Creating a Custom KiCad Symbol for the DFRobot FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C6

When designing a custom carrier PCB around the DFRobot FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C6 v1.2, I discovered that KiCad does not include a built-in symbol for this development board. Instead of using the ESP32-C6-MINI-1 module symbol (which represents the module itself rather than the complete development board), I created a custom symbol that exposes only the header pins available on the FireBeetle.

Step 1: Gather the Pinout

The first step was to obtain the official FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C6 V1.2 pinout from DFRobot's documentation. Since the development board already contains the ESP32-C6 module, power circuitry, USB interface, and other support components, only the header pins needed to be represented in the schematic.

https://wiki.dfrobot.com/dfr1075/#tech_specs

Step 2: Create a Pin Import CSV

FireBeetle_2_ESP32-C6_V1.2_KiCad_PinImport_v2.csv

Rather than manually adding each pin in KiCad, I prepared a CSV file containing:

• Pin number

• Pin name

• Electrical type

• Pin orientation

• Pin position

• Text size

• Visibility

• Unit information

The CSV was formatted according to KiCad's Import Pins from CSV specification.

Step 3: Import the Pins

In the KiCad Symbol Editor:

File → New Symbol

After creating an empty symbol:

Tools → Import Pins from CSV

The generated CSV was imported, automatically creating all header pins.

Step 4: Arrange the Symbol

After import, the pins were aligned and spaced evenly around the symbol body.

A rectangle was added to represent the FireBeetle board, and the following symbol properties were configured:

• Reference: U

• Value: ESP32-C6 v1.2

• Description

• Datasheet URL

Step 5: Verify Electrical Types

Each pin was assigned an appropriate electrical type, such as:

• Power Input

• Power Output

• Input

• Bidirectional

• No Connect

These electrical types are important because KiCad's Electrical Rules Check (ERC) uses them to detect wiring mistakes.

Step 6: Save to a Personal Library

Finally, the completed symbol was saved into a custom KiCad library so it can be reused across future projects without recreating it.

Benefits

Creating a custom symbol provides several advantages:

• Represents the actual FireBeetle development board rather than the underlying ESP32 module.

• Simplifies schematic design by exposing only usable header pins.

• Enables clean carrier-board designs.

• Creates a reusable component for future ESP32-C6 projects.