Library Conventions | KiCad EDA

Version 3.0.41

Library maintainer rules & guidelines

F7.7 Oval holes (plated milled slots)

The sizes for oval holes must be chosen such that there is 0.2mm clearance between the maximum lead size and the hole in all directions. Oval holes are only allowed if the lead length to width ratio is greater than 2. (Lead cross section is at least twice as long as wide)

Maximum lead dimensions are obtained from the device datasheet.


Some PCB manufacturers are not able to produce milled slots. It is allowed to add an alternative footprint using only circular holes. These need to follow the same drill size increase as all other holes. The equivalent lead diameter should be rounded up to the next 0.01mm increment.

The footprint name of such an alternative is marked with the suffix _CircularHoles.