KiCAD
3D result. KiCAD's GLB export misses some of the components, which is a bug to look into. I like the metalic material choice for rendering the copper.
Here is how it should look with all of the components, rendered with KiCAD's View > 3D Viewer.
Setup
KiCAD 9.0 was released a few weeks ago, and my instructor recommended starting with this new version.
After installing, I followed the directions to install the Fab Electronics Library for KiCAD. This makes it easier to use KiCAD, by limiting the library to parts that are available in Fab Labs. The maintainers keep the library up to date with the Fab Lab Inventory list, so parts in the library have correct footprints and 3D models that are integrated. Props Kris! The library can be updated with git pull
, and I've seen parts added this week.
Zooming with the mouse wheel is different than other apps that I've used. The zoom action centers the drawing and moves the cursor to the center. In other apps, I'm used to overshooting the zoom target, so this feels quite different. I can see how it might be feel natural after a while.
Schematic Editor
Electrical Rules Checker showing a missing connection.
Result.
PCB Editor
Important to set these defaults to match the machine available.
Track: use netclass width > Edit pre-defined sizes > Net Classes.
Name | Default |
---|---|
Clearance | 0.4 mm |
Track Width | 0.4 mm |
Via Size | 1.6 mm |
Via Hole | 0.8 mm |
Design Rules Checker showing that the filled zone for power ground is not connected.
Result.
I liked the puzzle of getting everything connected. I didn't manage to get one pin connected with a front trace, so I made through-holes with the intention of adding a jump wire to the back.
Cuttle to KiCAD
I tested that SVGs made with Cuttle import with the correct scaling in KiCAD. This will be fun for fancy board shapes, and silk screen logos and info.
Files
Future
- Pen plotting a schematic design. Dig that aesthetic.
- Artistic board shape and trace layout.
- Experiment with analog circuits.
- Add a component to the Fab library.
Group Work
Saleae logic analyser. Used probes to see the signals sent from microcontroller to update the OLED display.
Tektronix oscilloscope. Went through basics of centering and scaling the test signal square wave.
Looked at last year's group work.