For anyone out there who has ever struggled finding a part for KiCAD, there are some who would say you’re doing it wrong. You’re supposed to make your own parts if you can’t find them in the libraries you already have. This is really the only way; PCB design tools are tools, and so the story […]
KiCAD – Custom Library Part I Read More »
In my previous blogs I started a new project Raspberry Pi® – Powerunit® with a follow up about the software here. Hereafter I designed the PCB in KICAD here. It used to be, that buying PCB’s in hobby quantities, was expensive and filled with gotcha’s. Now, places like Seeed Studio can send your PCB’s to
Raspberry Pi® – Powerunit® – Part III Read More »
We can make plenty of PCB designs using KiCAD, a powerful open source CAD tool. What makes them unique is customized Logo and brand names. KiCAD offers us a feature to add logos in any of the silk screens; bottom or top. Rather than just a textual logos, a graphical logo makes the design look
KiCAD – Add a Logo Read More »
When you are creating a PCB first you start with the scheme when this is done you will design the PCB, generate Gerber files and place an order at a PCB manufacturing company or make your own PCB. When this is done, with most uncomplicated PCB you know where to place the right component. But
KiCAD – Assembly Files Read More »
SMT / SMD Component Packages: sizes, dimensions, details it’s a whole world on itself. When you are looking for the right component you also need to decide witch package you will use. In my case as small as possible, but also I need to be able to solder it myself to my PCB. SMD Component
SMD – Component Packages Read More »
In my previous blog I covered the hardware and software and part II here for my Raspberry Pi® – Powerunit® project. Now its time for the PCB Design. KiCad Although KiCad (pronounced ‘Kai-Cad’, not ‘Key-Cad’ like the thing that goes in a lock) is the new hotness when it comes to PCB design. The amazing growth
Raspberry Pi® – Powerunit® PCB Design Read More »
In my previous blog here, I have figured out the basic hardware & software setup for my Powerunit® project. Now Its time to fine tune the Software for my Powerunit® . Powerunit® Project – Software phase Now that the everything is working I want to fine tune the software a little bit more, and make
Raspberry Pi® – Powerunit® – Part II Read More »
One thing that was still missing for me on the Raspberry Pi®, was the inclusion of some kind of power switch or Powerunit ®. Considering how many common Raspberry Pi® projects could make use of this functionality. Still, we’ve lived with this problem with the old version for a long time, and there are plenty
Raspberry Pi® – Powerunit ® Read More »
For an upcoming project I need to improve the electrical characteristics of the PCB by increasing the width of the Ground and Vcc tracks. Let’s start with the track width. You can control the width of each track manually. The method involves creating custom track’s widths and then applying one of those to a new
KiCAD – Controlling the track width Read More »
