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Week 6

Week 6 Electronics Design

KiCad is an open source software suite for Electronic Design Automation (EDA). The programs handle Schematic Capture, and PCB Layout with Gerber and IPC-2581 output. The suite runs on Windows, Linux and macOS and is licensed under GNU GPL v3.

Mission Statement The goal of the KiCad project is to provide the best possible cross platform electronics design application for professional electronics designers. Every effort is made to hide the complexity of advanced design features so that KiCad remains approachable by new and inexperienced users, but when determining the direction of the project and the priority of new features, the needs of professional users take precedence.

  1. Software Setup

I installed KiCad version 9.0 and configured it step by step. I added required plugins and connected the FabLab (FabLib) library, which contains all necessary components for the course. After setup, I verified that all symbols and footprints were correctly linked and ready for use.

  1. Schematic Design

I created a new project and started building the schematic by placing electronic components such as resistors, diodes, and a microcontroller. Then I connected them using wires (nets).

Special attention was given to correct polarity, power connections (VCC, GND), and proper pin mapping of the microcontroller. I also used labels to simplify complex connections and improve readability of the schematic.

  1. PCB Layout

After completing the schematic, I transferred it to the PCB editor using the F8 command (Update PCB from Schematic). All components appeared automatically in the workspace.

I arranged them carefully to ensure efficient current flow and compact design. Then I routed the tracks, making sure connections were short, clean, and without unnecessary overlaps. I avoided sharp angles and maintained proper spacing between traces.

  1. Board Finalization

I defined the board outline and selected the required layers for fabrication. A ground plane (copper fill) was added to improve electrical stability and reduce noise.

After that, I performed a Design Rule Check (DRC) to detect possible errors such as unconnected nets or short circuits. All issues were resolved, confirming that the board is ready for manufacturing.

  1. Problems and Results

During the design process, I encountered several issues, including incorrect connections in the schematic and difficulties with routing. These problems were solved by carefully reviewing the design and optimizing component placement.

As a result, I successfully generated all necessary design files (schematic, PCB layout, and Gerber files) and created a final 3D “hero shot” of the board.

What I Learned

Through this project, I improved my skills in using KiCad, understood the full workflow from schematic to PCB, and learned how to prepare a design for real fabrication.