KiCad like a Pro

KiCad like a Pro

by Peter Dalmaris
Released August 2017
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781788629997

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Video description

This course is designed to teach you how to use KiCad assuming no prior knowledge in PCB design. My objective is to help you reach a high level of competency. You will be able to create any PCB that an Arduino or general electronics enthusiast can dream of. To achieve this, I have organized this course around three projects. With each project, I introduce several new KiCad features and extend your skill set. The ability to create a custom PCB is a core skill of an electronics enthusiast. Without the ability to create a custom PCB, your breadboard-based projects are doomed to oblivion. Learning how to use KiCad will make you a better maker because you will be able to create custom PCBs for your best designs, and as a result you will ensure that they realise their full potential. NOTE: THE PACKAGE FOR THE VIDEO COURSE CAN NOT BE DOWNLOADED

What You Will Learn

  • Design high-quality PCBs
  • Understand the KiCad design process
  • Use a fabrication service to order professionally PCBs
  • Understand that trade-offs and limitations of PCB design software
  • Design a PCB while keeping manufacturing costs to a minimum

Audience

Anyone interested in electronics, People that wish to move their project beyond the breadboard, Makes who wish to go past the prototyping stage for their projects, Everyone is welcome!

About The Author

Peter Dalmaris: Peter Dalmaris is an electronics hobbyist and Maker, creator of eight online video courses on DIY electronics and author of three technical books. As a Chief Tech Explorer since 2013 at Tech Explorations, the company he founded in Sydney, Australia, Peters mission is to explore technology and help educate the world. A life-long learner, Peters core skill is in explaining difficult concepts through video and text. With over 15 years in tertiary teaching experience, Peter has developed a simple yet comprehensive style in teaching that students from all around the world appreciate. His passion for technology and in particular for the world of DIY open source hardware has been a powerful driver that has guided his own personal development and his work through Tech Explorations. Peters current online courses have helped over 30,000 people from around the world to be better Makers. His video courses include: Arduino Step by Step: Your Complete Guide Advanced Arduino Boards and Tools Raspberry Pi: Full Stack Raspberry Pi: Make a Workbench Automation Computer Kicad Like a Pro The Electronics Workbench: A Setup Guide Arduino Fun: Make a High Tech Remote Controlled Car Beginning Arduino: Make a environment monitor system Peters books are: Kicad Like a Pro: Learn the Worlds Favourite Open Source PCB Electronic Design Automation tool Raspberry Pi: Full Stack: A whirlwind tour of full-stack web application development on the Raspberry Pi Arduino: a comprehensive starting up guide for complete beginners

Publisher resources

Download Example Code

Table of contents

  1. Chapter 1 : About this course
    1. What is KiCad? Why learn it? Who is this course for?
    2. The structure of this course
  2. Chapter 2 : KiCad basics
    1. Section introduction
    2. Installation for Windows
    3. Installation for Mac OS X
    4. KiCad main components
    5. Documentation and help
    6. The Printed Circuit board
    7. The PCB design process using KiCad
    8. Fabrication
  3. Chapter 3 : Project 1: an nRF24 breakout
    1. Section introduction
    2. Create a new project
    3. The Schematic
    4. How to create a schematic component
    5. Wiring
    6. Annotating
    7. Doing an ERC check
    8. Associations with Cvpcb
    9. Create a custom footprint with the Footprint Editor
    10. Saving new footprint in new library
    11. Associate the nRF24 part with the new footprint
    12. Netlist
    13. Component footprint placement
    14. Edge cuts and 3D view
    15. Wiring
    16. Labels
  4. Chapter 4 : Project 1: Enhancing the design
    1. Section introduction
    2. Add a capacitor to the schematic in Eeschema
    3. Update Pcbnew with the new netlist
    4. A walk-through the OpenGL Canvas
    5. Controlling the track width
    6. Track width calculator
    7. Copper fills
  5. Chapter 5 : Project 1: fabricating the PCB
    1. Section introduction
    2. Create the Gerber files and upload to fabricator
    3. Add a decorative graphic
    4. A few weeks later I have a parcel!
  6. Chapter 6 : Project 2: a seven-segment display
    1. Section introduction
    2. Create the schematic with Eeschema
    3. Create nets and add labels
    4. Hidden pins and Power Flags
    5. Using busses to create readable schematics
    6. The Unconnected component
    7. Associate components with footprints
    8. Create a 2-layer PCB in Pcbnew
    9. Controlling wire width with nets
    10. Another look at OpenGL
    11. Copper fills for VCC and GND
    12. Add text labels
    13. Creating a graphic to decorate your PCB
    14. Export the Gerber files
  7. Chapter 7 : Project 3: a 16-led display with shift registers
    1. Section introduction
    2. Sneak preview: what will this board look like in the end?
    3. The circuit
    4. Create the schematic in Eeschema
    5. Schematic Wiring, Part 1
    6. Schematic Wiring, Part 2
    7. Associate components with footprints
    8. Create the PCB in Pcbnew
    9. Layout Wiring (Pcbnew)
    10. Add copper fills for ground and VCC nets
    11. Add text labels and decorative graphics
    12. Export Gerber files
  8. Chapter 8 : Importing third-party libraries
    1. Third party library sources
    2. Importing third-party schematic components
    3. Importing third-party footprint modules
  9. Chapter 9 : Hierarchical sheets
    1. Using hierarchical sheets to expand the 16-LED project in Eeschema
    2. Layout and wiring of the expanded 16-LED project in Pcbnew
  10. Chapter 10 : Conclusion
    1. What's next?

Product information

  • Title: KiCad like a Pro
  • Author(s): Peter Dalmaris
  • Release date: August 2017
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781788629997