Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

markeno — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 05:23:49 GMT

I used Eagle several years ago to make a couple PCB designs. I believe when working on my third board design I received an email from them stating they were getting rid of the already limited "free hobby use" option and wanted me to buy a subscription. I decided to quit using Eagle, which put the third PCB on hold for years. I was not up to learning to use another software package at the time. I did work with a minor project in Kicad shortly after that, but didn't have anything else I wanted to work on since then. The project went well, but it wasn't enough to get properly familiar with the software at the time.

I used Easy EDA recently on a project I came across on Element 14. With a bit of practice I felt Easy EDA was ok, but I am not very interested in using it. After working on that project, I wanted to finally go back to give Kicad a try to finish that stalled board design.

I found that Eagle feels like it is better for doing the Schematic layout. They seem to look better. With Kicad the available component footprints are limited. I have been getting practice making component footprints based on data sheets or manual measurements of components, which I also did in Easy EDA.

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

colporteur — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 20:59:14 GMT

I undertook the goal of migrating to KiCAD in September. My typical use of PCB design software was to map traces using Fritzing software to a screen board layout instead of graph paper. I had always skipped the step of producing a schematic. The project to automate a model railroad layout, [mention:b9883c44c9f748fba926285b58748d85:f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07:label=I%26%2339%3Bm%20Board...Cutting%20Board%20to%20Printed%20Circuit%20Board] motivated me to invest in a PCB design software. Many moon ago I had used Eagle software but the limits on non-windows O/S left me wanting.

The learning method I most favoured is instructor lead training. Second to that is a paper book. After some research I settled on https://techexplorations.com/pc/kicad-3d/ video course and electronic book bundle. I was just going to purchase the book but for $20 more the video material was provided.

The course allowed me to establish a schedule that would ensure I would finish at a specific time and not have it drag on for weeks. I estimate within the first three days I was comfortable with KiCAD Version 6 and within the week I was working on the PCB's for my project and not using the course material projects.

The course is built around a workflow approach to designing a PCB. From a very high-level perspective, the PCB design workflow only has two major steps:

Step 1 is the schematic design using the schematic design editor (Eeschema);
Step 2 is the layout design using the layout editor (Pcbnew).

The workflow approach works for the concrete-sequential person that I am. I feel I learned KiCAD to produce PCB's. I recently blew the dust off the software to design a small board from scratch. I was a bit rusty on some details but referencing the course material I managed to overcome my shortcomings. Bare in mind, I am only developing two sided boards.

The course does cover the differences between KiCAD 5 & 6. This wasn't an issue for me since I never ventured into 5. From my success with using KiCAD I would recommend it to others. I confess I have a background in electronics and did PCB design early in my career using tape and etching pens. This is so much nicer than that approach:)

I admit my decision to invest in the software was influenced by the commentary from some E14 community members.

Break...Break...

I do hope the seasonal downturn in site performance has long past. I have tried numerous times to comment on the original post but fail. Twice my content was hung in mid sentence and I had to abandon it.

Well, it has happened a third time. First I received this short note.

Of course the content wasn't posted. I immediately when into "preservation mode" I omitted the step of creating the post content outside the confines of the website. Augh Shite I'm going to lose all of it again.

I managed to get the text preserved. To think I was lulled into letting my guard down even hinting the site is reliable. Then I get kicked in the gonads once again. When will I learn. Well at least the swear jar is full of quarters.

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

colporteur — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 17:26:46 GMT

The course is built around a workflow approach to designing a PCB. From a very high-level perspective, the PCB design workflow only has two major steps:

Step 1 is the schematic design using the schematic design editor (Eeschema);
Step 2 is the layout design using the layout editor (Pcbnew).

I admit my decision to invest in the software was influenced by the commentary from some E14 community members.

Break...Break...

I do hope the seasonal downturn in site performance has past. I have tried numerous times to comment on this post since it was originally made. Twice my content was hung in mid sentence and I had to abandon it. Come to think of it, I'm making this post online and should be playing it safe and doing it in a text editor before letting the site spit it out. I get lulled into thinking things are actually working reliably and then I get kicked in the gonads with some obscure failure, that leaves me swearing.

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

DAB — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 19:03:10 GMT

I am envious.

My ADD issues greatly reduced my ability to pick up a package like KiCad, but I am glad it worked out well for you.

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

phoenixcomm — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:26:18 GMT

Congrats on the conversion.. I truly despise products that claim there free BUT WAIT. there's a catch.. limit on nodes, only two layers and the song keeps going. I call this BROKENWARE. The biggest problem I have with KiCad is that quite a few parts just are not there. So I have been using Electronic Component Search Engine which has some but not all. I really wish for an autorouter... [emoticon:4b473fb4671244b2a5887318abe9e44a]

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

embeddedguy — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:58:53 GMT

Good luck with KiCad and your circuits. I saw that video of your online and it was informative.

I am also learning KiCad and have designed some circuits(basics). It is really nice software for everyone who wanna do PCB designs.

I still prefer EAGLE for schematic design and then export to KiCad for PCB layout. Right now I am only limited to 2-layer boards as the multilayer boards are expensive to design and manufacture especially with blind/burried vias.!
What do you think?

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

Andrew J — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 10:32:08 GMT

Crazily, in a good way, JLCPCB are now offering 8-layer PCBs for $2. That’s not a typo. They’ve even got a free population promotion going on. Kicad is the only CAD package I know (from a very limited knowledge base admittedly) that isn’t either (a) overly expensive; or (b) not limited to the layers you can use.

RE: Rapidly learning KiCad PCB Software within 5 days: And where I got to, a year on!

baldengineer — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 06:31:38 GMT

I always enjoy seeing others go on the EAGLE-to-KiCad Journey.

Mine was 7 (whoa) years ago. I went to a workshop at the first SuperCon. I tried one or two boards after that but still struggled. (This was in the KiCad 4 days.) Then I decided the next three boards I worked on, whatever they were, I would use KiCad instead of EAGLE.

Now, 50+ PCBs later, I don't miss EAGLE in the slightest. (Note, many of those "50 PCBs" were very simple breakout boards.)

KiCad continues to make massive steps forward in both usability and functionality. Plus, as you noted, the community around it is fantastic. While it may not always work the way you expect, you can generally find someone to at least explain why it does what it does.

All that to say, I totally agree. If you're looking for an eCAD option, do not overlook KiCad.

So... when is your first 6-layer board? [emoticon:c4563cd7d5574777a71c318021cbbcc8]