PCB Design

with the
KiCad EDA
PRESENTED BY RICHARD GOWEN (@alt_bier)
Created for BSidesDFW 2020 HHV
This Slide Deck Is Available at https://altbier.us/pcb/
 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/
 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.

Project Schematic PCB Gerber PCB &

File Layout Layout File Component
Explorer Editor Editor Viewer Calculator
Eeschema Pcbnew GerbView
Symbol Footprint Bitmap Page Layout
Editor Editor Converter Editor
 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

Electrical Rules Check Assign Footprints to Symbols

Select
Highlight Net
Place Symbol
Power Port
Page Place Wire
Settings Open Place Bus
Open Generate
Symbol Footprint Netlist Wire to Bus
Editor Editor Bus to Bus
Option No Connection Flag
Junction
Toggles
Net Label
Global Label
Hierarchical Label
Create Hierarchical Sheet
Hierarchical Pin Import
Create Hierarchical Pin
Graphic Lines
Place Text
 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 click and
choose the Edit Properties menu
 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 Button Quick Reference

Plot Gerber Files Choose Working Layer

Board Setup Choose

Visible
Change Track & Layers
Via & Grid Settings
Select
Highlight Net
Ratsnest
Open Load Add Footprint
Footprint Netlist Route Tracks
Editor Add
Add Filled Zones Vias
Keepout Areas
Graphic
Option
Toggles Lines Graphic
Graphic Arc Circle
Graphic
Add Polygon
Text
Add
Layer Dimension
Alignment
 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.
 PCB Manufacturing
Once you have completed your design you are ready to send it to be manufactured.
There are several factors to consider when choosing a PCB manufacturer. Cost is
probably the top factor. But time and location and quality are all also important. The
cheapest PCB manufacturer might take months to deliver or might have poor quality.
Look at customer reviews and do some small prototype runs to confirm they meet your
needs. There are many PCB manufacturers to choose from.
Here are a few:
• https://pcbshopper.com/ Travelocity like site for PCB Mfrs.
• https://jlcpcb.com/ Very Inexpensive but with some limitations.
• https://pcbway.com/ Inexpensive and fast shipping.
• https://oshpark.com/ Beautiful, High Quality, made in USA
 THANK YOU
I hope you enjoyed this presentation and learned something from it.
-- @alt_bier

This Slide Deck – https://altbier.us/pcb/

Code – https://github.com/gowenrw/BSidesDFW_2020_HHV/