PCB Design

with the
KiCad EDA
 What are all these acronyms?
• PCB = Printed Circuit Board
• A PCB mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components using
conductive tracks and pads that are etched from copper laminated on sheets of a
non-conductive substrate. The pattern is etched using a form of photolithography
allowing mass duplication like photographs from a film negative thus ‘printing’ the
circuit boards.

• EDA = Electronic Design Automation

• A category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as integrated
circuits and printed circuit boards.

• KiCad = “Ki” + Computer Aided Design

• The term ‘Ki’ (pronounced Key even though I keep saying it wrong) is a reference to
a company that the original software author Jean-Pierre Charras knew.
• Computer Aided Design refers to the use of computers in the creation, modification,
analysis, or optimization of a design.
• KiCad is an open source software suite for electronic design automation.
 KiCad Overview
KiCad is an open source software suite for EDA that has the following features:
• A Schematic editor to create your design.
• It comes with a stocked library of schematic symbols but also includes a schematic
symbol editor to modify or create your own
• A PCB Layout editor supporting up to 32 copper layers with auto-routing options.
• It comes with a stocked library of PCB footprints but also includes a footprint editor
to modify or create your own
• A 3D Viewer which allows you to inspect your design in an interactive canvas.
• It comes with a stocked library of 3D models and includes options to easily import
additional 3D models as needed and tie them to footprints.
• These three features being linked together with reference points between
symbols and footprints and models allows for ease of design with quick visual
confirmation
• You can download the program and find libraries and documentation here:
https://kicad-pcb.org/
HOW TO DOWNLOAD KI-CAD ?

Steps:-
• 1. Open your web browser and go to https://www.kicad.org
• 2. Click the 'Download' button in the top navigation bar.
• 3. Choose your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• 4. Download the installer for the latest version of KiCad.
• 5. Open the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions.
Click Here to open download
KiCad
KiCad EDA - Schematic Captur
e & PCB Design Software
Choose Your Operating System and download KiCad
 Project File Layout
KiCad will create files in a project directory when you work with various features.
Here is a list of those files and a recommended directory structure to use for
organization.

• < project name >.pro – the main project file.

Holds parameters that apply to the entire project (e.g. schematic, PCB layout, etc.).
• < project name >.sch – a schematic file.
• < project name >.kicad_pcb - a PCB New layout file.
• < project name >.net – netlist in "Pcbnew" format
• < project name >.bak – backup of schematic file.
• < project name >.kicad_pcb-bak – backup of the new PCB layout file.
• < project name >-cache.lib – a local cache copy of all the symbols used in the schematic
• < project name >-kicad_wks – page layout worksheet template file
• fp-lib-table – Footprint library list
• sym-lib-table – Schematic library list
• ./3d_models/ – Optional directory contains local 3d model files
• ./gerber/ – Optional directory contains gerber formatted output files for manufacturing
• ./lib_fp/ – Optional directory contains local footprint module directories
• ./lib_sh/ – Optional directory contains local schematic library files
• ./snapshots/ – Optional directory contains prints of schematic / cad files and images
 Setting Project Preferences
You will want to review some default
project setting and adjust them as needed.
• Configure Paths allows you to set which
directories will be searched for files
• Manage Symbol Libraries allows you to
set which global libraries will be available
to your project and the location of local
project specific libraries (e.g.
/lib_sh/local.lib)
• Manage Footprint Libraries allows you to
set which global libraries will be available
to your project and the location of local
project specific libraries (e.g.
/lib_fp/local.pretty)
KiCad Program Layout
The program layout is intuitive and easy to navigate.
BASIC INFORMATION
 KiCad Design Workflow
• Open Eeschema to create a schematic
• Use the symbol editor as needed to create or modify symbols
• Use the calculator as needed to verify component values.
• Associate component symbols with footprints
• Use the footprint editor if needed to create or modify footprints
• Generate a Netlist file from Eeschema
• Open Pcbnew to layout the PCB
• Import the Netlist file
• Size the board, move components around, run traces, add vias,
etc.
• Use the calculator as needed to verify track widths and
spacing.
• Associate component footprints with 3D models if needed
• Use the 3D viewer to visually inspect your work.
• Plot gerber files from Pcbnew for manufacturing
• Open GerbView to confirm the integrity of the Gerber files
• Send Gerber files to manufacturer
Eeschema Schematic Layout Editor
Eeschema Button Quick Reference
 Eeschema Schematic Layout Editor
Eeschema Basics

• To place a new symbol on your schematic

click the Place Symbol tool and click on the
schematic page. You will be prompted to
choose a symbol from the available libraries.
• To move or rotate a placed symbol right-click
it and choose the move or orientation menus
• To connect symbols choose the wire or bus
tool and select the symbol pins to connect.
• To edit a symbol reference number double-
click on it
• To edit all the properties of a symbol right
 Eeschema Schematic Layout Editor
Eeschema Basics
• To add additional information to a symbol under edit
properties click the + add field and enter your text
and choose if it should be shown.
• To place a label click the global label tool and click on
the schematic. You will be prompted enter the label
and other setting like orientation.
• Global labels can be used to connect wire nets
without crossing wires on the schematic.
• Make sure that all your symbols have associated
footprints by clicking the Assign Footprints button and
selecting footprints for the symbols that need them.
• When complete click the Generate Netlist button to
create the file that will be imported into Pcbnew
 Symbol Editor
The Symbol Editor works much like the Eeschema Schematic Layout Editor. The
major difference being that you are working with one symbol in a library at a time.
You can copy symbols to have variations of text or footprint assignments.
These symbols are stored in the libraries that are available for use by Eeschema.
Pcbnew PCB Layout Editor
 Pcbnew PCB Layout Editor
Pcbnew Basics
• When starting a new layout or to update a layout from
schematic changes you will click the Load Netlist button to
load all the schematic components. This will prompt you for
the file and how you want to handle existing footprints.
• This will load or update the footprints in your layout
showing lines connecting them where traces will need to be.
• Using the select tool and the properties settings move and
orient your footprints where you want them on the board
• Select a copper layer as the active layer and click on route
tracks to run traces between the footprint pads
• To add silkscreen text to the board select front silk as the
active layer and click the add text button and click the
board. This will prompt you for the text and settings. You
can move this around on the PCB as needed after creation.
 Pcbnew PCB Layout Editor
Pcbnew Basics
• To size your PCB you need to give it an outline in the edge cuts
layer. Select Edge Cuts as the active layer and click the Add
Graphic Lines tool. Then draw your outline surrounding your
component footprints.
• The Edge Cuts layer can also define cut outs in the PCB.
• To visually inspect your work you can use the 3D viewer by
selecting it under the view menu.
• This provides an interactive 3D render of your PCB.
• When you are done click on Plot to generate Gerber files for
manufacturing. The options you choose here will be dictated by
the manufacturer you are planning to use.
• In addition to the Gerber formatted design file it is usually
necessary to also produce additional drill files. This is done
within the plot menu by choosing the Generate Drill Files
button.
 Footprint Editor
The Footprint Editor works much like the Pcbnew PCB Layout Editor. The major
difference being that you are working with one footprint in a library at a time.
You can copy footprints to have variations of text or 3D model assignments.
These footprints are stored in the libraries that are available for use by Pcbnew.
 Gerber File Viewer
The Gerber File Viewer lets you load Gerber formatted design files for viewing.
These can be files you have created or from a project you downloaded.
There is a separate Gerber file for each layer of the design. You can open
multiple files at once to overlay the entire PCB design.
 Bitmap to Component Converter
This tool takes a bitmap image to generate a footprint file.
This can be a handy way to import a logo to your silkscreen layer.
It’s also good for complex fill areas or edge cuts created in an art
program.
 PCB Calculator
This tool bundles several useful calculation and reference items.
 Page Layout Editor
This tool allows you to change the default look of the printed
design pages.
TUTORIAL NO 1: TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR
ARDUINO

• Overwive:- In this tutorial, we will design a PCB layout and schematic to

connect an Arduino with LEDs for a traffic light system.

• Key Steps:
• - Create the schematic with LEDs, resistors, and Arduino pins
• - Assign footprints to components
• - Arrange components on the PCB
• - Route traces and generate fabrication files
Basic Schematic

Components:-
1. Connection Pin 01x04
2. Register:- 3
3. Led :- 3
Create new Project with name
stopLight all extension will come
automatic
• Now Start with making the schematic

After click on
this button,
you can add
the
components
Now add the components according to
Diagram
 After completing the full Schematics then assign
footprint
After assigned the footprint Save the file and now open the Pcbnew Window
After opening the Pcbnew
Window update the
Schematics then the
layout will come
automatic
Here is Schimatic will come with components so rearranged it
with suitable style and maek it shorter
 Connecti
on lines

Here We arranged the components

according to our requirements now
After Connecting all Components, each other now
check the 3D view from the views tab
Now 3d View is generated and after you can download the the files to
prints
TUTORIAL NO 2 – FIRE ALARM PCB
Overview:- Fire Alarm using Thermistor Here we are building one simple fire
alarm system , which will
sense the fire (temperature rise in surrounding), and trigger the alarm. The key
component of
the
Keycircuit
Steps:is Thermistor, which has been used as fire detector or fire sensor.
- Create the schematic with LEDs, resistors, and
Arduino pins
- Assign footprints to components
- Arrange components on the PCB
- Route traces and generate fabrication files
Note:- All Steps and Procedure are same as Previous Tutorial just
it update the Schematic and and Pcb Layout
SCHEMATICS OF FIRE ALARM
Schimatics are crated and its also Anoted the file with
full coonection with footprint
Assigned footprint to All
componets
In the Pcb Layout file all Connection and the
After Connection of all componts here Is 3d and 2d view of the
pcb so here pcb has been Created for the fire alarm
Thank
you
Any Questions ?