Grids offsets. Metric vs Imperial

[klui_]

Modern frames uses both metric dimensions (body+mounts) and inches (pins). Please add "grid offset" in "User Grid size" to greatly simplify footprint designing process.

[Lorenzo Marcantonio (l-marcantonio)]

I have a proof-of-concept patch for adding grid origin offset in pcbnew (well, all kicad, under the hood since it's in the base class). It's like the auxiliary axis but it moves the grid origin.

At the moment is only on the board editor (I use it to align modular terminal blocks) but the only work needed is to add a toolbar button with it's own callback (and draw an icon for it:D).

Attached patch is against r2405, I'm using it for a few months as today...

[Lorenzo Marcantonio (l-marcantonio)]

OK, it actually was *really* trivial, so I added support for changing the grid origin in the module editor, too (great for placing pins in SSOPs :D)

It only lacks a nice icon for the button (I used the same as the 'drill origin' button).

This should close the request.

[Blair Bonnett (bcb)]

There is a 'grid origin' option in both pcbnew and the module editor -- not sure if it was Lorenzo's patch or other code, but either way its there.

Is there any need for grid origin options in eeschema and the library editor?

[jean-pierre charras (jp-charras)]

No.

'grid origin' option (combined to user grid size option) is needed in Pcbnew to place pads (and mainly a set of pads) at specific locations (every 1 mm for instance) from a given starting point, which can be at a strange location, or just not on the current grid.

Eeschema does not need that. Pins *must be* placed on the main grid (50 mils, near 2,5mm).

A 'grid origin' in eeschema could break the schematic.