Click Wheel designer

This is a simple tool to create a click wheel footprint. It allows you to choose the pattern and the size of the wheel. The tool will generate a PNG file that you can use in Kicad. (edge cuts and copper layers).

Designer

Radius (mm)

Inner Radius (mm)

Number of Pads

Number of Curves

Gap Between Pads

Pads Roundness

Stroke width(mm)

Start Angle(rad)

Square half width(mm)

Show/hide

 

Copper Layer

 

Cuts Layer

 

Gizmo Layer

Touch test

Hover this element to refresh it (if you change params in the clickwheel, just re-hover to refresh). Move the mouse around to see the ratios of the surfaces touched. Seems like the more curves, the most stable the ratios are across the width of the whee, but this tool is here so you can make your own idea.

Finger size(px)

Touch test

How to import it in Kicad

• Use the UI above to choose your pattern
• Click on the "Download PNG" button to download the PNG file
• In Kicad, use the image converter, and copy the shape to clipboard, for the size, take the radius +2mm (there is a margin around the image)
• Paste the shape in your PCB Editor ( press E to change the layer to cut/copper)
• You might want to download the JSON file as well, in case you need to change the pattern later