KiCad

In Kicad can't connect mounting holes to the groundplane(backside)

Asked by Nicolaas van Dijk

I designed a few PCB's using KiCad. When I had to put mounting holes in the PCB, I did place a 1 pin connectors In the schematic diagram (conn_1) and connected them to ground so the program knew that these pins should be grounded. I gave them a ref PG1, PG2 PG3 etc with the idea that every connector is a mounting hole grounded to the backplane. Stored, made a net list, in the CVPCB did connect the pins to a footprint (1pin) and put the 1pin in the PCB. It inmedeately did connect correctly to ground and I could modify to have a 3.3mm hole drilled.. But the second third etc do NOT want to connect to ground anymore, they remain yellow and I can't connect them to groundplane at the backside of the PCB like the first hole did automatic and like a via.
Please explain me how to make 3 mm mounting holes that are connected to the backplane ground like the first one? What did I do wrong, why does it work only 1 time for one hole?
Nico van Dijk

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Revision history for this message
Lorenzo Marcantonio (l-marcantonio) said : 		#1

On Wed, Apr 30, 2014 at 01:21:27PM -0000, Nicolaas van Dijk wrote:
> New question #247926 on KiCad:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/247926
>
> Please explain me how to make 3 mm mounting holes that are connected to the backplane ground like the first one? What did I do wrong, why does it work only 1 time for one hole?

The 'yellow' holes are mechanical (mounting only) holes, and are NPTH
(so no copper or metalization is done).

To do grounding holes simply use normal THT pads with and adequate
diameter and connect them to the ground net.

--
Lorenzo Marcantonio
Logos Srl

Revision history for this message
Nicolaas van Dijk (hfda) said : 		#2

Dear Lorenzo
Thanks for the answer, but not ok yet. I do not have NPTH holes. I can make
those without a problem. I like to have a pad that is metallized to the
backplane and has a 3 mm hole. The first time it worked ok like I explained,
but for the second hole (1pin) it looks almost the same, but the pad does
NOT connect to GND. When I highlight it, it becomes a bright yellow circle
together with all the other floating pads (not a filled NPTH hole) but NOT
connected to ground like the first pad.
I do not understand what you mean with THT pads and how I place them. Cna't
fint THT nowhere. Sorry, I am a newby with KiCad
Kind regards
Nico

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lorenzo Marcantonio" <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 3:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #247926]: In Kicad can't connect mounting holes to
the groundplane(backside)

Your question #247926 on KiCad changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/247926

    Status: Open => Answered

Lorenzo Marcantonio proposed the following answer:
On Wed, Apr 30, 2014 at 01:21:27PM -0000, Nicolaas van Dijk wrote:
> New question #247926 on KiCad:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/247926
>
> Please explain me how to make 3 mm mounting holes that are connected to
> the backplane ground like the first one? What did I do wrong, why does it
> work only 1 time for one hole?

The 'yellow' holes are mechanical (mounting only) holes, and are NPTH
(so no copper or metalization is done).

To do grounding holes simply use normal THT pads with and adequate
diameter and connect them to the ground net.

--
Lorenzo Marcantonio
Logos Srl

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/247926/+confirm?answer_id=0

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
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Revision history for this message
Nicolaas van Dijk (hfda) said : 		#3

Hello All
Thanks for the reply Lorenzo
I did try a different approach and made a via with a 5 mm pad and a 3 mm hole. Started a trace without moving the mouse, left clicked and placed the via. Than ended the track
Seems to work
Is this a valid approach the can be made by the PCB manufacturer?
Kind regards
Nico

Revision history for this message
Nicolaas van Dijk (hfda) said : 		#4

I am sorry, did not work. After refilling tha backplane, the via was'n connected no more and is floating
By the first method that worked only once the pad is connected with 4 tracks to the groundplane.

Revision history for this message
Lorenzo Marcantonio (l-marcantonio) said : 		#5

On Wed, Apr 30, 2014 at 02:41:41PM -0000, Nicolaas van Dijk wrote:
> I do not understand what you mean with THT pads and how I place them. Cna't
> fint THT nowhere. Sorry, I am a newby with KiCad

You need a component in eeschema representing the pad and connect it to
the ground net. Then a package (usually of virtual type) in pcbnew with
the tht hole, and bind them with cvpcb.

In short, you need to assign the proper net to the pad to have it
properly bound to the fill.

--
Lorenzo Marcantonio
Logos Srl

Revision history for this message
Nicolaas van Dijk (hfda) said : 		#6

FOUND IT

KiCad seems to have it all
I did modify the pad of 1PIN by putting GND in the NET rect. Now all pads are connected to the groundplane by 4 tracks automatically
I hope that this helps other newbies like me
Kind regards
Nico

Revision history for this message
Nicolaas van Dijk (hfda) said : 		#7

Thanks a lot for all the help Lorenzo, highly appreciated. But I found a
way. I did edit the pad of the 1 pin and than you get a questionaire. There
I assigned GND in the NET box and stored the 1PIN again. After that, all
1PIN thet I put in the PCB are automatically connected to the groundplane.
Kind regards and thanks again I hope this did help other newbies in KiCad
like me.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lorenzo Marcantonio" <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 5:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #247926]: In Kicad can't connect mounting holes to
the groundplane(backside)

Your question #247926 on KiCad changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/247926

    Status: Open => Answered

Lorenzo Marcantonio proposed the following answer:
On Wed, Apr 30, 2014 at 02:41:41PM -0000, Nicolaas van Dijk wrote:
> I do not understand what you mean with THT pads and how I place them.
> Cna't
> fint THT nowhere. Sorry, I am a newby with KiCad

You need a component in eeschema representing the pad and connect it to
the ground net. Then a package (usually of virtual type) in pcbnew with
the tht hole, and bind them with cvpcb.

In short, you need to assign the proper net to the pad to have it
properly bound to the fill.

--
Lorenzo Marcantonio
Logos Srl

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/247926/+confirm?answer_id=4

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/kicad/+question/247926

You received this question notification because you asked the question.