Macros Sprint Layout 6.0 May 2026

Sprint-Layout 6.0 is a reusable template of a recurring element, such as an IC, resistor, or transistor, stored in the component library. Creating a custom macro allows you to quickly place frequently used footprints onto your PCB design without redrawing them from scratch. www.vthoroe.dk How to Prepare a Macro in Sprint-Layout 6.0

To create a new macro from scratch or a modified design, follow these steps: Draw the Elements

: Use the standard drawing tools (pads, lines, circles, etc.) to create the footprint of the component on the workspace. Add Labels (Optional)

: Place text labels for pin identifiers like Input, Ground, or VDD. You can adjust their size and font in the properties panel. Group the Selection

: Click and drag a box around all the elements you want to include. Right-click the selection and choose to link them together as a single entity. Define as a Component (Advanced)

: To track the macro in a Bill of Materials (BOM), you can right-click the group and select "Component..." to add specific identifiers like Name and Value. Save the Macro File > Save As... > Macro and choose a filename. Save it into the Macros Sprint Layout 6.0

folder of your Sprint-Layout installation so it appears in your library sidebar for future use. Key Macro Features How to make your own macros in Sprint Layout 6 How to make your own macros in Sprint Layout 6 Green Free Energy Sprint-Layout 6.0

Part 2: Why Use Macros? (The Efficiency Argument)

Many users ignore macros because they think, "I can just copy and paste." Here is why you cannot afford to ignore them for large projects:

Step 2: Select the Elements

  • Click the "Select" arrow in the toolbar.
  • Draw a selection box around the entire capacitor, pads, vias, tracks, and silk screen.
  • Pro tip: Hold Shift to add individual items to the selection if you miss one.

Part 12: Sharing and Community Macros

The Sprint Layout community (forums like EEVblog, RC Groups, and Russian PCB forums) actively shares macro libraries.

Where to download:

  • The official Sprint Layout site (User files section)
  • GitHub – Search for "Sprint Layout Macros" or "sprint-layout-lmk"
  • Elektor Labs archives

Standard file extension: .lmk (Layout Macro Kit) Sprint-Layout 6

When downloading macros from the internet:

  1. Scan with antivirus (rarely an issue, but good practice).
  2. Open in a new Sprint Layout window first to inspect.
  3. Verify the layer mapping (C1, C2, K1) matches your workflow.

Real-World Use Case: Audio Amplifier Module

Imagine you are designing a modular 2.1 Bluetooth amplifier. You have a preamp board, a Bluetooth module, and an amplifier IC board. Instead of redrawing the amplifier IC footprint and its 15 surrounding passives in every project:

  1. Draw it once on a blank board.
  2. Select the entire amplifier section (pads + silkscreen + outline).
  3. Save as TPA3116_amp.mac.
  4. Insert into the main project.

Result: A complex, proven layout reused in minutes, not hours.

2. Creating a Macro (Best Practices)

Creating a macro is simple: select the items you want, right-click, and choose "Create Macro from Selection." However, to make them truly useful in 6.0, you should follow specific rules:

A. Anchor Point Placement When you save a macro, you define an anchor (the crosshair). This is the "handle" you grab to place the part. Part 2: Why Use Macros

  • Tip: For ICs, place the anchor on Pin 1. For connectors, place it on a specific corner.
  • Why: When you place the macro later, you want to snap that anchor to a grid point for precise alignment.

B. Layer Management Sprint-Layout 6.0 handles layers well. A good macro includes:

  • Copper (Bottom/Top): The pads.
  • Silkscreen (Top/Bottom): The outline and the component value/name.
  • Documentation: A text label for the part number (e.g., "U1").

C. Text Variables This is a pro feature in 6.0. When creating a macro, if you include text (like "C1" or "R1"), you can set this text to auto-increment.

  • How it works: If you place your "Resistor" macro, and the text field is set as a "Placeholder," the first one will be "R1", the next "R2", and so on. This saves you from manually renaming every single resistor.

Part 5: Editing and Modifying Existing Macros

One of the biggest frustrations is realizing your macro is wrong by 0.5mm three months after creating it. You do not need to rebuild it from scratch.

How to edit a .mac file:

  1. Load the Macro: Go to Extras > Read Macro and place it on a fresh, empty board.
  2. Ungroup: The macro arrives as a single "block." To edit individual parts, you must explode it.
    • Select the macro by clicking on it.
    • Right-click inside the selection. Choose "Dissolve Group" (or the equivalent grouping option—look for a broken chain icon or the "Ungroup" text).
    • Note: In some versions of Sprint Layout, you must go to the menu: Edit > Dissolve Group.
  3. Edit: Now the traces and pads are individual objects. Drag them, change their sizes, or delete them.
  4. Re-save: Re-select everything and repeat the Extras > Make Macro process. Overwrite the old file.

Warning: Sprint Layout does not have a "Global Update" feature. If you change a macro, you must manually delete the old instances of that macro on existing boards and replace them with the new one.

What is a Macro in Sprint Layout?

In the context of Sprint Layout 6.0, a macro is a saved group of objects on the PCB layout. This includes:

  • Copper pads (SMD and through-hole)
  • Silkscreen lines and text
  • Solder mask openings
  • Board outline cutouts

Unlike a full component library (which requires editing .lib files), a macro is simply a saved selection. You can store anything from a single test point to a 100-pin microcontroller footprint.

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