Kicad Like a Pro A Comprehensive Hands-on Guide for Learning the World's Favourite Open Source Printed Circuit Board Design Tool. Updated for Kicad 6.0.,

If you have never used KiCad and have little or no experience in PCB design, you should read this book it in a linear fashion. The first few chapters will give you the fundamental knowledge on which you will build your skill with the projects later in the book.If you have a good working knowledge of PCB design, but you are new to KiCad, you can learn about the KiCad fundamentals in in the middle of the book, and then continue with the projects.To get the full benefit of the book, you should consider the complementary video course. This course spans over 30 hours of high-definition video, with detailed explanations and demonstrations of all projects featured in the book. The video lectures capture techniques and procedures that are just not possible to do so in text.Covers the latest KiCad versionThe KiCad development team released KiCad 6 RC1 in November 2021, and 6.0 in December 2021. This is the largest release of KiCad ever. KiCad 6 is full of improvements and new features, including a new file format, a refreshed user interface (with a new theme editor), a new schematic editing paradigm, field name templates and text variables, and much more.I wrote this book using KiCad 6. Part 1: Introduction What is a PCB? The PCB design process Fabrication Get KiCad for your operating system Example KiCad projects Part 2: Getting started with KiCad 6 Introduction KiCad Project Manager (main window) Overview of the individual KiCad apps Paths and Libraries Create a new project from scratch Create a new project from a template KiCad 6 on Mac OS, Linux, Windows Part 3: Project - A hands-on tour of KiCad - Schematic Design Introduction to schematic design and objective of this section Design workflows summary The finished KiCad project and directory Start Kicad and create a new project 1 - Start Eeschema, setup Sheet 2 - Add symbols 3 - Arrange, annotate, associate 4 - Wiring 5 - Nets 6 - The Electrical Rules Check 7 - Comments with text and graphics Part 4: Project- A hands-on tour of KiCad - Layout Introduction to layout design and objective of this section 1 - Start Pcbnew, import footprints 2 - Outline and constraints (edge cut) 3 - Move footprints in place 4 - Route (add tracks) 5 - Refine the outline 6 - Silkscreen (text and graphics) 7 - Design rules check 8 - Export Gerbers and order The manufactured PCB Part 5: Design principles and PCB terms Introduction Schematic symbols PCB key terms FR4 Traces Pads and holes Via Annular ring Soldermask Silkscreen Drill bit and drill hit Surface mounted devices Gold Fingers Keep-out areas Panel Solder paste and paste stencil Pick-and-place Part 6: PCB design workflows The KiCad Schematic Design Workflow Schematic Design Step 1: Setup Schematic Design Step 2: Symbols Schematic Design Step 3: AAA (Arrange, Annotate, Associate) Schematic Design Step 4: Wire Schematic Design Step 5: Nets Schematic Design Step 6: Electrical Rules Check Schematic Design Step 7: Comments and Graphics The KiCad Layout Design Workflow Layout Design Step 1: Setup Layout Design Step 2: Outline and constraints Layout Design Step 3: Place footprints Layout Design Step 4a: Route Layout Design Step 4b: Copper fills Layout Design Step 5: Silkscreen Layout Design Step 6: Design rules check Layout Design Step 7: Export & Manufacture Part 7: Fundamental Kicad how-to: Symbols and Eeschema Introduction Left toolbar overview Top toolbar overview Right toolbar overview Schematic editor preferences How to find a symbol with the Chooser How to find schematic symbols on the Internet How to install symbol libraries in bulk How to create a custom symbol How to associate a symbol with a footprint Net labels Net classes Hierarchical sheets Global labels Hierarchical labels and import sheet pin Electrical rules and customization Bulk editing of schematic elements Part 8: Fundamental Kicad how-to: Footprints and Pcbnew Introduction Left toolbar Top toolbar Top toolbar Row 1 Top toolbar Row 2 Right toolbar Right toolbar main buttons Right toolbar - Appearance Layout editor preferences Board Setup Board Setup - Board Stackup Board Setup - Text & Graphics Board Setup - Design Rules and net classes Board Setup - Design Rules - Custom Rules and violation severity How to find and use a footprint Footprint sources on the Internet How to install footprint libraries Filled zones Keep-out zones Interactive router Length measuring tools Bulk editing Create a custom footprint, introduction Create a new library and footprint Create a footprint, 1, Fabrication layer Create a footprint, 2, Pads Create a footprint, 3, Courtyard layer Create a footprint, 4, Silkscreen layer Use the new footprint Finding and using a 3D shape for a footprint How to export and test Gerber files Part 9: Project - Design a simple breadboard power supply PCB Introduction Schematic design editing 1 - Setup 2 - Symbols 2 - Edit Component values 3 - Arrange, Annotate 3 - Associate 4 - Wiring 5 & 6 - Nets and Electrical Rules Check 7 - Comments Layout design editing 1 - Setup 2 - Outline and constraints 3 - Place footprints 2 - Refine the outline 4 - Route 5 - Copper fills 6 - Silkscreen 7 - Design Rules Check 8 - Manufacturing postponed Export and Manufacture Finding and correcting a design defect Fix the schematic Fix the layout Part 10: Project - A 4 x 8 x 8 LED matrix array Introduction Schematic design 1 - SetupSchematic designSchema 1 - SetupSchema 2 - SymbolsSchema 3 - Arrange, AnnotateSchema 3 - AssociateSchema 4 - WiringSchema 5 - NetsSchema 6 - Electrical Rules CheckSchema 7 - CommentsSchema - Last-minute editsLayout designLayout 1 - SetupLayout 2 - Outline and constraintsLayout 3 - Place componentsLayout 2 supplemental - Refine outlineLayout 3 supplemental - Move footprints to back layerLayout 4 - RouteLayout 4 - Copper fillsLayout 5 - SilkscreenLayout 6 - Design Rules CheckLayout 7 - ManufactureBonus - 3D shapesBonus - Found a bug in the schematic! (and fix)The assembled and working PCB 2 - Symbols 3 - Arrange, Annotate 3 - Associate 4 - Wiring 5 - Nets Layout design editing 1 - Setup 2 - Outline and constraints 3 - Place components 2 - Refine outline 3 - Move footprints 4 - Route 4 - Copper fills 5 - Silkscreen 6 - Design Rules Check 7 - Manufacture Bonus - 3D shapesBonus - Found a bug in the schematic! (and fix)Bonus - 3D shapesBonus - Found a bug in the schematic! (and fix)The assembled and working PCBThe assembled and working PCB Bonus - Found a bug in the schematic! (and fix) The assembled and working PCBSchematic designSchema 1 - SetupSchema 2 - SymbolsSchema 3 - Arrange, AnnotateSchema 3 - AssociateSchema 4 - WiringSchema 5 - NetsSchema 6 - Electrical Rules CheckSchema 7 - CommentsSchema - Last-minute editsLayout designLayout 1 - SetupLayout 2 - Outline and constraintsLayout 3 - Place componentsLayout 2 supplemental - Refine outlineLayout 3 supplemental - Move footprints to back layerLayout 4 - RouteLayout 4 - Copper fillsLayout 5 - SilkscreenLayout 6 - Design Rules CheckLayout 7 - ManufactureBonus - 3D shapesBonus - Found a bug in the schematic! (and fix)The assembled and working PCB Part 11 : Project - MCU datalogger Project - Introduction Create the new project and Git repository Schematic design Schema 1 - Setup Schema 2 - Symbols Schema 2 - Sheet two Schema 3 - Arrange, Annotate Edit component values Schema 3 - Associate Schema 4 - Wiring of sheet 1 Schema 4 - Wiring of sheet 2 Schema 5 - Nets Schema 6 - Electrical Rules Check Schema 7 - Comments Create the 2-layer branch in Git Layout design Layout 1 - Setup Layout 2 - Outline and constraints Layout 3 - Place components Layout 2 - Outline refinement Layout 4 - Route Layout 4 - Copper fills Layout 4 - Routing improvements Layout 5 - Silkscreen Layout 4 - Routing violations and complete silkscreen Layout 6 - Design Rules Check Layout 7 - Manufacture 3D shapes Merge 2-layer branch to main Design 4 Layer PCB in new Git branch Four-layer PCB routing Four-layer PCB manufacturing Updating layout from changes to the schematic with Git Finding and correcting a design defect Fix the schematic Fix the 2 layer PCB layout Fix the 4 layer PCB layout Project - Introduction