topic Re: best way to find a component? in Fusion Electronics Forum

best way to find a component?

rprovideo — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:30:24 GMT

Obviously getting the right components into Fusion is an important step. And I sorta refuse to believe it is so hard. I suppose I am doing something wrong.

Let's say I want a simple switch, 6x6mm. Really common. Ideally, I want one with 3D model and I dont want to create it for myself, I mean, it is a simple switch, somebody must have done it already, right?
So I start in Fusion, Place components. I enter Switch into the search field. But it seems, this field only searches for components in active libraries. So likely will not give me a good solution.

I can then go into the library manager, and enter Switch in the search field, which will then show all libraries with switches in the name but there is no way to browse thru those libraries. Even if I download the library, the only way to see into it is the little browse window on the right, 3 components a time.

If I am looking for a component by model number, I cannot find it either way. I have downloaded and created a component called Adafruit 2717, but if the library is off, I have no way to find it. I actually found many devices in some available libraries AFTER I created them, because I was unable to find them.

I also tried to search on library.io, but the search 'switch led 6mm' gives me a lot of 3D placeholder models. There is no way to list them by any data, or show them by 2D, only one by one. I cannot skim thru 300 hits and find the one I want.

The only idea I have right now is to turn on every single library (which will no doubt make it slower) and then search in the place component window, one by one. But also that is very slow and painful

I refuse to believe this very important part is so badly done. Please tell me what is the good way to do this? Thanks

Re: best way to find a component?

rprovideo — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:43:59 GMT

So I just added every single library that has switch in the name (i still might miss some), and entering 'switch' gives me 838 results. Entering 'switch led' gives me 0. So the search cannot deal with multiple words?

Re: best way to find a component?

jorge_garcia — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:57:47 GMT

Hi @rprovideo,

So there is already an improvement coming soon where you can search for parts in the library manager before actually putting the library in use. The best way of searching for parts is actually to have a specific part number in mind. General searches don't tend to be as fruitful, multiple words are OK, but the search is looking specifically through component names. Component names are generally part numbers and not generic terms hence why the search may not give you what you want. I would recommend going to a site like Digi-key and find the specific part you want to use. Then you could do the search in Fusion.

Even then you might not get a result, there are millions of components in the world and the definition of a common component will vary depending on who you ask. Making components is just part of the engineering workflow. You can also check out the SnapEDA and Ultralibrarian plugins which can make parts for you, but you bear the responsibility of making sure the parts are correct.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

Re: best way to find a component?

rprovideo — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:48:28 GMT

Hi, thank you for your answer.
For the specific part number search: this only really works if I can search in all libraries. And even then, a filter for components with 3D models would help a lot.
Also, a way to open a library. This 3-at-a-time view in the library manager is pretty bad.

I looked at the plugins you mentioned, but SnapEDA is Windows only, and the only review for Ultralibrarian made me stay away.

Re: best way to find a component?

jorge_garcia — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:31:48 GMT

Hi @rprovideo,

Could you elaborate on what you mean by "3 at a time view" , I'm not sure what you are referring to. I'll share your suggestions with the rest of the team.

See the image

If you are referring to the bottom view of the place parts panel, that's all 1 component it's showing you the different aspects of the component symbol, footprint, and 3D model. This view updates to show you whatever component you have selected.

You can open any library by right clicking and select the Edit "library_name_here" option.

I've tried both apps and they work, again most users once they reach a certain level of proficiency stop using these almost entirely.

Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

Best Regards,

Re: best way to find a component?

rprovideo — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:40:02 GMT

Yes, that view is pretty inefficient. I wanted to find an switch, and I have to manually go thru each of the results to see them. All 869. Now I understand it would be possible to do a search on a website like digikey, where I can search for size or type, but this could be much more effective. After I find a model number on Digikey, I have to come back here, and search for the model number. And maybe turn on a couple of libraries to search in them. And then check if that is the correct one, if it has the correct package, and if it has the correct 3D model.
A view here where all these items would fan out to a big grid would speed up things a lot to pick up simple components like dip switches or similar.

But I actually meant this view:

Here, if I want to see what is in a library, I have to scroll thru, 3 at a time, pretty slow. Or I could go to the previous window, select the library in the filter, and look it thru one by one. Neither of them is really good.

Re: best way to find a component?

jorge_garcia — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:13:05 GMT

Hello @rprovideo,

OK, I see what you mean. The new search through libraries will help ease some of this. I'll pass this along to our developers for review.

Generally once an engineer comes to make a schematic they usually know the specific parts they are going to use. So "shopping" for what parts to use in the ECAD tool is not common. I can see value in improving this so I'll make a ticket for it.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,