Still, if you’re an individual or startup trying to throw together a quick prototype, chances are you’d be willing to fork over the extra $0.50. Are you willing to spend the time it takes to create that footprint or spend the extra $0.50? The answer depends on the volume and complexity of the footprint. Company B sells virtually the same part priced at $5.50 but with a footprint. Why would they spend their time doing this? Imagine Company A sells a connector for $5.00, but no footprint is provided. Companies now realize this pain point and offer designers free, well-designed PCB footprints. It’s tedious, time-consuming, and doesn’t result in much except, well, a footprint. Designing footprints is a job most people hate. One of the biggest hurdles individuals and startups face with creating new PCB designs is footprint creation.
