Elektronik Atölyem
TREN
🛒

Meet the PCB and install KiCad

14 minutes · Advanced

Simulations and quizzes aren't read aloud; pause when you reach them and try them out.

The next step after circuits you've tried on a breadboard and soldered on perfboard is the printed circuit board, or PCB. Every electronic device in your home has a PCB inside. In this course you'll design your own board with KiCad, a free, professional program, and get it ready to send for manufacturing.

What is a PCB made of?

Silkscreen (white text)Solder mask (green coating)Top copper layer (F.Cu)FR4 (fiberglass, 1.6 mm)Bottom copper layer (B.Cu)Solder maskplated hole (pad / via)
  • FR4: an insulating epoxy board reinforced with fiberglass. The standard thickness is 1.6 mm.
  • Copper: the tracks that replace wires and the pads parts are soldered to. Usually 35 µm (1 oz) thick.
  • Solder mask: the protective coating that gives the board its green (or other) color. It covers everything except the pads and stops solder spreading onto the tracks.
  • Silkscreen: white text such as part names, orientation marks and logos.
  • Vias and plated holes: holes lined with copper. They connect the top and bottom layers.

Layer count and part type

1, 2, 4… layers

Almost all hobby and school projects are done with 2-layer boards. Today a 2-layer board costs about the same as a single-layer one. 4 or more layers are for dense, high-speed circuits.

THT and SMD

THT (through-hole) parts are the ones you've used so far. SMD (surface-mount) parts are soldered onto the surface of the board and are much smaller. In this course we'll start with THT and move on to SMD in lesson 8.

Why a PCB?

  • No tangle of wires and no risk of wrong connections. The board is made exactly as you designed it.
  • You can make 5 of the same board, or 500.
  • It looks professional and is durable. It makes a big difference for graduation projects and competitions.
  • Today, thanks to online manufacturers, 5 small boards arrive at your door within a few days at a low price.

Install KiCad

  1. Download the latest stable version for your operating system from the Download section of kicad.org (free for Windows, macOS and Linux).
  2. Keep the default options during installation. The symbol, footprint and 3D model libraries are installed too (a few GB).
  3. If you're asked to configure the library tables on first launch, choose the default (global) tables.
Screenshot to be added: The KiCad project manager's main window (project files on the left, Schematic Editor and PCB Editor buttons on the right)

Choosing the language

KiCad also offers interfaces in other languages (Preferences → Set Language). This course uses the English menu names, because almost all the documentation, forums and videos online are based on the English interface. That makes it easier to find help when you get stuck.

The design flow

Schematic→Footprint selection→Placement→Routing→DRC check→Gerbers + order

A KiCad project consists of three main files in one folder: .kicad_pro (project), .kicad_sch (schematic) and .kicad_pcb (board). When moving or backing up the project, copy the whole folder.

Test yourself

1. Which layer gives the board its green color?

2. What connects the top and bottom copper layers?

3. What is the standard PCB thickness?

4. What is the board's file extension in KiCad?

This was the free first lesson of the course

The remaining 8 lessons of PCB Design with KiCad, with their simulations and quizzes, unlock when you buy the course.

See the full course →
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