KiCad Like a Pro 2nd edition – Tech Explorations

This course will teach you how to use KiCad.

It takes a practical approach to learning. All of the learning takes place in the form of projects of incremental difficulty.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to use KiCad to design and manufacture multi-layer PCBs with highly integrated components and a professional-looking finish.

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Course Content

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Introduction 5 Lectures

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0005 – Why KiCad?

0010 – What is this course about?

0015 – Study Guide

0017 – Donate to KiCad

0020 – Software and Hardware requirements

Getting started with PCB design 8 Lectures

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Before you continue, download your free PDF companion

0035 – What is a PCB?

0040 – The PCB design process

0045 – Manufacturing

0050a – Installation Mac OS

0050b – Installation Windows 10

0050c – Installation Ubuntu Linux

0055 – Example project

A hands-on tour of KiCad with a simple project: Schematic Design 17 Lectures

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0060 – Introduction

0061 – Main differences between KiCad 5.0 and 5.1

0065 – Start Kicad

0070 – Start Eeschema for the first time

0085 – Eeschema – Mouse and hotkeys

0095 – Eeschema – Left toolbar

0105 – Eeschema – Right toolbar

0140 – Eeschema – Top toolbar

0150 – Eeschema – Top toolbar symbol editor and browser

0152 – Eeschema – Top toolbar footprint

0155 – Eeschema – Top toolbar annotator

0160 – Eeschema – Top toolbar Electrical Rules Check

0165 – Eeschema – Top toolbar symbol & footprint associations

0170 – Eeschema – Top toolbar Netlist file

0172 – Eeschema – Bill of materials & back import

0175 – Eeschema – Status bar

0180 – Eeschema – Remaining menu items

A hands-on tour of KiCad with a simple project: Layout 32 Lectures

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0185 – Simple project Pcbnew – Introduction

0190 – The UI and the Layout Sheet

0210 – Left toolbar

0215 – Top toolbar

0220 – Import the Netlist

0230 – Design Rules Check

0245 – Right toolbar and wiring

0250 – Standard mode and the Net highlighter

0260 – Add footprint

0275 – Edge cut

0276 – Mounting holes

0277 – Copper fill zone

0280 – Graphics

0290 – Status bar

0295 – Layers manager

0305 – The File menu

0310 – The Edit menu

0315 – The View menu

0325 – The Setup menu Design Rules Editor

0330 – The Setup menu Layers Setup

0340 – The Place menu

0345 – Route & Differential pairs

0350 – Route menu, Interactive Router

0355 – Inspect menu, Design Rules Checker

0360a – Tools menu and Netlist

0360b – Tools menu and Update PCB from Schematic

0360c – Tools menu and Update Footprints from Library

0360d – Tools menu and Set Layer Pairs

0365 – Environment Variables & Footprint Libraries

0370 – General Settings & Display Options

0380 – Help menu and Documentation

Design principles and basic concepts 15 Lectures

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0390 – Design principles and basic concepts – Introduction

0400 – Schematic symbols

0410 – PCB materials and FR4

0415 – Traces

0420 – Pads and holes

0430 – Annular ring

0435 – Solder mask

0440 – Silkscreen

0445 – Drill bit and drill hit

0450 – Surface mounted devices

0455 – Gold Fingers

0465 – Solder paste and paste stencil

0470 – Pick-and-place

Additional design considerations 5 Lectures

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0475 – Schematic design workflow

0520 – PCB layout workflow

0570 – Shape and size

0575 – Layers

0580 – Traces

Project 1: Design a simple breadboard power supply PCB 24 Lectures

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0610 – Project 1 – Introduction

0615 – Walk through a simple project

0620 – What you will build and list of parts

0625 – Project 1 Schematic

0627 – Project 1 – What you will learn

0630 – Project 1 repository

0635 – Schematic design with Eeschema

0640 – Schematic design step 1 – Setup

0641 – Add component values

0645 – Schematic design step 2 – Symbols

0650a – Schematic design step 3 – Arrange, Annotate

0650b – Schematic design step 3 – Associate

0655 – Schematic design step 4 – Wiring

0660 – Schematic design step 5 & 6 – Nets & Electrical Rules Check

0670 – Schematic design step 7 – Comments

0675 – Project 1 – Schematic design step 8 – Netlist

0685 – Layout design step 1 – Setup

0690 – Layout design step 2 – Outline and constraints

0695 – Layout design step 3 – Place components

0700 – Layout design step 4 – Route

0705 – Layout design step 5 – Copper fills

0710 – Layout design step 6 – Silkscreen

0715 – Layout design step 7 – Design Rules Check

0720 – Layout design step 8 – Manufacture

Project 2: Design a small Raspberry Pi HAT 21 Lectures

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0730 – Project 2 – Introduction

0735 – What you will build and list of parts

0740 – Project 2 – What you will learn

0745 – Project 2 repository

0755 – Schematic design step 1 – Setup

0760 – Schematic design step 2 – Symbols

0761 – Add component values

0765 – Schematic design step 3 – Arrange Annotate Associate

0770 – Schematic design step 4 – Wiring

0775 – Schematic design step 5 & 6 – Nets & ERC

0785 – Schematic design step 7 & 8 – Comments & Netlist

0800 – Layout design step 1 – Setup

0805a – Layout design step 2 & 3 – Outline

0805b – Layout design step 2 & 3 – Placement

0815a – Layout design step 4 – Routing

0815b – Layout design step 4 – Wiring

0820 – Layout design step 5 – Copper fills

0825a – Layout design step 6 & 7 – Silkscreen & DRC

0825b – Layout design step 6 & 7 – Fix header

0825c – Layout design step 6 & 7 – Silkscreen & DRC

0835 – Layout design step 8 – Manufacturing

Project 3: Arduino clone with build-in 512K EEPROM and clock 27 Lectures

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0840 – Project 3 – Introduction

0850 – Project 3 repository

0860 – Schematic design step 1 – Setup & Git

0865a – Schematic design step 2 – Root sheet symbols

0865b – Schematic design Step 2 – Connector sheet symbols

0865c – Schematic design step 2 – Import a third-party symbol library

0865d – Schematic design step 2 – Create custom symbol

0865e – Schematic design step 2 – Added missing crystals

0870a – Schematic design step 3 – Arrange & Annotate

0870b – Schematic design step 3 – Associate

0870c – Schematic design step 3 – Component values

0875a – Schematic design step 4 – Hierarchical labels and pins

Correction to the SCL pin label

0875b – Schematic design step 4 – Wiring the connectors sheet

0875c – Schematic design step 4 – Wiring the root sheet

0885 – Schematic design step 7 – Comments

0890 – Schematic design step 8 – Netlist

0892 – Git checkout example

0900 – Layout design step 1 – Setup

0905a – Layout design steps 2 & 3 – Outline component placement 1st revision

0905b – Layout design steps 2 & 3 – Outline component placement 2nd revision

0907 – Install FreeRouting

0915 – Using the autorouter two layers

0920 – Using the autorouter four layers

0930 – Layout design step 5 – Copper fills

0935 – Layout design step 6 – Silkscreen

0945 – Layout design step 8 – Manufacture

Recipes 14 Lectures

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0955a – Install symbol libraries

0955b – Install footprint libraries

1005 – How to create a custom graphic

1045a – Create a custom footprint, introduction

1045b – Create a custom footprint, 1: Fabrication

1045c – Create a custom footprint, 2: Pads

1045d – Create a custom footprint, 3: Courtyard

1045e – Create a custom footprint, 4: Silkscreen

1135 – How to install 3D shapes

2100 – Recipe – How to change a footprint in Pcbnew

2110 – Recipe – How to import a 3D shape from grabcad.com

2125 – Recipe – How to make a global text or graphic change in Pcbnew

2130 – Recipe – How to import symbols, footrpints and 3D shapes from Snapeda

2135 – Recipe – How to create custom sizes for tracks and vias

Conclusion 2 Lectures

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Congratulations!

KiCad Like a Pro 2e (ebook) and other courses from Tech Explorations