Chapter 7. Make component footprints

Chapter 7. Make component footprints

Unlike other EDA software tools, which have one type of library that contains both the schematic symbol and the footprint variations, KiCad .lib files contain schematic symbols and .kicad_mod files contain footprints. Cvpcb is used to successfully map footprints to symbols.

As for .lib files, .kicad_mod library files are text files that can contain anything from one to several parts.

There is an extensive footprint library with KiCad, however on occasion you might find that the footprint you need is not in the KiCad library. Here are the steps for creating a new PCB footprint in KiCad: