Getting started with kicad

1. Getting started with KiCad
Diving into the world of hardware design
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

2. - Richard Stallman
“Open Source is a development
methodology; free software is a social
movement”
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

3. - Automotive Embedded Software Engineer by profession
- FPV Drone Builder and Pilot
- Open Source hardware / software promoter
- Content Creator at CodeNSolder
About Me
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

4. github.com/iAyanPahwa
instagram.com/iAyanPahwa
twitter.com/iAyanPahwa
youtube.com/iAyanPahwa
codeNsolder.com/blog
About Me

5. Disclaimer
- I am not a KiCad or EDA expert
- This is a beginner (101) session
- Everything cannot be covered in one session
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

6. Why should one learn PCB Design?
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

7. About
KiCad is an open source software suite for Electronic Design Automation
(EDA). The programs handle Schematic Capture, and PCB Layout with
Gerber output. The suite runs on Windows, Linux and macOS and is
licensed under GNU GPL v3.
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

8. About
• First launched in 1992
• In very active development
• Backed by a very supportive community
• CERN is an active contributor to kiCad (since 2011) and has contributed some
amazing features to the project (like Push and Shove Router)
• Is now a part of Linux Foundation Projects (2019)
• Now host an annual conference (starting 2019)
•KiCon 2020 is now virtual
• KiCon 2021 will be at CERN (hopefully)
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

9. Capabilities
• Open Source
• Can do upto 16 layers of board
• Supports scripting
• Supports a great set of plugins and tools like Altium2KiCad, KiCost, FreeCAD
• Great for PCBArt projects
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

10. Important Links
- KiCad Website : http://kicad-pcb.org/
- KiCad Quick Start : http://kicad-pcb.org/help/getting-started/
- KiCad Documentation : http://kicad-pcb.org/help/documentation/
- kiCad Tutorials : http://kicad-pcb.org/help/tutorials/
- KiCad Forum : https://forum.kicad.info/
- Source: https://gitlab.com/kicad
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

11. PCB Development Phase
Start a new project
Run Electrical
Check
Design circuit Create Netlist
Associate Footprints
Make PCB board
Route the
components
Run Design Rule
Check
Generate Gerbers
Fabricate
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

12. PCB Development Phase
Start a new project
Run Electrical
Check
Design circuit Create Netlist
Associate Footprints
Make PCB board
Route the
components
Run Design Rule
Check
Generate Gerbers
Fabricate
Eeschema ERC NET
CvPCB
PcbNewDRCPlot
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

13. PCB Development Phase
Start a new project
Run Electrical
Check
Design circuit Create Netlist
Associate Footprints
Make PCB board
Route the
components
Run Design Rule
Check
Generate Gerbers
Fabricate
Eeschema ERC NET
CvPCB
PcbNewDRCPlot
3D Viewer
SPICE Simulation
Bill of material (BOM)
Symbol Editor
Footprint Editor
Bitmaps2PCB
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

14. #MadeWithKiCad https://kicad-pcb.org/made-with-kicad/

15. @mrtwinkletwink
@bradanlane
#BadgeLife
@iAyanPahwa

16. Understanding PCB
2 layer board

21. Let’s Design some boards
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa

22. Questions ??
@iAyanPahwa/iayanpahwa
github.com/iAyanPahwa
instagram.com/iAyanPahwa
twitter.com/iAyanPahwa
youtube.com/iAyanPahwa
codeNsolder.com/blog