Creating devices for ICs

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1

Hi, I’m trying to figure out how to create a device for standard-spacing through-hole integrated circuits. In this specific case, I’m working with a Texas Instruments CD4051B. This is a 16 pin IC. On my breadboard, it fits on columns E and F. It looks like this:

20240919_215051
20240919_2150511920×1118 152 KB

While I’m trying to work with this CD4051B currently, I generally want to know how to do this for any standard-spacing through-hole IC. I don’t know how to get the two rows of holes that I need with the correct spacing. I would think this is something a lot of people need to know how to do.

Is there an existing thread that explains how to do this? Thanks in advance.

2

I suggest to first read this: Create Library Elements | LibrePCB Documentation in the documentation section. There are some video tutorials also.

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3

…and you don’t need to create the package by yourself, DIP762W55P254L2007H533Q16 is already contained in the base library (to be verified with the datasheet whether the dimensions are correct, but I guess it should be the right one).

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4

Thank you both very much, that was exactly what I needed. I think I’m beginning to understand how to make these custom library elements now. I’ve already created 3 custom elements :grinning:

Next question, what’s the best way to share items that I create? I’ve seen links to github repositories that seemingly share some component or device or library. But I don’t understand the files. Where would I find the right files and what should I include? (I know very well how to use git / github).

5

Generally you would clone the libraries from LibrePCB Libraries · GitHub instead of installing them with the library manager. But to be honest, the contribution workflow is not great yet and we don’t have enough resources to seriously review contributions, causing long delays. Also we require library guidelines to be followed strictly. For these reasons, I’d recommend to wait a bit with contributions to first get into the guidelines and for us to improve the contribution workflow.

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I can wait. Though I think there is an opportunity here for an unofficial library where such quality controls are not present. Not to reduce quality, but to remove process bottlenecks and allow more people to contribute. That’s what I was getting at.