7. Electronics design*¶
7.1 The design of a PCB¶
This week proved to be a rather challenging one, as we had to begin conceptualizing what goes into the design and creation of a PCB. The main task was to begin working an Electronic Design Automation tool, in this case, the KiCad PCB Design Software.
7.2 KiCad - A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite¶
KiCad appears to be one of the best alternatives, aside from being freely available and open source. It offers a broad set of robust features, like an integrated environment where schematic entries and PCB layout design run in parallel. The first one allows for the creation of the content inside the board (capacitors, microcontroller, resistors, voltage regulators, et cet.). The second one works on the actual arrangement and production of the main file — the matrix used in the CNC precision milling machine in charge of producing our electronic circuit boards.
At the beginning I thought about taking maze designs and use them to construct boards, however, it was soon easy to understand the difficulty embedded in the design of a PCB for functionality. If lucky, one can mostly only manage to determine the size and position of elements. The resolution was to make a simple board using a ATSAMD11C14A microcontroller.
7.2.1 KiCad Installation¶
KiCad was yet another program one must get acquainted to. I began by installing KiCad v5 on my iOS Mac and encounter some specific problems:
Problem 1. The FabCloud tutorial for this week only covered Eagle and was missing information on KiCad.
Solution: Less efficient, yet always surprisingly effective was to ask around the lab and to put in [copious amounts of] time to learn.
Problem 2: Version 5.0 of KiCad would not allow access to the installed Lab Libraries as well as component footprints.
Solution: Upgrade to the newest version [6.0] and adapt to not having FabCloud Tutorials on the subject as well as [almost] no one with deep understanding of the actual functionality. This strategic solution came loaded with unexpected issues and loads of opportunities to learn new tings.
Figure . KiCad Main website.
Resources¶
- Scherz, P. and Monk, S., 2016. Practical electronics for inventors. McGraw-Hill Education.