PCB Design with KiCAD

kiCAD

Introduction

Discover the power of KiCad, an exceptional open-source tool designed for drawing electronic schematics and creating PCB layouts. This comprehensive tutorial will guide you through the process of utilising KiCad’s editor to design components, footprints, schematics, and PCB layouts. Gain proficiency in this versatile drawing tool as you learn to create 2-4 layer PCBs with moderate complexity. Elevate your skills with KiCad’s layout and design capabilities, ensuring you are well-equipped to bring your electronic projects to life. Join our tutorial to unlock the full potential of KiCad for drawing, schematics, layout, and editor functions.

Target Audience

Student, engineer, hobbyist

Course Outline

  1. Introduction to KiCad1. Introduction to KiCad
    1. Download and install KiCad
    2. KiCad for Window/Mac OS/Linux
  2. KiCad Workflow
    1. KiCad Workflow overview
    2. Forward and backward annotation
  3. Draw electronic schematics
    1. Using Eeschema
    2. Bus connections in KiCad
  4. Layout printed circuit boards
    1. Using Pcbnew
    2. Generate Gerber files
    3. Using GerbView
    4. Automatically route with FreeRouter
  5. Forward annotation in KiCad
  6. Make schematic components in KiCad
    1. Using Component Library Editor
    2. Export, import and modify library components
    3. Make schematic components with quicklib
    4. Make a high pin count schematic component
  7. Make component footprints
    1. Using Footprint Editor
  8. Integration with Mechanical Software
    1. 3D components
  9. Export for Fabrication
    1. Gerber Generation