mar 2014, 01:06
Location: Norfolk Island

Re: Pattern Editor-My way of aligning objects precisely

#6 Post by DerekG » 12 Jan 2019, 14:52

Ford Prefect wrote: 11 Jan 2019, 04:18 But the mounting holes are more oblong..and it seems you cannot make oblong mounting holes so I used pads for the mounting holes.
Slotted holes will add to the cost of board manufacture. The "slotted hole" is not far from round, so you will save money by just using a standard round hole. Just choose a finished drill size say 0.2mm larger than the widest part of the slot. Wave soldering will fill the entire slot just fine.
... the mounting holes and the pads are not 'aligned' in any way ...
In your case I would have just placed the 5 pads randomly in the Pattern Editor & then selected one of the holes to be the origin.

Then double click on each pad to adjust the x-y coordinates to where each pad needs to be (so, as per your instructions but for all remaining 4 pads).
I also sat between Elvis & Bigfoot on the UFO.

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