KiCad

Home | Doc | Kicadlib.org

It's a CAD design software for electronic circuits.

Installation

# apt-get install kicad

After that you (maybe) should update your library

$ WORKING_TREES=$PWD/kicad  ./library-repos-install.sh --install-or-update

Quick introduction

  • EEschema (generate netlist)
  • CvPcb
  • Pvbnew: read netlist (from toolbar)

Board outline

It's used the layer named Edge cutes

Layers

  • *.Cu: is the copper
  • *.Adhes
  • *.Silk
  • *.Mask
  • *.CrtYd keepout regions
  • *.Fab and Margin are for fab indications
  • Edge.Cuts indicates the board layout
  • Cmts.User comments and indications
  • Dwgs.User stuffs not to go to the silkscreen
  • Eco1.User and Eco2.User

Fill

Select Add filled zones, draw a poligon and then right click and select fill

Graphics

Part&footprint

Libraries

  • https://github.com/open-project/kicadlibrary

BOM

There isn't a predefined utilities for BOM generation: use this, in the README there are the installation instruction.

Differential pairs and length matching

  • https://olimex.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/kicad-now-with-differential-pair-routing-and-trace-length-matching/