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Sniper2 , 11-15-2024, 10:09 PM

So i need to design a planar transformer i did more or less the math but i am not sure how to define the PCB. make it a footprint? make it a trace and be careful not to let cad optimise trace length ?

QDrives , 11-16-2024, 05:17 PM

Make it a footprint.
https://resources.altium.com/p/how-create-planar-transformer-pcb-layout

Sniper2 , 11-16-2024, 06:40 PM

i want to do it in kicad but ill see if i can aply it there

QDrives , 11-16-2024, 07:21 PM

I cannot help you with KiCad, nor with other elements of transformers, but still I would make a footprint. It allows easier re-use.

Sniper2 , 11-16-2024, 09:54 PM

i was considering makeing the magnetic core a footprint

Sniper2 , 11-16-2024, 09:55 PM

in kicad i cant have specific internal layers for my footprint

Sniper2 , 11-16-2024, 09:55 PM

IF i use a footprint design type then it need to make it 2L and stak tons on each other and have it really thin

QDrives , 11-16-2024, 10:22 PM

What? Doesn't KiCad allow you to draw on internal layers in a footprint?
Or is it comparable to Altium in that a footprint library also has a stack-up and that you need to define a 4 or higher layer count first?

Sniper2 , 11-16-2024, 10:37 PM

it is like altium simple stack up , the one where all internal layers are replesented as 1

Sniper2 , 11-16-2024, 10:37 PM

@QDrives

QDrives , 11-16-2024, 11:28 PM

What a crap tool. It is not as if you are the first to ask.
https://forum.kicad.info/t/footprint-in-inner-layers/1542/7
https://forum.kicad.info/t/footprints-pads-on-internal-layers/11214/14

Sniper2 , 11-18-2024, 06:55 PM

i think ill try with traces for now or lines +arcs so that i am optimisation free

Sniper2 , 11-18-2024, 06:55 PM

still doing winding + core saturation math

Sniper2 , 11-20-2024, 09:39 PM

hmm mechanical tolerances i think 0.1mm can be acounted with some glue...

QDrives , 11-20-2024, 09:52 PM

Tolerance between what?

Sniper2 , 11-20-2024, 10:07 PM

pcb and E core

QDrives , 11-20-2024, 10:39 PM

As in PCB thickness? That can vary from theory to reality by more than 0.1mm I think. And of course the tolerance, humidity and thermal effects, etc.

Sniper2 , 11-21-2024, 04:58 AM

And that is also core tolerance

Sniper2 , 11-21-2024, 04:58 AM

I can win a bit if I remove silk and mask but that is .35 ish

Sniper2 , 11-21-2024, 04:59 AM

Not much but maybe make a difference

Sniper2 , 11-21-2024, 04:59 AM

And I was wandering it I am overthinking or not

QDrives , 11-21-2024, 09:38 PM

I do not know. I do not know what you see/have/simulated/etc. Nor have I ever designed a inductor, so even if I did see, I would not be be able to tell.

Sniper2 , 11-21-2024, 10:06 PM

thx ill see what i can find

QDrives , 11-21-2024, 10:12 PM

I added the word "not" in my comment above.

Sniper2 , 11-25-2024, 05:13 AM

Way harder then I expected, tedious would fit better tho

QDrives , 11-25-2024, 05:28 PM

Would it be easier to do something in a different CAD tool and importing that?
I often design custom pads and paste mask in FreeCad and import that into Altium.

Sniper2 , 11-25-2024, 07:45 PM

maybe but math is the repetitive part

Sniper2 , 11-25-2024, 07:46 PM

get core 1 math it out does it saturate , yes

Sniper2 , 11-25-2024, 07:46 PM

and repeat a lot of times with different air gaps and core sizes

Sniper2 , 11-25-2024, 07:46 PM

+ different manufacturest make datasheet with other parameters and i need to math unifi them

QDrives , 11-25-2024, 07:49 PM

Did you also try https://openmagnetics.com/

Sniper2 , 11-25-2024, 08:45 PM

no but i am open to try

Sniper2 , 11-26-2024, 06:56 AM

Didn't go well and no tutorials but I'll try again later

QDrives , 11-26-2024, 04:07 PM

I wonder if Alfonso Martínez de la Torre, the creator of the open magnetics site, is willing to assist you when you ask him how to use his site.
I too have tried some, but could not get simple results either. Do note the word "simple".

Sniper2 , 11-26-2024, 06:34 PM

that thing helps only pick the core only

Sniper2 , 11-26-2024, 06:34 PM

not all the other work that comes after

QDrives , 11-26-2024, 07:29 PM

https://github.com/dzimmanck/python-planar-magnetics

QDrives , 11-26-2024, 07:29 PM

https://github.com/quaffle51/psikic

Sniper2 , 11-27-2024, 08:06 PM

got some working winding numbers man that was a lot of math.... didnt even start pcb part 😭

Sniper2 , 12-14-2024, 07:57 PM

i am back

Sniper2 , 12-14-2024, 07:58 PM

math was a real pain

QDrives , 12-14-2024, 08:34 PM

I did not feel a thing 😂

Sniper2 , 12-14-2024, 08:44 PM

Sniper2 , 12-14-2024, 08:45 PM

restudiiing magnetics was hard since that is way more niche then normal electronics

Sniper2 , 12-14-2024, 08:45 PM

+ i am still winging it

Sniper2 , 12-14-2024, 08:45 PM

and overcompensating a lot with oversized stuff