KiCad PCB Design Course Structure and Study Guide

In this lecture, we will cover the structure of the KiCad PCB Design course to help you understand the organization of the content and how to approach it. The course is designed to be flexible, catering to both beginners and experienced PCB designers. Depending on your familiarity with PCB design and KiCad, you can follow different pathways to maximize your learning.

The course is divided into five main parts:

  1. Introduction to PCBs and KiCad
  2. First Simple Hands-on Project
  3. KiCad and PCB Fundamentals
  4. Project-Based Learning
  5. Recipes and Specific How-to Guides

Let’s explore into each of these parts and see how they contribute to your journey in mastering PCB design using KiCad.

Part 1: Introduction to PCBs and KiCad

Overview

This part provides a foundational introduction to printed circuit boards (PCBs) and KiCad. It’s essential for those who are new to PCB design, as it covers key concepts and terminology. You’ll also learn how to install and configure KiCad on your system.

Topics Covered

  • Basic PCB Concepts: Understand the structure of PCBs, the different layers, and the manufacturing process.
  • Installing KiCad: A step-by-step guide on how to install KiCad on different operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux).
  • Getting Started with KiCad: Create your first KiCad project, explore the interface, and familiarize yourself with the tools available.

Who should focus on this part?
If you're new to PCB design, you should complete this section to ensure you have a solid grasp of the basic concepts before moving on to more complex tasks.

Part 2: First Simple Hands-on Project

Overview

The second part of the course features a simple, hands-on project designed to help you get familiar with KiCad's workflow. This project involves creating your first PCB, allowing you to apply the concepts you’ve learned from Part 1.

Project: Designing Your First PCB

  • Project Focus: This project focuses on the KiCad workflow, not the complexity of the circuit. It involves a basic circuit with only a handful of components, making it easier to learn KiCad’s tools and design process without being overwhelmed by complex electronics.
  • Goals: Learn to navigate KiCad, place components, connect them, and generate output files for PCB manufacturing.

Who should focus on this part?
If you are new to KiCad or PCB design in general, this hands-on project is crucial to help you transition from theory to practice.

Part 3: KiCad and PCB Fundamentals

Overview

This part explores into fundamental concepts of PCB design and key features of KiCad. It includes four sections that build on the knowledge from Parts 1 and 2, offering in-depth explanations of essential design principles and workflows in KiCad.

Topics Covered

  • Vias and Keep-Out Areas: Learn how to control where traces and components can be placed on your board.
  • Schematic and Layout Workflows: Master the schematic editor and the PCB editor in KiCad. Understand how to transition between schematic capture and layout design.
  • Footprint Assignment and Creation: Associate components with physical footprints and learn how to create custom footprints.
  • Copper Zones and Net Classes: Understand how to manage power planes and signal routing using copper zones. Explore net classes for organizing and enforcing design rules.
  • Electrical Rule Checking (ERC) and Design Rule Checking (DRC): Ensure your design adheres to both electrical and physical constraints.

Reference Section

The material in Part 3 is designed to be reference content—you don’t have to memorize everything here in one go. These lectures are meant to be revisited when you need to refresh your knowledge or learn how to perform specific tasks.

Who should focus on this part?
If you are new to PCB design, it's essential to watch these lectures after completing the hands-on project. If you're an experienced PCB designer but new to KiCad, you can jump directly to sections covering specific features of KiCad, such as the schematic editor or the PCB editor.

Part 4: Project-Based Learning

Overview

This part is the core of the course. It consists of multiple hands-on projects that increase in complexity, allowing you to practice the skills learned earlier. Each project builds on the previous one, reinforcing your understanding while introducing new KiCad features and techniques.

Example Projects

  • Breadboard Power Supply: Design a simple power supply board that can be used with Arduino projects. You’ll practice creating a two-layer PCB, applying interactive routing, and generating Gerber files.
  • MCU Data Logger: This project introduces a four-layer PCB, demonstrating how to manage more complex designs. You’ll learn to use KiCad’s Autorouter for trace placement and integrate version control (Git/GitHub) for team collaboration.

Key Skills Practiced

  • Interactive Routing: Master the use of KiCad’s routing tools to efficiently place traces.
  • Copper Zones and Power Planes: Implement copper zones to manage power distribution and signal integrity.
  • Net Classes: Organize and manage the electrical connections in your design to ensure adherence to different signal requirements.
  • Version Control: Use Git and GitHub for project management and team collaboration.

Who should focus on this part?
Everyone should work through these projects. They are the best way to reinforce the knowledge from the reference sections and apply KiCad features in real-world scenarios. Beginners should complete the earlier projects before moving on to more complex designs, while experienced designers may start with more advanced projects.

Part 5: Recipes and Specific How-to Guides

Overview

The Recipes section contains a series of how-to guides focused on specific tasks and challenges you may encounter while using KiCad. These tutorials are designed to be quick references when you need to perform a specific action, such as creating a custom footprint or exporting a Bill of Materials (BOM).

Example Recipes

  • Creating a Custom Graphic for Silkscreen: Learn how to import and place custom graphics on your PCB silkscreen.
  • Using Git and GitHub for Version Control: A guide to integrating version control into your PCB design workflow for collaboration.
  • Exporting BOMs Using a Plugin: Automate BOM generation with third-party plugins to streamline your workflow.
  • Using an Autorouter for Complex Designs: Explore the capabilities of KiCad’s Autorouter and how to set up routing constraints for optimal results.

External Tools Integration

The recipes section also covers how to integrate KiCad with external tools like FreeRouting (for more advanced auto-routing) and using Python scripts to automate certain tasks.

Who should focus on this part?
These how-to guides are suitable for users at any level. Whenever you need to perform a specific task in KiCad, this section provides quick and easy solutions.

Conclusion and Study Tips

To get the most out of this course:

  1. New Designers: Start by completing Parts 1, 2, and 3 to build a solid foundation before moving on to the more complex projects in Part 4. Revisit Part 3 and 5 whenever you need specific guidance or to refresh your knowledge.

  2. Experienced Designers: Feel free to skip directly to Part 3 to familiarize yourself with KiCad’s tools, then dive into Part 4’s projects to practice your skills. Use Part 5 as needed for specific tasks.

The hands-on approach of this course, combined with a strong reference framework, will ensure that by the end, you are confident in using KiCad to design professional-grade PCBs. As you complete the projects and explore KiCad’s advanced features, you’ll find that your knowledge and capabilities in PCB design will grow steadily.