KiCAD v7.0 compliance

[Ogura]

Hi there.
Attempting to consider why Gigatron is stopped in its development, I came with strange conclusion.
It was stopped because of KiCAD versions change and Gigatron, design files became not compliant with new versions of KiCAD.
Here is a result of my attempts to make Gigatron to be compliant.
https://ogura.org.ua/Gigatron.tgz

BTW: I found also this Eagle CAD conversion - also not build to my knowledge: https://github.com/monsonite/Gigatron-CAD

[petersieg]

Hello.

Thx for your efforts!
Here is a attempt to make it KiCAD5 compliant: https://github.com/flypie/Gigatron

I am not familiar with KiCAD at all.

Maybe someone with better knowledge will have a look at it.

However. Until someone actually build a Gigatron out of these design, it is not verified to work as expected.

For the original gerbers, I got a hint from jlcpcb that the pins under the USB receptor are NOT free from solder mask.
Therefore, the middle pin hole of the three pin row is now closed with solder mask paint and needs to be opened to solve that issue.

best, Peter

BTW: I found also this Eagle CAD conversion - also not build to my knowledge: https://github.com/monsonite/Gigatron-CAD

[Hans61]

For finishing at JLCPCB I always used the original Gerber files. (https://gigatron.io/?p=2230) I never had any problems with it.
Opening the KiCad files in a newer version only makes sense if you want to change the layout of the PCB. But that amounts to a new Gigatron clone. There is already the Gigasaur (formerly Novatron https://forum.gigatron.io/viewtopic.php?t=389)
I wouldn't change anything about the layout, see here: https://forum.gigatron.io/viewtopic.php?t=9&start=20.

[petersieg]

That is what I used: Gigatron_Rev_202012_OSH.zip

best, peter

[Ogura]

Hello.

Thx for your efforts!
Here is a attempt to make it KiCAD5 compliant: https://github.com/flypie/Gigatron

It are lots of changes Between on KiCAD 5* and KiCAD 7* as those who ones tried newer KiCAD couldn't wish to use the older one. To have them both on same system may make conflicts. And I had to fix all the footprints location and some circuit mistakes on text editor to have project to be opened properly (3d models for connectors were proprietary of developed and not supplied in official distribution).

I am not familiar with KiCAD at all.
Maybe someone with better knowledge will have a look at it.

However. Until someone actually build a Gigatron out of these design, it is not verified to work as expected.

For the original gerbers, I got a hint from jlcpcb that the pins under the USB receptor are NOT free from solder mask.
Therefore, the middle pin hole of the three pin row is now closed with solder mask paint and needs to be opened to solve that issue.

best, Peter

Faster of all its a problem of footprint.
I upgraded only mainboard. May be later it will come other one as well.

For finishing at JLCPCB I always used the original Gerber files. (https://gigatron.io/?p=2230) I never had any problems with it.
Opening the KiCad files in a newer version only makes sense if you want to change the layout of the PCB. But that amounts to a new Gigatron clone. There is already the Gigasaur (formerly Novatron https://forum.gigatron.io/viewtopic.php?t=389)
I wouldn't change anything about the layout, see here: https://forum.gigatron.io/viewtopic.php?t=9&start=20.

It may serve to exactly those who want and need to make changes.

[petersieg]

You wrote: "It mat serve to exactly those who want and need to make changes."

YES! Absolutely right. So it is/will be good to have a 100% correct KiCAD 7 version.

Just by maybe later than using SMT parts just for the 40x 100nf capacitors and the 30 diodes, one could save
220x wire bending and solder points, if this parts could be populated directly at pcb fab house.

best, Peter

[Ogura]

If you have reports about compliance problems. give please.
Concerning SMD is another task.