--- In kicad-users@..., "Tracy" <bas_tad@y...> wrote:
Hello Everyone
I have been reading the list for a few weeks, you all seem much more
advanced than me ;)
I have been building electronic projects for a long time, but have
not learned to use any PCB software (exept for PCBExpress ...) so
I'm not really familliar with the process. I used to build 'dead
bug' style but the new tiny components do not work well with that!
Is there a very basic 'getting started' tutorial or example I can
follow that is designed for a newbie like me? I know my project, my
components, and everything to do with it, but I'm totally green on
creating a schematic and pcb with any software at all.
Basically, I need to create a 'hello world' pcb ;)
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, I'm overwhelmed with the
large amount of data available for Kicad and PCB creation in general.
Thank you all in advance!
Tracy N4LGH
What we need is a Wiki :)
Can you do that on Yahoo?
Tracy
Making PCBs is a complex process as you say - I have only done it as a
hobbyist, but I have created a couple of double sided boards for
Surface mount chips which were commercially made.
There are some who appear to be professionals on the list who may be
able to advise. I am not familiar with the finer points for commercial
SM production etc
The process is
Create Schematic components (hopefuly there will be enough ready made
components in the libraries already)
Draw schematic - you will be familiar with these no doubt. Read the
help - it appears reasonably good. Try to create a copy of a simple
circuit you already have
Create netlist - this is a file with the names for all the "nodes" in
a circuit and the pins that are connected to each.
Associate "footprints" with each component. These are the PCB pattern
for each component, with pin numbers which correlate to the netlist.
Again there will be enough in the PCB library already with luck.
If not you will have to create a footprint for some components using
the module editor.
Create the PCB
In brief :
Import components and netlist
create outline/mechanical drawing of board
Place modules in best positions
Draw tracks - in theory this could be done by the computer
In practice some human intervention is usually needed (how good is
the autorouter in KICAD??)
Check layout against netlist using DRC (Design Rule Check) and
correct the (inevitable) errors
Tidy up - a million details - drill sizes, placement of text on
overlay, track widths etc etc
Create plot files for PCB house - these are generally in Gerber
format - I havent got to this stage yet with KICAD Gerber files can be
tricky - I dont know how good KICAD is
Hope this is a start
Richard
