Design with KiCad from Udemy

This course will teach you in a systematic way how to use KiCad 6 for your PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design, it will take you from not knowing the software to making a development board at the final project without overwhelming you with a large number of hours of videos to watch.

The approach to teach is in creating a simple project while learning the different parts of the software, then adding up to that project in the following sections, and when the student gets familiar with it the other parts like menus, sub-menus and tool bars are explained.

The main project in the course is to create REV1 of a two phase bipolar stepper motor controller then students are asked to create REV2 with different requirements and motor.

The last project is about creating a development board and routing it using an auto router with the guidance of the videos and lectures in the final section. There are photos of of the manufactured printed circuit boards created in this course in the different sections.

Special attention was given to the audio and video quality while creating the course for a smooth transition between lectures. The music at the end of every lecture is a hint of the end. Also, a great effort was done to average the lecture at 5 minutes.

The purpose of the quiz in the course is not to grade students but to open the eyes on important facts and a subject to google and learn more out of the course scope.

Whether PCD design is a requirement or a hobby for you, you are going to enjoy the course.

What's inside

Learning objectives

The course was updated for kicad 7 which was released on 12 feb 2023
Using kicad for printed circuit board design.
Starting from schematics to the ready to manufacture designs.
Using the schematics editor and the pcb layout editor for generating ready to manufacture designs.
Using electrical rule checker(erc) and design rule checker (drc)
General idea about pcb types.
Calculating tracks widths and spacing using kicad calculator.

Pcb design beyond connoting pads and tracks.
Bom generation and sending designs to manufacturers and a look at the manufactured boards.
3d view of the project and exporting to 3d design software
Course ends with two real projects.
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The course was updated for kicad 7 which was released on 12 feb 2023
Using kicad for printed circuit board design.
Starting from schematics to the ready to manufacture designs.
Using the schematics editor and the pcb layout editor for generating ready to manufacture designs.
Using electrical rule checker(erc) and design rule checker (drc)
General idea about pcb types.
Calculating tracks widths and spacing using kicad calculator.
Pcb design beyond connoting pads and tracks.
Bom generation and sending designs to manufacturers and a look at the manufactured boards.
3d view of the project and exporting to 3d design software
Course ends with two real projects.
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Getting third party libraries

This section is an introduction to the course focusing on the course objectives and plan.

Introduction to Design with KiCad 6

What is the most used type of components nowadays?

Eeschema section questions

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Uses KiCad 7, which is a recent version of this open-source software suite for electronic design automation, making it relevant for current projects

Teaches how to generate BOM (Bill of Materials), which is essential for manufacturing and procurement in electronics projects

Explores PCB design beyond simply connecting pads and tracks, which is crucial for creating robust and reliable electronic circuits

Walks through creating a two-phase bipolar stepper motor controller, offering practical experience in designing a common electronic component

Requires installing KiCad and its libraries, which may require some familiarity with software installation and package management on different operating systems

Uses an auto-router for the final project, which may not be suitable for all designs and could lead to suboptimal routing if not carefully guided

Reviews summary

Practical pcb design with kicad

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in using KiCad for PCB design, taking students from schematics to manufacturing-ready files. Many find the approach of building upon a simple project highly effective for learning. The instructor's explanations are clear and the focus on practical aspects like ERC and DRC checks, BOM generation, and generating GERBER files is particularly valuable. While some mention areas that could be expanded, the course is frequently praised as excellent for beginners and those seeking a hands-on learning experience.

Lectures are short and focused.

"The average lecture length of 5 minutes is perfect for quick learning."

"Bite-sized lectures make it easy to fit into a busy schedule."

"Some topics might benefit from slightly longer explanations."

"The short lectures keep it from being overwhelming."

Well-produced lectures.

"The audio and video quality is excellent."

"High quality production makes watching lectures enjoyable."

"The lectures are well-edited and easy to follow visually and audibly."

"Appreciate the effort put into the lecture quality."

Introduces key KiCad functions.

"Covers the essential tools like Eeschema and Pcbnew effectively."

"Getting familiar with Project Manager and key editors is a good start."

"Learn to use ERC and DRC which are vital checks."

"Basic use of tools like the Drawing Sheet Editor and Calculator is included."

Adds complexity gradually.

"The approach of starting simple and adding to the project works really well."

"Building knowledge section by section is less overwhelming."

"I liked how each section added a new layer of complexity to the main project."

"The incremental learning path made it easy to follow."

Learn to produce industry-ready outputs.

"Learning how to generate GERBER files correctly is crucial and covered well."

"The course covers getting from schematic all the way to manufacturable files."

"Understanding how to generate BOM and design files for manufacturing is very useful."

"I now feel confident generating files I can send to a PCB fab house."

Hands-on learning through projects.

"Learning by building a project step-by-step is very effective."

"The main project was a great way to apply what I learned."

"Focusing on real projects helps solidify understanding."

"Loved the practical approach and working through actual designs."

Instructor breaks down concepts well.

"The instructor explains things in an easy-to-understand way."

"The course is well-structured and the explanations are clear."

"Excellent explanations make complex topics accessible."

"I appreciate the clarity of the lectures and demonstrations."

Excellent starting point for newcomers.

"Excellent for beginners."

"This is an excellent course for beginners."

"Great course for anyone new to KiCad."

"I started this course with very little knowledge of KiCad, and it did an excellent job getting me started."

Some advanced topics could be expanded.

"Could use more in-depth coverage on advanced routing techniques."

"Wish there was more detail on specific component footprints or libraries."

"While great for basics, it leaves me wanting more detail on complex designs."

"A deeper dive into specific DRC settings would be helpful."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Design with KiCad with these activities:

Review Basic Electronics Concepts

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Reviewing basic electronics concepts will provide a solid foundation for understanding the principles behind PCB design and component selection in KiCad.

Browse courses on Ohm's Law

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Review fundamental concepts like voltage, current, and resistance.
Practice solving simple circuit problems.
Familiarize yourself with common electronic components and their symbols.

Read 'Practical Electronics for Inventors'

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Reading this book will provide a broader understanding of electronics principles, which are essential for effective PCB design using KiCad.

View Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth... on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to basic electronics and circuit design.
Work through the example problems and exercises.
Take notes on key concepts and formulas.

Design a Simple LED Flasher Circuit

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Designing a simple LED flasher circuit in KiCad will provide hands-on experience with the schematic and PCB layout editors.

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Create a schematic diagram of the LED flasher circuit in KiCad.
Assign footprints to the components.
Design the PCB layout, placing components and routing traces.
Generate Gerber files for manufacturing.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice Footprint Assignment

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Practicing footprint assignment will improve your speed and accuracy in selecting the correct footprints for components in KiCad.

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Download a list of common electronic components.
Find the appropriate KiCad footprint for each component.
Repeat this exercise regularly to improve your familiarity with the KiCad library.

Read 'Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference: Basics'

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Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of PCB design principles, which will help you create better designs in KiCad.

View Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to PCB design principles and best practices.
Take notes on key concepts and guidelines.
Apply the principles you learn to your KiCad projects.

Document Your KiCad Workflow

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Documenting your KiCad workflow will help you solidify your understanding of the software and create a valuable reference for future projects.

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Create a step-by-step guide to your KiCad design process.
Include screenshots and explanations of each step.
Share your documentation with other students or online communities.

Contribute to a KiCad Library

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Contributing to a KiCad library will give you experience with creating and maintaining PCB design resources.

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Identify a missing or incomplete component in the KiCad library.
Create a new symbol and footprint for the component.
Submit your contribution to the KiCad library maintainers.

Career center

Learners who complete Design with KiCad will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Printed Circuit Board Designer

A Printed Circuit Board Designer creates layouts for electronic circuits. This course helps aspiring Printed Circuit Board Designers learn the essentials of PCB design using KiCad. Students learn to move from schematics to manufacturable designs. The course will guide you through the process of using KiCad's schematic editor and PCB layout editor to generate production-ready designs. It addresses the use of Electrical Rule Checker and Design Rule Checker, vital for ensuring design integrity. The course projects, such as creating a stepper motor controller and a development board, provide practical experience in PCB design. The course ensures proficiency in PCB layout, routing, and generating manufacturing files, preparing you for success as a Printed Circuit Board Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Printed Circuit Board Designer

Electronics Engineer

An Electronics Engineer designs and develops electronic equipment. This course will be very helpful for Electronics Engineers that want to learn and use KiCad as part of their workflow when working with Printed Circuit Boards. You can benefit from the systematic approach to learning KiCad from a basic level to creating complex designs. This includes schematics, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. The course emphasizes practical application through projects like designing a two-phase bipolar stepper motor controller and a development board. This hands-on experience can enhance your skills in PCB design and prototyping. The course also covers topics like electrical rule checking and design rule checking, essential for ensuring the reliability of electronic designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronics Engineer

Hardware Engineer

A Hardware Engineer designs, develops, and tests computer systems and components. If you're a Hardware Engineer, this course may teach you how to design PCBs using KiCad. The course provides a structured approach to learning KiCad, starting with basic concepts and culminating in the design of a development board. Key aspects covered include schematic capture, PCB layout, routing, and generating manufacturing files. You will also learn about electrical rule checking and design rule checking, essential for ensuring the robustness of hardware designs. The course projects, such as creating a stepper motor controller, offer practical experience in PCB design and prototyping. The course also helps your understanding of PCB types, track widths, and BOM generation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Engineer

CAD Technician

A CAD Technician uses computer-aided design software to create technical drawings and models. This CAD course will equip you with the skills to use KiCad to design PCBs. The course offers a systematic approach to mastering KiCad, beginning with the basics and progressing to advanced PCB designs. The course will guide you through using KiCad for schematic capture, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. The hands-on projects, such as designing a stepper motor controller, offer valuable experience in creating professional PCB designs. The course will also provide training in electrical rule checking and design rule checking to ensure design accuracy. The course enables CAD Technicians to use KiCad for PCB design tasks.

See salaries and explore the career path for CAD Technician

Electrical Engineering Technician

An Electrical Engineering Technician assists electrical engineers in designing, developing, and testing electrical equipment. If you're an Electrical Engineering Technician, this course may teach you to use KiCad for PCB design. The course is structured to help you learn KiCad systematically, from basic concepts to advanced PCB designs. Through this course, you'll learn how to use KiCad for schematic capture, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. The hands-on projects, such as designing a stepper motor controller, offer practical experience in PCB design, which is important for prototyping. You'll also learn about electrical rule checking and design rule checking to ensure design accuracy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineering Technician

Robotics Engineer

A Robotics Engineer designs, builds, and programs robots and automated systems. If you're a Robotics Engineer, this course may teach you how to design PCBs using KiCad for your robotic projects. The course provides a practical introduction to PCB design, with a focus on using KiCad for schematic capture, layout, and manufacturing. You'll benefit from the hands-on projects, such as designing a stepper motor controller, to develop your skills in PCB design, which is critical for custom robot control systems. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, which ensures the reliability of your designs. The course projects provide valuable experience in creating PCBs for robotics applications. The course will show you how to efficiently create custom electronic components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer develops software and hardware for embedded systems. If you're an Embedded Systems Engineer, this course may teach you how to design PCBs using KiCad. The course gives you a structured introduction to PCB design using KiCad, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. You'll learn how to capture schematics, lay out PCBs, and generate manufacturing files. By completing the provided projects, such as designing a stepper motor controller, you'll develop your skills in PCB design, which is essential for creating custom embedded systems. The course also introduces electrical rule checking and design rule checking, ensuring your designs are reliable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Firmware Engineer

A Firmware Engineer develops low-level software that controls hardware devices. This course may be useful for Firmware Engineers that want to use KiCad. The course is structured to help you learn KiCad for creating Printed Circuit Boards. You'll learn how to capture schematics, lay out PCBs, and generate manufacturing files. Designing a stepper motor controller helps you develop your skills in PCB design, which is useful for designing hardware interfaces. The course also teaches you about electrical rule checking and design rule checking, ensuring your designs are reliable. The course projects provide practical experience in creating PCBs for firmware-controlled devices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Firmware Engineer

Mechatronics Engineer

A Mechatronics Engineer integrates mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to design automated systems. This course may teach you how to design PCBs using KiCad. The course provides a practical introduction to PCB design using KiCad. You'll learn how to capture schematics, lay out PCBs, and generate manufacturing files. Completing the project of designing a stepper motor controller helps you develop your skills in PCB design, which is useful for creating custom control systems. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, ensuring your designs are reliable. The course will help you create custom PCBs for integrated mechanical and electronic systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechatronics Engineer

Product Designer

A Product Designer develops new products or improves existing ones, often focusing on the user experience. This course may be useful for Product Designers who want to prototype electronic components using KiCad. The course provides a practical introduction to PCB design using KiCad. It covers schematic capture, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. By working on projects, such as designing a stepper motor controller, you can develop your skills in PCB design, which is useful for creating custom electronic components. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, ensuring your designs are reliable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Avionics Technician

An Avionics Technician installs, maintains, and repairs electronic components in aircraft. This course may be useful for Avionics Technicians who want to understand PCB design using KiCad. The course provides a practical introduction to PCB design using KiCad. It covers schematic capture, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. Engaging in projects like designing a stepper motor controller can help you develop your skills in PCB design, which is useful for understanding avionics systems. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, ensuring your designs are reliable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Avionics Technician

Instrumentation Technician

An Instrumentation Technician installs, maintains, and repairs instruments and control systems. This course may be useful for Instrumentation Technicians who want to understand PCB design using KiCad. The course provides a practical introduction to PCB design using KiCad. It includes schematic capture, PCB layout, and manufacturing file generation. Working on PCB design through projects is useful for understanding instrumentation systems. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, ensuring that designs are reliable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instrumentation Technician

Electrical Inspector

An Electrical Inspector examines electrical systems and equipment to ensure compliance with safety codes and regulations. This course may be useful for Electrical Inspectors who want to learn about PCB design with KiCad. The course provides an overview of PCB design using KiCad, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. This is an important course as it helps students understand PCB design. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, ensuring that designs are safe.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Inspector

Quality Control Technician

A Quality Control Technician inspects products and materials to ensure they meet quality standards. This course may be useful for Quality Control Technicians who want to learn about PCB design with KiCad. The course provides an introduction to PCB design using KiCad. It includes schematic capture, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. This is an important course as it helps students understand PCB design. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, helping you with the inspection of electronic components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Technician

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products and services. This course may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn about PCB design with KiCad. The course provides an introduction to PCB design using KiCad. It includes schematic capture, PCB layout, and generating manufacturing files. This is an important course as it helps students understand PCB design. The course also covers electrical rule checking and design rule checking, helping you research and write about electronic components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Design with KiCad.

Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition

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Provides a comprehensive overview of electronics, covering everything from basic components to circuit design. It's a valuable resource for understanding the underlying principles of PCB design. It serves as a useful reference for component selection and circuit analysis. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition

Paperback

Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference

Save

Provides a solid foundation in PCB design principles and practices. It covers topics such as component placement, routing, and signal integrity. It useful reference for understanding the considerations involved in creating manufacturable PCBs. This book adds more depth to the course by providing practical guidance on PCB design.

Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference

Paperback

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Printed Circuit Board Designer's Reference

Kindle Edition

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Design with KiCad

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical pcb design with kicad

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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