KiCAD for serious hardware development

[hw1]

Let me share with you some of the best tips and tricks I believe you can benefit from in no time.
I have written about them for about 5 years on my LinkedIn profile and here will be reposted the best ones.

[hw1]

Exempt from courtyard requirement

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗼?: It switches off the courtyard-checks for the particular footprint.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁?: Whenever there is an incorrect or missing courtyard definition in the footprint you need to prevent error messages.

[hw1]

Teardrops

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐂𝐀𝐃

Geometric transitions in PCBs are no joke—whether it’s between traces and vias or traces and footprint pads. Teardrops offer smoother transitions, improving both the mechanical strength and reliability of your design. But like all good things, they come with their own set of challenges.

What sets KiCAD#k’s Teardrops feature apart is its design as regular polygons, maintained by the kicad core. It’s a small but critical detail that has been expertly implemented. However, it’s crucial to exercise caution when employing this feature. Why?

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀.

Before you pat yourself on the back for using Teardrops and send your design off for production, remember to run the Design Rule Checks (DRC). Skipping this step can lead to unintended consequences, from violations of clearance rules to potentially compromising the integrity of your design.

Always ensure that DRC tests are part of your workflow, especially after implementing such geometric modifications. In doing so, you’re not just creating a robust design but also setting yourself up for fewer headaches down the line.

[hw1]

Change symbols…

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐬… 𝐢𝐧 kicad 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

What is the ‘𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝘀’ Tool?: Beyond its self-explanatory name, this tool is a paradigm shift in schematic editing. It streamlines the symbol change process, ensuring accuracy while saving invaluable time.

𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹 𝘃𝘀. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: The magic lies in the details, and understanding the nuances between these two can elevate your KiCAD experience:

𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: When you need to alter just one symbol, head to the Properties window. Here, the tool to modify that singular symbol awaits, giving you granular control over your schematic.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: At times, broad strokes are necessary. For those moments when an entire group of symbols needs modification, you have to look for the Change Symbol… tool in the Schematic editor contextual. Just a right-click, and you can transform a group, ensuring consistency across your design.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?: In the vast landscape of schematic capture, efficiency is king. Let’s say you need to change some 100k 0603 resistors in the schematic to 0402. Only some, not all of them. You can go one by one but you will burn time. I recommend select all symbols to be changed and use the Change Symbols… tool.

[hw1]

Pack and Move Footprints

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤 '𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥!

When placing components onto an empty PCB area, there’s a common challenge: after selecting all the related components in the schematic editor of kicad, I jump to the layout editor only to find them scattered all over.

But worry not! KiCAD has a nifty tool that’s been an absolute lifesaver for me.
Enter the “𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀” tool.

Once I’ve highlighted my desired components, this tool brings them together in a tight, compact pack. No more dragging footprints one by one or trying to manually cluster them close. With just a couple of clicks, my layout becomes more organized, making the subsequent steps of routing and refining so much smoother.

For anyone who hasn’t tried this feature in KiCAD, I urge you to dive in. It’s one of those simple tools that dramatically enhances workflow efficiency.
Keep designing smart, and always embrace tools that make life just a tad bit easier!

[hw1]

Interactive BOM

𝐊𝐢𝐂𝐀𝐃 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏

One of the best features of kicad is the open policy and number of Action plugins.

I started with a plugin that completely revolutionized my workflow: 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗢𝗠 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗕𝗢𝗠 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁.

As a freelancing engineer, I’ve had my share of tools and plugins, but iBOM is my absolute favourite.

Why? Because it transforms the conventional BOM into an interactive bill of material spreadsheet tailored for web browsers. Here are some features that make it indispensable to my design process:

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: With iBOM, when I select a component, it’s immediately highlighted in the assembly page frame, making identification a breeze.
𝗛𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Move the cursor over a component in the assembly page frame, and its corresponding line in the spreadsheet lights up. It’s the little things that make a difference!
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 & 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝘀: These two columns are life-savers during the manual component placement phase. They streamline the process, ensuring I know exactly where each component needs to go.

Truly, I cannot express enough how much I adore iBOM.

[hw1]

KiBuzzard

𝐊𝐢𝐂𝐀𝐃 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 2

One of the best features of kicad is the open policy and number of Action plugins.

The third Action plugin I want you to know is 𝗞𝗶𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝗴𝗶𝗻.

𝗞𝗶𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱’s primary feature is creating sleek and visually appealing labels, which might seem simplistic, but the impact on the final board design is undeniable.

A well-labelled board not only aids in the understanding of its function but also provides a professional touch that elevates the entire project.

While 𝗞𝗶𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 has been a tremendous asset, there’s a small quirk to be aware of: it generates a somewhat hidden footprint, leading the DRC tool to red flag it regularly. This is a minor hiccup, and with experience, it becomes easy to navigate.

The variety of label styles offered by 𝗞𝗶𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 is commendable. Since integrating it into my workflow, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in the overall look of my boards. If you’re seeking that additional flair in your PCB designs, I’d highly recommend giving 𝗞𝗶𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 a try.

It’s one of those subtle enhancements that make a big difference.

[hw1]

Speed wiring

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐂𝐀𝐃

When working in kicad schematic editor, many might be in the habit of carefully routing wires to each component’s connection nodes. However, I want to present a handy approach that can significantly cut down on the time you spend wiring: 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Instead of tiringly leading wires to individual nodes, you can efficiently route them through the components themselves. It might speed up your design process considerably. So next time you’re in the schematic editor, could you try this method and see the difference for yourself?

Remember, every second counts in design, and little tricks like these can accumulate into big-time savings.

Happy designing!

[hw1]

Enter group

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐂𝐀𝐃

Have you ever struggled with accessing and editing properties of individual elements within a group in kicad? Enter the “Enter Group” tool from the contextual menu of the particular group.

Here’s how to use it:

Select the group you wish to edit.
Choose “Enter Group” from the contextual menu.
You’re now inside the group, free to select and modify individual elements.
Once you’ve made the desired changes, click outside the group to exit.

Happy designing!

[hw1]

Global changes

𝐕𝐢𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐂𝐀𝐃

Do you know what the probably best-hidden feature of all kicad symbols, footprints, schematics and boards is?

All those objects are text-based

Examples?

Do you want to rename particular labels in the entire schematic?
Do you want to make a global VIA size change in the existing PCB?
Do you want to annotate part of the schematic manually?

I can continue with examples for a long time.

The common solution is simple as that:

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁. 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲.

[hw1]

Align to Grid

Remove off-grid issues in kicad

Sometimes you can save time by using the Align Elements to Grid tool instead of manually aligning the elements. It is not a killer feature like Repeat the last action tool but…well…it can save a while too.

Why to save time? That’s the question indeed.

[ravi.blore]

That’s great I had no idea. How do you access the text/code part to make the changes?

[hw1]

All KiCAD project files are textual–you can open them and edit them as you want.

Here follows a snippet from the very beginning of a regular .kicad_sch file:

(kicad_sch (version 20230121) (generator eeschema)

  (uuid ca552d8e-651a-4cbe-8d5f-815faf92d144)

  (paper "A4")

  (lib_symbols
    (symbol "!loga:LOGO_4LAYER" (pin_names (offset 1.016)) (in_bom no) (on_board yes)
      (property "Reference" "U" (at -2.54 3.81 0)
        (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) hide)
      )
      (property "Value" "LOGO_4LAYER" (at 1.27 -3.81 0)
        (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) hide)
...

[dilip]

Is it possible to create a constraint region or room in KiCAD ? and then set a particular set of rules for that region?

[abhishek]

Hi Petr,

Generally professional tools allows you to set rules of different trace widths and spacing on different copper layers for a particular impedance trace for single ended as well as differential pairs. Since as per stackup maintaining a particular impedance of a trace travelling through various layers of PCB requires different trace widths and spacing. Is it possible to set such rule in kicad such that the trace automatically changes its width or spacing when we switch between layers ? and does it get checked during the DRC check ?

[hw1]

Hello dilip.

unfortunately not. Rules and contraints are always connected with nets. You cannot set a room with different rules. The only way would be naming each net and assigning a netclass to it with specific rules.

[hw1]

Hello abhishek,

Thank you for the question. I would love to have such KiCAD features! Unfortunately, it is not possible. All rules and constraints can be assigned to entire nets. The via does not divide any net in two so that remains one with only a single setup.

[abhishek]

Thank you, I tried setting such rule using the custom rules feature of Kicad latest version but wasn’t successful.

[hw1]

I am sorry. I did not use the Custom rule feature for that. I will check it.

[abhishek]

I said I was not successful, it did not work.