How to Add Components in Fritzing

What Will I Learn?

• Users will learn how to add new components in Fritzing
• Users will learn how to download Fritzing file (fzpz) components
• Users will learn how to know if components are not available yet in Fritzing

Requirements

For the users to follow this tutorial, they will need the following:

• PC or laptop
• Fritzing software (can be downloaded at http://fritzing.org/download/)
• Basic background on Fritzing software
• Internet to download the fritzing file component

Difficulty

• Intermediate

Tutorial Contents

This tutorial aims to teach the users on how to add new component in Fritzing software. There are many components that are already installed when we download the software, but, there are instances that some components were not yet installed upon downloading and installing fritzing software. There are also newly release component that we need to use. Unlike other software that offers an auto update set up or updating the software is a one-click way, Fritzing offers new release components and updates but it need to do it manually. This tutorial is very essential for users who want to explore new components.

How to know if the intended component is not available in Fritzing software?

Fritzing offers a graphical interface on its library. We can identify directly the component if it was not there.

Frizing Library

Its library was also categorize to easily locate the component. It was categorize according to the type of device, according to the manufacturer, and there is also a category were all your installed components are located.

Library Category

Fritzing has a component search feature wherein users can input the component name and will display all related component. It is maybe the easiest way to find components but, it disadvantages are; (1) sometimes took so long to load all the related components, (2) when searching for common component, there are so many related components which give users a confusion on what exactly he/she needs.

Component Search Feature

So after doing the following and you could not find the component, it means that component is not yet available or installed in your fritzing software.

Where to download Fritzing (fzpz file) component to download?

Fritzing software is an open source project and its released components can be download at https://github.com for free of charge.

Here is procedures or process on how to add new components in Fritzing.

1.Open your fritzing software.

For this tutorial, I will use two component to add for an example. These are the component; (1) keypad 4X4 and (2) Adafruit MAX4466 Electret Microphone Amplifier. These components are not yet available on my fritzing software.

img source
Adafruit MAX4466 Electret Microphone Amplifier

img source
Keypad 4X4

2.Searching for fzpz file of component.

fzpz file format is used in fritzing graphical interface library. All our components to add must be in fzpz file format. To search for the component, just input the component name to google search box and add fzpz file download. Do this to filter all searched files are in fzpz file format.

For example, (1) Keypad 4X4 fzpz file download and (2) Adafruit MAX4466 Electret Microphone Amplifier fzpz file download.

When I search for Keypad 4X4 fzpz file download, there is a result which says that the file we search for is can be found on that github repository.

3.Download the fzpz file.

Click that searched result to direct to that repository and download the file.

Here is the location here I can download the file. Click the download button to start downloading.

4.Import the fzpz file to Fritzing software.

Import your download fzpz file to make it available in your fritzing library. To import, follow the process below.

Go back to Fritzing software and look for "import" command. It is found under the drop down located at the right side of library.

Click to reveal its menu options

When we click "import", it will open a dialog box to search for the file to import. Make sure you know the location of the fzpz file you have downloaded to avoid hassle. Look for KEYPAD 4X4.fzpz and click "open"

After we click "open", we can now see in Mine category of the library our added component (Keypad 4X4).

5.Testing the newly added component

After we had added new component, we should try if it is working. Try to use the newly added component to test if it is working,

The new component is now added to our breadboard. It is probably working. But, it is not enough to say that it really works. Let us try to use other functions of fritzing on this component and see the result.

Wiring the Component

Appears on Schematic Viewer

Appears on PCB Viewer

Well, the new component is can be wired, can be used in schematic drawing, and can be used in PCB design. Therefore, this new component is workable.

Adding another component

This time, we will try to add another component which is the Adafruit MAX4466 Electret Microphone Amplifier. Refer to the detailed procedure or process in adding component above.

Search for the fzpz file format for Adafruit MAX4466 Electret Microphone Amplifier

Download the file

Import the file to Fritzing software

Testing the new component

Curriculum

Here are my other tutorials on some of circuit simulator and design software;

• QUCS Circuit Simulator | How to use Parameter Sweep in Simulation
• How to Use the Different Simulation Scheme of QUCS Circuit Simulator
• How to Give Solution to a Problem using Logic Circuit
• Tutorial on How to Construct Power Supply Circuit from Schematic Diagram to Breadboard Prototype and to Breadboard Construction.

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Posted on Utopian.io - Rewarding Open Source Contributors

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