PCB Libraries Forum https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:49:02 +0000 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:25:30 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.07 30 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/RSS_topic_feed.asp <![CDATA[PCB Libraries Forum]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_images/PCBLForumLogo.gif https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14659.html#14659 Author: Nick B
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 18 Sep 2026 at 9:25am

Alex, I set up a basic manufacturer list here:
https://PCBLibraries.com/POD/MFR

This list is too long to include in the Guideline - it would be almost 10 pages.

Regards,
Nick
]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:25:30 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14659.html#14659 <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14657.html#14657 Author: Alex Quilty
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 18 Sep 2026 at 5:40am

Sorry for the confusion, in the last post I was trying to say that I realized I only have the Free Calculator - which does not include the FP Designer functionality, and thus I cannot see the Manufacturer names by typing them up in specifications under FP Designer, etc.

So, it would be nice to have a list to reference somewhere if I cannot do so in the Free Calculator. GeekBig smile]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:40:34 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14657.html#14657 <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14656.html#14656 Author: Nick B
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 18 Sep 2026 at 5:26am

Alex, if you're using the free Footprint Calculator, features that are only in the full Footprint Expert are disabled. Can you confirm which build you are using?
  • Free Footprint Calculator
  • Footprint Expert

]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:26:48 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14656.html#14656 <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14655.html#14655 Author: Tom H
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 9:44am

You need to upgrade to Footprint Expert V26.09 before we can help you. 

We can't fix issues that are in older versions as they might already be fixed. 

]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:44:39 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14655.html#14655 <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14654.html#14654 Author: Alex Quilty
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 9:40am

Would you be able to help figure out why that is greyed out for me? Here I have the DEMO part put in, but I can't edit much. This is a little outdated, it is FP Expert 26.05...

Actually, after reviewing it looks like FP Designer is not part of the Free Calculator download. That would explain that.

]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:40:53 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14654.html#14654 <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14653.html#14653 Author: Tom H
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 8:56am

Footprint Expert uses a text file on your computer called ManufacturerList.txt. 

It resides in the installation folder. 

The IPC Calculators generate footprints with a single pad stack with exceptions for parts with Thermal Pads have 2 pad stacks. 

The Manufacturer List is primarily used for non-standard packages that have multiple pad stacks. Every non-standard package must use the mfr. recommended pattern because there are no IPC rules to autogenerate pad stacks. 

In FP Designer 'Specifications' panel, you can type the first 3 letters of any mfr. and the names will appear. Then the abbreviated name is auto-populated into the Footprint Name along with the Case Code or Part Number that you enter. 

We're considering adding the ManufacturerList.txt to the Guideline in a Table format. 



What do you think?

]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:56:13 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14653.html#14653 <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14652.html#14652 Author: Nick B
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 8:51am

Hi, Alex. Thanks for your feedback on this. Thumbs Up

Interesting idea, we'll consider how we can get it set up for easy update. The Manufacturer List gets updated periodically. We added at least one if not two manufacturers in the past month; this will also require more frequent Guideline updates, so we'll need to have it set up to easily update not just the PDF Guideline but also the Manufacturer List section in the online edition here in the forum.  Hmmm 
]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:51:06 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14652.html#14652 <![CDATA[General Discussion : Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14651.html#14651 Author: Alex Quilty
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 8:29am

In your Library Expert Footprint Naming Convention Guidelines for IPC-7351 you had an Appendix for Library Expert Manufacturer Names, and I was wondering if you could maybe add that to the Footprint Expert Guideline possibly? This helped guide me in naming new manufacturer parts.

I see in the guideline in section 18 a mention on FPX File Definitions mentioning a feature for auto populating the Manufacturer Names, but I'm unsure if this comes with the free version or how to make use of that information.

It would be even awesomer if I could just input the manufacturer for any particular part and for it to auto populate a shortened name for the manufacturer. Does this exist somewhere already or could this possibly be added to the Guideline?]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:29:35 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-guideline-additional-page-request_topic3705_post14651.html#14651 <![CDATA[Version History : Footprint Expert 26.09 Released!!]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-26-09-released_topic3703_post14649.html#14649 Author: Nick B
Subject: Footprint Expert 26.09 Released!!
Posted: 13 Sep 2026 at 6:23pm

Version 26.09 was just released!!

Fixes & Enhancements:

  • Calculators:
    • When the footprint origin is on Pin 1 and gang mask turned on, the gang mask would offset
    • Gullwing Component Families: 
      • The pad trim feature for standoff height minimum is not trimming to the Nominal Body
  • FP Designer:
    • Pad stacks with paste mask patterns cannot be rounded greater than 0.05
    • Moving footprints in the Calculator to FP Designer dropped the Gang Mask feature
  • Options:
    • Updated Solder Mask Annular Expansion to accept 3 place values
  • CAD Tool Interfaces:
    • KiCad - updated rounded rectangle paste mask feature

]]> Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:23:16 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/footprint-expert-26-09-released_topic3703_post14649.html#14649 <![CDATA[Questions & Answers : Mfr Recommended Tolerances & Affected Pad Stacks]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/mfr-recommended-tolerances-affected-pad-stacks_topic3699_post14647.html#14647 Author: Ariel_Levy
Subject: Mfr Recommended Tolerances & Affected Pad Stacks
Posted: 07 Sep 2026 at 3:01am

Thank you for raising the issue for discussion, with a very nice and detailed answer.]]> Mon, 07 Sep 2026 03:01:09 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/mfr-recommended-tolerances-affected-pad-stacks_topic3699_post14647.html#14647