Pcbnew - Revision history

Aplstudent: /* Drawing Tracks */

2019-02-12T00:14:27Z

‎Drawing Tracks

Aplstudent at 22:37, 4 February 2019

2019-02-04T22:37:52Z

Aplstudent: /* Generating Gerber Files */

2019-02-04T22:34:47Z

‎Generating Gerber Files

Aplstudent: /* Generating Gerber Files */

2019-02-04T22:33:27Z

‎Generating Gerber Files

Aplstudent at 22:21, 4 February 2019

2019-02-04T22:21:45Z

Aplstudent: /* Adding Filled Zones */

2019-02-04T22:10:19Z

‎Adding Filled Zones

Aplstudent: /* Adding Filled Zones */

2019-02-04T22:08:28Z

‎Adding Filled Zones

Aplstudent at 22:05, 4 February 2019

2019-02-04T22:05:13Z

Aplstudent at 21:36, 4 February 2019

2019-02-04T21:36:35Z

Aplstudent at 21:35, 4 February 2019

2019-02-04T21:35:23Z

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 ==Drawing Tracks==
-Once you've designed a board layout and moved your components to the appropriate places you can begin making the copper connections. To do this select Place -> Track and begin drawing the track from one pin to the next. You can tell which side of the board you are drawing your tracks on by looking at the layers column on the right. If F.Cu is selected then you will be drawing copper connections on the front of your board. If B.Cu is selected then you will be drawing on the back of your board. It is also important to make sure your track's width is appropriate for the amount of current flowing through it. Using this [https://www.eeweb.com/tools/microstrip-impedance calculator] you can calculate how much impedance your copper track will have and adjust your track width accordingly. If you're not sure about this try to talk to someone with PCB experience. To change the track width click Design Rules -> Design Rules, in the popup window you can adjust the track width column to suit your needs.
+Once you've designed a board layout and moved your components to the appropriate places you can begin making the copper connections. To do this select Place -> Track and begin drawing the track from one pin to the next. You can tell which side of the board you are drawing your tracks on by looking at the layers column on the right. If F.Cu is selected then you will be drawing copper connections on the front of your board. If B.Cu is selected then you will be drawing on the back of your board. It is also important to make sure your track's width is appropriate for the amount of current flowing through it, you want your track impedances to match each other and the impedance of the signal input (Changes in impedances can cause signal reflections). Using this [https://www.eeweb.com/tools/microstrip-impedance calculator] you can calculate how much impedance your copper track will have and adjust your track width accordingly (look up the specs of the PCB you are using to find the substrate thickness and track height). If you're not sure about this try to talk to someone with PCB experience. To change the track width click Design Rules -> Design Rules, in the popup window you can adjust the track width column to suit your needs.
 ==Indicating Edge Cuts==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:37, 4 February 2019
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	[[File:KiCad_Pcbnew_Plot.png]]		[[File:KiCad_Pcbnew_Plot.png]]
		+
		+	==Save and Close==
		+
		+	Make sure to save your Pcbnew file and then close the program.

	==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==		==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 The "Plot" window should look something like this when you create your Gerber and drill files:
-[[File:]]
+[[File:KiCad_Pcbnew_Plot.png]]
 ==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==

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 ==Generating Gerber Files==
-Once your board layout is complete (all components are connected by tracks or filled zones and edge cuts are indicated) you are ready to create Gerber files. Gerber files are a collection of files that isolate each layer of the PCB and contain the track and drill information for the layer. Gerber files are the PCB industry standard for formatting and are used to create the transparencies that are required in the etching step of PCB production.
+Once your board layout is complete (all components are connected by tracks or filled zones and edge cuts are indicated) you are ready to create Gerber and drill files. Gerber and drill files are a collection of files that isolate each layer of the PCB and contain the track and drill information for the layer. Gerber files are the PCB industry standard for formatting and are used to create the transparencies that are required in the developing step of PCB production.
 ==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:21, 4 February 2019
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	[[File:KiCad_Copper_Zone_Properties_Menu.png]]		[[File:KiCad_Copper_Zone_Properties_Menu.png]]
		+
		+	==Generating Gerber Files==
		+
		+	Once your board layout is complete (all components are connected by tracks or filled zones and edge cuts are indicated) you are ready to create Gerber files. Gerber files are a collection of files that isolate each layer of the PCB and contain the track and drill information for the layer. Gerber files are the PCB industry standard for formatting and are used to create the transparencies that are required in the etching step of PCB production.
		+

	==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==		==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 The "Copper Zone Properties" menu looks like this:
-[[File:]]
+[[File:KiCad_Copper_Zone_Properties_Menu.png]]
 ==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:08, 4 February 2019
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	Filled zones are ideal for something like a ground plane. This means that a large area will be filled with copper and thus specific traces (tracks) will not need to be drawn. Often, the back of a PCB will the ground plane since many components are connected ground. To create a filled zone select the "Add filled zones" icon from the right column of icons. Now, left click anywhere on the schematic and you will be prompted with a "Copper Zone Properties" menu. Here you can specify which layer your filled zone will be applied to and to which net. To create the custom ground plane select the back layer, B.Cu, and select GND for the net. You can also adjust the clearance and minimum width, which will change how much space boarders your filled zone.		Filled zones are ideal for something like a ground plane. This means that a large area will be filled with copper and thus specific traces (tracks) will not need to be drawn. Often, the back of a PCB will the ground plane since many components are connected ground. To create a filled zone select the "Add filled zones" icon from the right column of icons. Now, left click anywhere on the schematic and you will be prompted with a "Copper Zone Properties" menu. Here you can specify which layer your filled zone will be applied to and to which net. To create the custom ground plane select the back layer, B.Cu, and select GND for the net. You can also adjust the clearance and minimum width, which will change how much space boarders your filled zone.
		+
		+	The "Copper Zone Properties" menu looks like this:
		+
		+	[[File:]]

	==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==		==Return to [[How to Make a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)]]==

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 Below is a labeled screenshot of the Pcbnew window:
 [[File:KiCad_Pcbnew_Window.png]]
 ==Importing Your Netlist==

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 4 February 2019
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	Pcbnew is where your'll design the physical layout of your board using the components and footprints from your netlist. To open Pcbnew return to startup KiCad window and select Tool -> Run Pcbnew. With the Pcbnew window open select File -> Page settings. This will bring up a menu that allows you to title and author your schematic. In the "Title" section write the title of your project and in the "Comment4" section write "Author: Your Name". Now you'll see your information saved in the bottom right of the red schematic page.		Pcbnew is where your'll design the physical layout of your board using the components and footprints from your netlist. To open Pcbnew return to startup KiCad window and select Tool -> Run Pcbnew. With the Pcbnew window open select File -> Page settings. This will bring up a menu that allows you to title and author your schematic. In the "Title" section write the title of your project and in the "Comment4" section write "Author: Your Name". Now you'll see your information saved in the bottom right of the red schematic page.
		+
		+	Below is a labeled screenshot of the Pcbnew window:
		+
		+	[[File:]]

	==Importing Your Netlist==		==Importing Your Netlist==