KiCAD Schematic and PCB - Quick Design Example and Build

In this KiCAD design example, we design a schematic based on a simple circuit, then the PCB layout, and upload gerber files for manufacturing. This goes very quickly and isn’t intended to cover everything, just a brute force Quickstart to get a feel for the tool. Other people’s tutorials may supplement this one if it’s not comprehensive enough!

When the boards arrive, we assemble and test them to be sure they perform the intended functions.

Schematic and KiCAD files:

[alexm]

As a someone who uses KiCAD extensively for last few years on quite advanced level I would recommend this video to any novice who is asking me about on how to make their own PCBs. Its short, no BS and up to the point. Great job of putting that much content in such compact 20 min timeline! Other tubers releasing a series of videos like "KiCAD...Part.1", "...Part 2"., "... Part ..." - f..k that. This one is just what KiCAD newbie needs!

[rocketbob]

Great video! I'm a longtime Kicad user and learned many tidbits I didnt know about.

[marklowe]

I've been using eagle for years just moved to kicad a year ago. This video was very info rich. Thanks.

[daveg]

I really appreciate this video! I just ordered my first PCB!

[craxd]

When your group of parts appear in the PCB Editor from the netlist, the group is known as a "rat's nest" from the old days of OrCad. I think Eagle still calls it that as well, and it is a term that fits.

[nibblerdoo]

Most helpful video for figuring out kicad thank you!

[osaretininnocentifaluyi]

This is a complete tutorial, thanks and God richly bless you

[SycoSpartan]

thanks mate. i went from knowing nothing to having a pcb in the mail within 1 afternoon

[kosciuskonews]

Thanks a lot for this video. Taught me all I needed to know with a few exceptions that I had to look up but that's just because of changes

[myblues]

This video was so helpful! Thank you for showing the process!

[SimpleElectronics]

Great video man! About time you flaunt your PCB making skills!

[stevesfascinations]

Great tutorial. I have not tried kicad, the package I used to use was Eagle. I will give kicad a try. Thanks for sharing. Thumbs up!

[HolyDiver]

Thanks so much for this. I wish I’d have found this app years ago 😢

[SidneyCritic]

There is View/Flip PCB if you want to position your logo easier.

[DenisBissonExplorerchess]

@Gadget Reboot
At 12:27 you mentionned you do as much as you can on top side.
Why?
Personnally, especially for a through-hole board like this one, I normally do the opposite for two reasons.
First, if we ever have to repair something defective, unsoldereding will be a bit easier with traces on the component side. For unpatient people, polling out an incorrectly unsoldered chip won't peel off the traces that would be routed on top and still sticked-soldered to a pin pulled off.
Second, I am not proud to say it but if there is an error in the design and I need to do a patch where I will need to cut a trace and/add a jumper wire, it will be much less apparent and less ugly to have it *under* the board than on the top.
But that's my humble opinion.

[RixtronixLAB]

Vote up, nice video clip, thanks for sharing :)

[BobWong-sv]

Can you show me how to get a Negative image (Kicad) of the artwork, thanks

[ericseidel]

I finally succeded with my first design. Please advise how to make a free contour board. my circuit must not be rectangular.

[samueldavies]

does kicad no longer have generate netlist?

[Berghiker]

All is working except I can't see the copper pads on all the components on the pcb. I only see the yellow outline and the tracks.