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HomeWorkshop: KI CAD Circuit Design
KI-CAD

Free for NE SciTech members and volunteers. Introduction to KI CAD software for electronic circuit design. Meets certain Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00 pm. After the class feel free to stay on for the STARS amateur radio club meeting. Email us to schedule a session.


NOTE: This web page explains the details of this workshop. To register, please click on the actual course start-date in the EVENTS CALENDAR and look for the REGISTER tab to the upper right.


Students will need:

-- Computer with KiCad 5 installed (PC, Mac, or Linux)

-- Physical mouse, if using a laptop

-- Basic electronics knowledge is useful

 

Agenda:

 

1. Schematic Entry

-- Schematic Editor Options

-- Placing Component Symbols

-- Wiring between components

-- Net labeling

-- Local vs Global Labels

-- Sheets and hierarchical labels

-- General good schematic entry practices

 

2. Schematic Symbol Creation

-- Creating single component symbol

-- Creating component symbol with multiple bodies

-- Duplicating symbols

 

3. PCB Layout

-- Layout options and preferences (colors, grid sizing, trace widths)

-- Importing net list from schematic editor

-- Component placement and ratsnest

-- Grids and Board Outlines

-- Routing tracks, placing vias

-- Adding keepout areas and flooded planes

-- Design rule checking

 

4. PCB Footprint Creation

-- Setting grid size

-- Pad placement and creation

-- Silkscreen placement and creation

-- Four quadrants

 

5. Gerber and XYRS File Creation

-- Adding mechanical dimensions and origins

-- Exporting 3D models

-- Layers and settings for Gerber export

-- Generating drill files

 

Install Instructions:

-- In your favorite browser, navigate to: kicad-pcb.org

-- Click on the download button at the top of the page

-- Select your operating system

-- Choose the latest stable release version (5.0.1 as of this writing)

-- Save the file

-- Run the executable (if prompted, choose the default installation)

 

Documentation:

-- Documentation for KiCad can be found at: http://kicad-pcb.org/help/documentation/