PCB Manufacturing

2. Introduction to Kicad Layout

Institute of Technology of Cambodia

Electrical and Energy Engineering Departement

Theara SENG

March 16, 2024

Outline
Objective

1 Objective Introduction to Layout

design and objective
of this section

2 Introduction to Layout design and objective of this section Start PCB Editor,
import footprint

Outline and Constrains

3 Start PCB Editor, import footprint (edge cut)

Footprint
4 Outline and Constrains (edge cut) Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

5 Footprint Graphic)

6 Refine the outline

7 Silkscreen (Text and Graphic)

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Objective
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
Understand PCB Footprint workflow of this section

Start PCB Editor,

Using the Layout Design import footprint

Outline and Constrains

Start the PCB Editor and import footprint from Eschema (edge cut)

Footprint
Outline and Constrain the PCB . Refine the outline

Using the footprint and Route Track. Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

Refine the outline

Add Text and Image Silk Scree to the PCB

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Layout Design and Objective
Objective
The final PCB layout of this simple project contain several interesting Introduction to Layout
design and objective
element of this section
Both surface-mounted and through-hole components Start PCB Editor,
import footprint
Rounded edge around the footprint of the PCB components
Silkscreen Graphic (logos) and text. Outline and Constrains
(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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PCB Editor
In this step, you will start the Pcbnew for the first time and import the Objective

schematic design from Eeschema. Introduction to Layout

design and objective
of this section
When you start the Pcbnew for the first time, it will present you with a
Start PCB Editor,
blank designer space. import footprint

When you import the schematic design from Eeschema, two primary Outline and Constrains
(edge cut)
element of the design will appear in the editor.
Footprint
The component footprint
Refine the outline
The nets that connect the footprint pins
Silkscreen (Text and
In addition to importing the schematic design data to the PCB Editor, Graphic)

there are two ways

In the main Kicad window, click on the PCB Editor button in the right pane or
.kicad_pcb
You can also start the PCB editor from the main menu. Click on Tools, PCB
Editor. or, If Eeschema is already open, you can click on the PCB Editor
button on its top menu.
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PCB Editor
Objective
To start the PCB Editor, you can click on the right pane or the through the Introduction to Layout
design and objective
.kicad_pcb of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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PCB Editor
Objective

Introduction to Layout
Start the PCB from the main menu. design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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PCB Editor
Objective
To import the data from the schematic, you will use the importer tool.
Introduction to Layout
You can invoke this tool from the menu bar ->Tools -> Update PCB from design and objective
of this section
Schematic or top toolbar in PCB Editor. Start PCB Editor,
import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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PCB Editor
The importer tool window will appear. Objective

These options are helpful when you import and update from the Introduction to Layout
design and objective
schematic desinger into the layout editor. of this section

Start PCB Editor,

For example, you may decide to delete a symbol from your schematic import footprint
and this will help you to update the correct footprint for your PCB Outline and Constrains
(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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PCB Editor
In this case, simply click "Update PCB" to populate the layout editor and Objective

then "close" to close the importer window. Introduction to Layout

design and objective
of this section
Your layout editor should now look like this
Start PCB Editor,
import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Page Setting

First we can add the page setting Objective

Introduction to Layout
From the file menu, select page setting design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Page Setting
Objective
In the page setting window, add some helpful content in form fields.
Introduction to Layout
The information you enter will appear in the layout sheet information design and objective
of this section
corner Start PCB Editor,
import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Outline and Constrain (Edge Cut)
Objective

Introduction to Layout
In this chapter, you will complete step two of the layout workflow. design and objective
of this section
To define these constrains, ask these question
Start PCB Editor,
1 How large would I like my board to be? (This indicate the overall size and import footprint

cost) Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)
2 How will I turn the LED on and off? (This dictates the location of the button
Footprint
and switch)
Refine the outline
3 What is the biggest component of the board? (This dictate the shape of the
Silkscreen (Text and
board needed to accommodate the largest component) Graphic)
4 How will I attach the board to an enclosure? (This dictates board features to
help finish the final device)
With these constraints in place, I can proceed to create a rough outline of
the board in the edge cuts layer.

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Layers
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section

First select the user layer from layer tab. Start PCB Editor,
import footprint
The user layers allow us to add text and graphic that the manufacturer Outline and Constrains
(edge cut)
ignores.
Footprint
We can create a box with the approximate dimensions of my PCB and Refine the outline
then confirm that the footprint will fit within that space. Silkscreen (Text and
Graphic)
After the necessary adjustments, we will switch to the Edge Cute Layer
and draw the actual board outline.

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Layers
Objective
Next, select the graphics box tool by clicking on its button from the right Introduction to Layout
design and objective
toolbar of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Layer

Now you have an outline. Can it fit the component? Objective

Introduction to Layout
Drag the footprint, starting with the largest one, into the outline design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Move the footprint in Place
Use the graphics circle tool and draw a circle next to the LED footprint. Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Now, change the height of the outline so that the board is thinner. Silkscreen (Text and
Graphic)
Click on the white outline to reveal the handles in the corners and
middles of each line

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Edge cut
After the outline, you can use edge cut to desire your board shape and Objective

size. Introduction to Layout

design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Once you complete the drawing of the outline in the edge cuts layer, you Silkscreen (Text and
Graphic)
can use the 3D viewer to see the rough board and its components in 3D
space.

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Route (Add tracks)
Objective
In this chapter, you will complete step four of the layout workflow.
Introduction to Layout
This is a simple board, so it is possible to draw all copper routes in a design and objective
of this section
single layer, such as the front copper layer. Start PCB Editor,
import footprint
By default, the layout editor provides a top and bottom copper layer as Outline and Constrains
you can see below. (edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Route (Add tracks)
Objective
You can configure a different set of copper layer if you wish.
Introduction to Layout
Go to File, Board Setup, choose the Physical Stackup tab, and use the design and objective
of this section
drop-down menu to select the number of copper layer for your board Start PCB Editor,
import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Route (Add tracks)
Select the "Route track tool" by clicking on its button in the right toolbar Objective

or use the "X" hotkey Introduction to Layout

design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

The cursor become a pen. To start drawing a route, click on a pad or

anywhere in the editor.
To finish drawing, again click on a pad or double click anywhere in the
editor.
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Route (Add tracks)
As you are drawing a route, you can move your mouse pointer and see Objective

how the route follows the pointer attached to it. You can define the Introduction to Layout
design and objective
geometry of the route, such as its corners and angles, by clicking of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Route (Add tracks)
Objective

Follow the same process to fully route the board, replacing each ratnest Introduction to Layout
design and objective
line with a track. This is the final route of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Route (Add tracks)
Objective
Once you finish the route track, you can check the design route tracker Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Refine the outline
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section
In this step, we will refine the board outline as now all the footprint are in
Start PCB Editor,
place and we want to change the geometry assumptions. import footprint

At the moment, the PCCB outline consists of four straight line with ninety Outline and Constrains
(edge cut)
degree angles between them. Footprint

We will make changes that implement the following Refine the outline

1 Reduce the total size of the board to minimum Silkscreen (Text and
Graphic)
2 Replace the angled corners and rounded corner
3 Enclose the battery footprint within the PCB using two rounded segment for
the top and bottom parts of the footprint

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Refine the outline
Delete the edge cut rectangle from the window, and use line edge cut to Objective

draw the width. Introduction to Layout

design and objective
Your PCB now look like this of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Click start drawing the arc Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Refine the outline
Now, move the component left by Hotkey "D", we got the image as below Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)
We will draw two circular segment around the battery holder Footprint

Befor making any changes in the edge cut layer, let’s use the USER 2 Refine the outline

Layer to draw a guide circle. Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)
The circle will help us draw the correct arc in the edge cut layer.

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Refine the outline
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section
We have drawn the blue circle to contain the battery holder footprint fully
Start PCB Editor,
and intersect with the existing edge cuts line. import footprint

Outline and Constrains

Now, using the arc to draw around the circle and delete the line and draw (edge cut)
again to connect it in a box Footprint

Then we got the board shape as the image below Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Refine the Outline

Now continue with the right side, where you want to replace the 90 Objective

degree corner with rounded corners. Introduction to Layout

design and objective
of this section
For this we will use the arc tool again.
Start PCB Editor,
First use user3 to draw a circle like the image below and draw the arc import footprint

Outline and Constrains

using edge cut (edge cut)

Then we got the board shape as the image below Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Refine the outline
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

Finally, we got the PCB as the image below with the 3D view board import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Silkscreen (Text and Graphic)
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section
In order to add the text, you need to add the silkscreen and click on the
Start PCB Editor,
"T" on the right toolbar or you can press the "T" hotkey. import footprint

Outline and Constrains

You can also change the text on the PCB to be silkscreen (edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Silkscreen (Text and Graphic)
Objective

In order to add the image to the PCB, you need to the home kicad project Introduction to Layout
design and objective
and click on the image converter of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Silkscreen (Text and Graphic)
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section
Then click on the load source image and select your image Start PCB Editor,
import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Silkscreen (Text and Graphic)
Objective
After loading the image, change the height and width of the image and Introduction to Layout
click the footprint as shown in the image below design and objective
of this section

Start PCB Editor,

import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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Silkscreen (Text and Graphic)
Objective

Introduction to Layout
design and objective
of this section

Finally, paste this in your PCB, you will see the image as below Start PCB Editor,
import footprint

Outline and Constrains

(edge cut)

Footprint

Refine the outline

Silkscreen (Text and

Graphic)

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