Mouser/ECAD vs. Digikey/Ultra Librarian

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Brian Roth

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
3,184
Location
Salina Kansas
I don't lay out PC boards all that often and they have all been simple.

Kicad is my app.

Another simple one is on my agenda; I need to construct eight small boards for a distributed contact closure system.  I'm going to use a Panasonic TQ2 relay on each card.  Those relays have proven to be very reliable in audio paths in Amek 9098 ("By Rupert Neve the Designer") desks, so a pull-to-ground TTL level should be along similar lines.

While checking prices and stock at Mouse and Digikey, something caught my eye for the millionth time.  I hadn't thought much about it the past.

Mouser has "aligned" with ECAD and Digikey with Ultra Librarian to supply schematic symbols and PCB footprints for many catalog items, and in many popular PCB CAD formats.

Each requires its own "reader" for my computer to crank out the symbols and footprint so I can drop them into my Kicad project.

Any pros/cons for either product?  They are both free.

And I know this will set off comments like "WELL! A REAL man designs EVERY one of his own symbols and footprints from SCRATCH !!"

Phooie.  My last Kicad layout was done 2-3 years ago.  I just want to "git 'er done" and move on.

I just want to see if those library tools are useful.  In my case, the Panasonic footprint is trivial (10 pin DIP) but I was kinda dreading creating the schematic symbol.

Thanks!

Bri



 
Brian Roth said:
I don't lay out PC boards all that often and they have all been simple.

Kicad is my app.

Another simple one is on my agenda; I need to construct eight small boards for a distributed contact closure system.  I'm going to use a Panasonic TQ2 relay on each card.  Those relays have proven to be very reliable in audio paths in Amek 9098 ("By Rupert Neve the Designer") desks, so a pull-to-ground TTL level should be along similar lines.

While checking prices and stock at Mouse and Digikey, something caught my eye for the millionth time.  I hadn't thought much about it the past.

Mouser has "aligned" with ECAD and Digikey with Ultra Librarian to supply schematic symbols and PCB footprints for many catalog items, and in many popular PCB CAD formats.

Each requires its own "reader" for my computer to crank out the symbols and footprint so I can drop them into my Kicad project.

Any pros/cons for either product?  They are both free.

And I know this will set off comments like "WELL! A REAL man designs EVERY one of his own symbols and footprints from SCRATCH !!"

Phooie.  My last Kicad layout was done 2-3 years ago.  I just want to "git 'er done" and move on.

I just want to see if those library tools are useful.  In my case, the Panasonic footprint is trivial (10 pin DIP) but I was kinda dreading creating the schematic symbol.

Thanks!

Bri
I use an obsolte version of Eagle (V5.00) that is not compatible with these libraries, but the process of creating a symbol , a footprint and merge them in a device is so simple it's not an issue.
When I tried Kicad I was faced with its apparently intricate way of creating one's devices, so I would never say that "REAL man designs EVERY one of his own symbols" BS.
RS also offers symbols and models compatible with their own DesignSpark PCB software.
I don't think these libraries use a common language that would allow them to be used universally.
 
fyi:

https://app.ultralibrarian.com/details/8925DA95-109B-11E9-AB3A-0A3560A4CCCC/Panasonic/TQ2-12V

Seems like a time-saver for me.

Bri
 
I don't lay out PC boards all that often and they have all been simple.

Kicad is my app.

Another simple one is on my agenda; I need to construct eight small boards for a distributed contact closure system. I'm going to use a Panasonic TQ2 relay on each card. Those relays have proven to be very reliable in audio paths in Amek 9098 ("By Rupert Neve the Designer") desks, so a pull-to-ground TTL level should be along similar lines.

While checking prices and stock at Mouse and Digikey, something caught my eye for the millionth time. I hadn't thought much about it the past.

Mouser has "aligned" with ECAD and Digikey with Ultra Librarian to supply schematic symbols and PCB footprints for many catalog items, and in many popular PCB CAD formats.

Each requires its own "reader" for my computer to crank out the symbols and footprint so I can drop them into my Kicad project.

Any pros/cons for either product? They are both free.

And I know this will set off comments like "WELL! A REAL man designs EVERY one of his own symbols and footprints from SCRATCH !!"

Phooie. My last Kicad layout was done 2-3 years ago. I just want to "git 'er done" and move on.

I just want to see if those library tools are useful. In my case, the Panasonic footprint is trivial (10 pin DIP) but I was kinda dreading creating the schematic symbol.

Thanks!

Bri
I don't lay out PC boards all that often and they have all been simple.

Kicad is my app.

Another simple one is on my agenda; I need to construct eight small boards for a distributed contact closure system. I'm going to use a Panasonic TQ2 relay on each card. Those relays have proven to be very reliable in audio paths in Amek 9098 ("By Rupert Neve the Designer") desks, so a pull-to-ground TTL level should be along similar lines.

While checking prices and stock at Mouse and Digikey, something caught my eye for the millionth time. I hadn't thought much about it the past.

Mouser has "aligned" with ECAD and Digikey with Ultra Librarian to supply schematic symbols and PCB footprints for many catalog items, and in many popular PCB CAD formats.

Each requires its own "reader" for my computer to crank out the symbols and footprint so I can drop them into my Kicad project.

Any pros/cons for either product? They are both free.

And I know this will set off comments like "WELL! A REAL man designs EVERY one of his own symbols and footprints from SCRATCH !!"

Phooie. My last Kicad layout was done 2-3 years ago. I just want to "git 'er done" and move on.

I just want to see if those library tools are useful. In my case, the Panasonic footprint is trivial (10 pin DIP) but I was kinda dreading creating the schematic symbol.

Thanks!

Bri
I use both the ALTIUM Designer and the CADENCE/OrCAD "PCB Editor" PCB design programs and I have also used both of the library programs and symbols offered by Digi-Key and Mouser. And, I can tell you that both programs work well and are both easy-to-use!!! The main difference between "rolling your own" symbols and footprints and using the ones provided by these 2 programs is the adherence to standards. While whatever symbols and footprints a "Real Man" would create would be - whatever - it is that they have created, the symbols and footprints provided by ECAD and Ultra-Librarian both adhere to IPC PCB Standards.....should that matter to you or not. That's my 2-cents.

/
 
I use both the ALTIUM Designer and the CADENCE/OrCAD "PCB Editor" PCB design programs and I have also used both of the library programs and symbols offered by Digi-Key and Mouser. And, I can tell you that both programs work well and are both easy-to-use!!! The main difference between "rolling your own" symbols and footprints and using the ones provided by these 2 programs is the adherence to standards. While whatever symbols and footprints a "Real Man" would create would be - whatever - it is that they have created, the symbols and footprints provided by ECAD and Ultra-Librarian both adhere to IPC PCB Standards.....should that matter to you or not. That's my 2-cents.

/
 
I don't lay out PC boards all that often and they have all been simple.

Kicad is my app.

Another simple one is on my agenda; I need to construct eight small boards for a distributed contact closure system. I'm going to use a Panasonic TQ2 relay on each card. Those relays have proven to be very reliable in audio paths in Amek 9098 ("By Rupert Neve the Designer") desks, so a pull-to-ground TTL level should be along similar lines.

While checking prices and stock at Mouse and Digikey, something caught my eye for the millionth time. I hadn't thought much about it the past.

Mouser has "aligned" with ECAD and Digikey with Ultra Librarian to supply schematic symbols and PCB footprints for many catalog items, and in many popular PCB CAD formats.

Each requires its own "reader" for my computer to crank out the symbols and footprint so I can drop them into my Kicad project.

Any pros/cons for either product? They are both free.

And I know this will set off comments like "WELL! A REAL man designs EVERY one of his own symbols and footprints from SCRATCH !!"

Phooie. My last Kicad layout was done 2-3 years ago. I just want to "git 'er done" and move on.

I just want to see if those library tools are useful. In my case, the Panasonic footprint is trivial (10 pin DIP) but I was kinda dreading creating the schematic symbol.

Thanks!

Bri
[Each requires its own "reader" for my computer to crank out the symbols and footprint so I can drop them into my Kicad project] -- There is another source of schematic symbols and PCB footprints that also creates everything in - ALL - of the more well-known PCB program formats, including KiCAD and it is called "SnapEDA". Just go to -- snapeda.com -- and register on their website and then you can download all of the schematic symbols and PCB footprints that you want....all for > FREE < no less!!!

I have used both the ALTIUM Designer and the CADENCE/OrCAD "PCB Editor" programs to design PCB's and when I log onto "SnapEDA", I can do a search for a component part and then download the schematic symbol and PCB footprint in either, or both, of those PCB design program formats. And.....IT'S NO BIG DEAL!!! So.....THERE YOU GO!!! PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

JBW

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