Kicad on AddOhms by Bald Engineer

KiCad 8 - Bald Engineer's Top 8 Features

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 14:12:00 +0000

KiCad 8 just dropped, and here are Bald Engineer’s eight must-try features! The February 2024 release brings a whole host of new stuff to the Schematic editor. However, the PCB editor, CLI, and Simulation tools also received attention. (There are something like 900 closed issues for the 8.0.0 Milestone!) Which of these is your favorite?

Copy/Paste KiCad 6 Text Hack | KiCad 6 Quick Tip #3

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 13:15:00 +0000

In mid-2021, I saw a demonstration of features for the upcoming KiCad 6. A statement caught me off guard: “the new copy/paste feature uses the system’s clipboard.” Then I watched as one of the developers copied from one KiCad instance into another. Immediately, that capability hit me as a game-changer.

Not because the world’s oldest shortcut keys now work as we all expect, but because of the flexibility the method introduces! Actual text gets copied to the clipboard. For example, you can paste that into a text editor, make some changes, and then paste the new version of “code” back into KiCad.

INSert key saves time on wires and labels | KiCad 6 Quick Tip #2

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:15:00 +0000

KiCad repeats the last command when you press the INSert key ( Fn-Enter on Mac). This excellent shortcut creates incrementing labels and makes wires the same size. Both save time when you need to label the pins of an IC in the schematic.

To try out the trick, open up a schematic. Click the Add Net Label command and then type a net label that ends in a number, like, A0.

Schematic to PCB KiCad 6 | Quick Tip #1

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 08:51:28 +0000

In KiCad 6 (and 5), the F8 key runs a special command. It automates annotating a schematic, generating a netlist, and loading it into PCBnew.

Also the “Edit Symbol Fields” is a better tool for updating footprints than the actual “Assign Footprints” dialog!

This video is the first one of a series of quick tips.

DIY Arduino Turn-On and Debug | #27

Fri, 06 Jul 2018 08:51:00 +0000

In part 3 of the DIY Arduino series, James solders, turns on, and, debugs the Pyramiduino! In this episode you can see how to solder parts with a toaster oven, test a board with a scope, and program an Arduino bootloader.

Episode #27 Show Notes and Links

Support AddOhms on Patreon
Order Pyramiduino R5 from OSHPark
JEDEC Reflow Profile via Diodes Inc.
MG Chemicals Low-Temp Solder Paste via Digi-Key
FTDI Friend from Adafruit
Coin Acceptor Live Stream
Open Vapors Reflow Controller on Hackster.io
Micrel MIC5504 datasheet
5 LDO Considerations from baldengineer.com
Rohde & Schwarz RTM3004 Oscilloscope
Code and Final Schematic on GitHub
Choose your side (KEY-cad or KAI-cad) T-Shirt from Contextual Electronics

Part 1: Schematic in KiCad for DIY Arduino
Part 2: Creating DIY Arduino PCB

DIY Arduino Schematic in KiCad | #23

Thu, 03 May 2018 08:51:00 +0000

This video is part of a 3 part series, with the other two parts coming in the future. When it’s time to design a custom PCB for your project, you might be wondering how to design in an Arduino. This video shows the pieces that go into the schematic. The next video will show how to layout the PCB. And after the boards come back, I will show how to turn it on.

DIY Arduino PCB in KiCad | #24

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 09:51:00 +0000

Part two of the DIY Arduino series. In this video, we create the PCB. Also, the project gets a new name: Pyramiduino. Watch the process to make a PCB in KiCad. And the Bald Engineer gives you a challenge, can you find the unconnected nets before he does? Check out Part 1 - the Schematic and subscribe to see when Part 3 - Turn On is posted.

DIY Arduino PCB in KiCad Show Notes

Pyramiduino Project on GitHub
Getting to Blinky: KiCad tutorial from Conextual Electronics
OSHPark- Bald Engineer’s preferred PCB supplier. (They provided the boards for free for this project.)

Part 1: Creating DIY Arduino Schematic in KiCad
Part 3: Soldering and testing DIY Arduino