Note: You can now place your orders directly through the Wellcircuits Plugin for KiCad

Welcome! Today, we’ll be diving into Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software, with a focus on KiCAD, one of the leading tools for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs). KiCAD is essential for engineers and designers, and it’s critical for students and professionals alike to become familiar with this versatile software. While there are several other EDA tools available, such as Proteus, Eagle, Altium, and Fritzing, our primary focus will be on KiCAD.

Introduction to KiCAD

KiCAD is an open-source EDA software suite first introduced in 1992 by Jean-Pierre Charras. Over the years, it has evolved significantly and is now managed by the KiCAD Development Team.

• As an open-source tool, KiCAD is used for designing electrical circuits, generating schematics, PCB layout, and routing. It also creates the necessary files for PCB manufacturing.

Why Use KiCAD?

Let’s explore why KiCAD is a valuable tool for PCB designers.

• Open-Source Software: KiCAD is open-source, meaning designers retain full ownership of their projects. You can freely use, modify, and distribute your design data.

Imagine owning your designs without any restrictions. KiCAD offers this freedom, allowing you to work on projects without licensing concerns.

• Free to Use: Unlike many other EDA tools, KiCAD is completely free. Why pay for expensive software when you can access a fully featured tool at no cost?

KiCAD is free for everyone. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, you can download and use it without any financial investment.

• Advanced Features: KiCAD offers robust features such as length matching, interactive routing, and differential pair routing. Additionally, being open-source, it allows for integration with external tools, such as autorouters, through add-ons.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: KiCAD works seamlessly on Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it a versatile tool for designers using different operating systems.

• No Limitations: KiCAD does not have a “lite” or “pro” version. The software is the same for all users, offering the full suite of tools and capabilities.

Getting Started with KiCAD

To start using KiCAD, you need to download and install the software.

• Visit www.kicad.org to download the latest version. Follow the installation instructions provided.
• After installation, launch KiCAD to access the user interface.
• The interface is highly intuitive, with user-friendly commands that are essential for the design process. Let’s review some key features.

Key Commands in KiCAD

Let’s begin with the navigation bar:

• The navigation bar, located at the top left corner, contains five critical navigation windows: File, View, Tools, Browse, Preferences, and Help.

1. File:

The “File” menu is where you create new projects or open existing ones. For beginners, two essential commands are “New Project” and “Open Project.”

When selecting “New Project,” you’re prompted to create a new project. If you select “Open Project,” you can access a previously saved project on your computer.

• When you create a new project, you will be asked to save it. Here, you can assign a name and choose the destination folder for the project.

• After naming and saving the project, you’ll see a new interface where you can begin designing your PCB.

• Let’s now look at other important commands:

• Browser: This shows the progress of your design. All components you add will be displayed here.
• Schematic Layout Editor: This is where you create and edit your schematics.
• Symbol Editor: Use this to modify symbols for components in your schematic.
• Footprint Editor: This tool allows you to edit component footprints, which are essential for the physical layout of your PCB.
• Page Layout Editor: This editor allows you to adjust your workspace for optimal design management.
• Working Area: This is the main area where you will design your schematic and PCB layout.

Common KiCAD Hotkeys

Hotkeys are crucial for speeding up the design process. Let’s take a look at some commonly used hotkeys in KiCAD.

• These hotkeys are particularly useful in the schematic design phase.

Schematic Design Hotkeys

These hotkeys streamline the schematic creation process in KiCAD.

PCB Layout Hotkeys

These hotkeys help speed up the PCB layout process.

In the left column, filtered footprints will appear. Once you find the right footprint in the right column, double-click to add it to your design.

• For example, let’s add footprints to a simple power supply design. I’ll leave some components without footprints so you can see the process in action.