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Table of Contents
We started in to kicad at the meetings on October 26 and November 2.
For a quick refresher, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gtd7xY6zS4
During those meetings, we worked on the shematic that's checked into our github at: https://github.com/Team-4795/pcboards-2018/tree/master/dioboard1
Here are the next few steps that we'll be doing on this particular board.
Add a diode
Insert a type 1N4148 diode in series with the LED+resistor circuit
for our signal wire, as shown. We'll go over why this addition to the
basic LED circuit needed. The 1N4148 is found under the “diode”
library category in the “add part” dialog.
Add a LED for power
Add another LED and resistor, from the +5v power to ground (or copy those parts from the ones already on the schematic for the signal wire). This LED will light up whenever the power is on, which is another useful debugging tool. Note that there's no extra diode here.
Add more connectors
Add two more generic 1×3 connectors over on the right side. their pin connections are all the same as the one that's already there. Either draw the wire connections, or use new power symbols for each one, your choice.
Annotate Reference Designators
Use the menu “Tools → annotate schematic.” look over the default settings, but just hit OK. Notice that instead of “R?” and “D?” we now have R1, R2, D1, D2, J1, J2, etc.
Update some component values
Resistors: edit component, then change R_US to the value “2.2K” which means 2.2 kilo-ohms or 2200 ohms.
When we placed our LEDs, we picked one that looked good, but had a part number and footprint that isn't quite what we want. Its still an LED, but we need to fix it up too.
Change the value of the LED for the signal wire to “5mm_RED”. Change the value of the LED for power to “5mm_YELLOW”.
Assign footprints
So far, our schematic contains symbols that represent the electrical behavior of our parts, but ignore their size and shape on the board. In prepartion for layout, each symbol needs to be assigned a “footprint”
There's an important dialog for this: The “Assign PCB Footprints to Schematic Symbols” tool. (toolbar or menu)
Remember from the video there are three filter-control buttons on the toolbar
of “Assign Footprints” Select the “#” (match number of pins) and “L”
(match library) filters
Our connectors, J1 through J4, are generic symbols - they aren't associated with an actual connector that we can buy or place on a board. Take a moment to notice where J1 through J4 are located on the schematic. If you used the defaults for “annotate”, J1 should be on the left, J2, J3, and J4 on the right.
For the connector on the left, we want a female or socket type that lays down against the board. Look in the Connector_PinSocket_2.54mm library, and select the footprint “PinSocket_1x03_P2.54mm_Horizontal” for J1.
Next go to the Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm library. Of the three on the right, set J2 to PinHeader_1x03_P2.54mm_Horizontal. For the remaining two on the right, J3 and J4, use PinHeader_1x03_P2.54mm_Vertical.
Set the footprint for both LEDs to “LED_D5.0mm”, found in the LED_THT library.
For all of the resistors, use the Resistor_THT library. Set the footprint for R1 and R2 to R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_Horizontal
When you're done, the dialog should look like:
Don't forget to save!
Create Netlist
Push the green Create Netlist (“Net”) button, and accept the default name. that's it! you should be able open up the pcb editor, hit “read netlist”, and see all of your parts.