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Single source for FOOTPRINTS

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: OPA333, SN74LVC1G123

HI Sorry if I'm venting a bit, but its been a frustrating day in a frustrating week, and Its Monday, and I can't find recommended footprints for any of the TI parts I plan on using.

1. NONE of the online footprint libraries I've tried are supported by my CAD Software.

2. NONE of the online footprint libraries I've tried  provide footprint information in a PDF file format.

3. Recommended footprints no longer appear on TI data sheets, NOR IS THERE A LINK to them.

4. Searches for the chip type or footprint ONLY refer to mechanical packaging, not the footprints.

Can you PLEASE point me to a location on the TI site where there are printable PDF files for recommended footprints...FOOTPRINTS, not chip mechanical outlines?

I would really like a generic go-to location where I can find all available footprints referenced by the package type...e.g. DCU for a VSSOP-8 1 gate logic chip.

  • Hello William, 

      I hear your frustration and I hope this will help.  There is a Packaging Resource page: http://www.ti.com/support-packaging/packaging-resources/SMT-and-application-notes.html  , so let's start there.  

    On the left side of the page is a link under the Tools section: 

    Clicking the link will bring you to a page where you can enter the Part Number for each device.  For example, if we enter OPA333, you will have a new page that has a .bxl file that contains the footprint. 

    Click Links Below To Download Files
    SYMBOL(BXL) STEP(3D CAD) PDF(3D VIEW) IMAGE
    OPA333-Q1_DBV_5.bxl DBV0005A.stp DBV0005A_3D.pdf

    As stated on the Search for Symbols page, concerning footprints:  

    Both PCB footprints and schematic symbols are available for download in a vendor neutral format which can then be exported to the leading EDA CAD/CAE design tools using the Ultra Librarian Reader. The reader is available for free download (ZIP: 77MB).

    I hope this meets your needs for footprint information.

    Regards,

    ~Leonard  

  • Arghhhhh..... Sorry still no joy!

    1. To repeat: I've downloaded and tried various on-line libraries, including the one you suggest. 

    2. NONE of them give me a usable format that works with my older version of Altium, and none of them give me a printable version.

    3. Following the link you suggested also does not take me to a usable (printable) FOOTPRINT. I get DXL, BXL, STP, and the PDF is only an image of the part, not a footprint. 

    NO, repeat NO usable FOOTPRINTS.

    The closest I've found on my own after much effort is http://www.ti.com/packaging/docs/searchproductbypackage.tsp?orderablePartNumber=SN74LVC1G123DCU&packageDesignator=DCU&pinCount=8&results=results#resultspage

    This at least allows me to search with the part package type...but in this example, there is still no usuable footprint file. AND the TI search engine can't seem to find this resource either.

    Pages 16/17 of the 2017 Logic Guide have a really nice pictorial of all the various packages...why not add a link to each image that takes me to the footprint (and mechanical) data for that part? AND make it easy to find. 

    In the meanwhile, can you refer me to a URL where I can find the footprint in a printable format? I'm looking for an 8-pin DCU VSSOP package.

    Thanks for trying

    Kelly

  • OK...this is just plain weird.....and my apologies for the obvious frustration :-)

    I just went back to the data sheet on the part of interest (SN74LVC1G123) after following the link i included in my prior message...and THIS TIME, the footprints were included at the bottom of the document. I swear they were NOT there when I first found the part and when I started this conversation. SO, I do have the needed footprint....

    but my comments on finding it through other routes still apply. It would be really sweet if there was one place, easily findable, where I could simply enter a package designator (DCU or VSSOP for example, and the pin count, and be taken straight to a pdf of the part which has both the mechanical and recommended footprint.

    So I think I can say my immediate needs are resolved, but the fundamental underlying issue is not.

    Kelly

  • Hi William, 

      Seems that all the footprints have been converted to the .bxl format, and I'm still looking in some obscure places!  I did find this look-up tool: http://www.ti.com/packaging/docs/searchalltipackages.tsp  but again, it references the .bxl file for the footprint.

    I input DCU in the package name,  

    TI package name

    and get the mechanical drawing and the bxl file. 

    If/when I find anything else, I will be sure to update this thread. 

    ~Leonard

  • OK...

    So what exactly is .bxl format, and are there readers that will give a printable format with dimensions?

    It seems to me that combining all the footprint PDF's into a single file would be a great help...one place for everything in a human readable form. There are still a few of us old fossils still floating around using ancient CAD software.  I REALLY miss the old National Semi data books with all the neat circuit ideas along with the data sheets.  Paper is still good for a lot of things.

    Enjoy!

    Kelly

  • Hi Kelly,

      The good news is that a viewer for the .bxl footprints is available right here on our packaging webpage: https://webench.ti.com/cad/   , and as described: 

    The reader is available for free download (ZIP: 77MB). 

    The Ultra Librarian software is a free downloadable reader which allows the user to view the 'bxl' files. It also allows you to export these symbols and footprints in to other CAD tools using the Ultra Librarian software. Both PCB footprints and schematic symbols are available for download in a vendor neutral format which can then be exported to the leading EDA CAD/CAE design tools using the Ultra Librarian Reader. The UL Reader is a subset of the Ultra Librarian toolset that can generate, import, and export components and their attributes in virtually any EDA CAD/CAE format. Footprints generated by the UL Reader are based on the IPC-7351 specification (with the exception of DSBGA, QFN, and SON packages which have one footprint only). In addition, the components (both symbol and footprint) can be modified to meet a user-defined standard using a purchased upgrade to the Ultra Librarian. 

    And I'm still exploring other options with our packaging engineers.

    ~Leonard 

  • Hi Kelly,

      From what I have been able to learn from the various product groups is that the 'standard' today is the .bxl file, yes, a bit more work, but the footprint can be derived from there.  Since most of the older datasheets have the footprint in the document, there is no effort to remove these, however, the newer datasheets may not have the footprint.  For these, the .bxl file is used.

    The SN74LVC1G123 does indeed have the land pattern in the datasheet, so at least for this device you've got the printable version.   Hopefully most of the other devices you are using will also have this in the datasheet. 

    ~Leonard 

  • Many thanks for the help so far...

    Kelly