Kicad Notes and how-tos

The parts of Kicad

kicad navigator

• eeschema - the schematic editor

• cvpcb - the component to module (foot-print) editor
• pcbnew - the PCB layout program
• Gerbview - the Gerber file viewer

eeschema

• Update a part with one newly modified in the library - Right now (Release: 2006-08-28) there is a bug that keeps the fields from getting updated - best to delete the part and re-add it at this time if you use fields.  In Libedit, there is a button with the hint:
  
  

   "Save Current Part into current loaded library (in memory)"

  
  That is supposed to do this.
  
• Change part value - do not change the value field - it is actually the part name - you will need to select edit part and create a custom value field.
• Change default lib location - under preferences/libs and dir/Library file path (note: I don't see this working as expected on Linux?)

• Copy of a block of schematic from one sheet to another. Select the block with the mouse, right-click and select "Save block" Then go to the other sheet and click the "Paste" button in the tool-bar.

• for Non-homogeneous multi-part components, do not forget to check (in
  library editor) the "Parts are Locked" option for these components.
  With this option, Eeschema does not change the part selection when
  annotates the schematic.
• The locate dialog has a search for markers - these markers refer to those produced by ERC.
• Copying from project to project:
  
  You can also do this by adding the old schematic to the new as a
  hierarchical sheet and the copying between them.
  
  -Copy the old schematic file to the same directory as your new
  schematic file.
  
  -Select the "Add hierarchical Symbol" icon (Right tool bar) and place
  one on the new schematic.
  
  -Enter the file name of the old schematic you copied into the dir
  including the file name extension. Leave the sheet name blank.
  
  -Open the old schematic via the "schematic hierarchy navigator" icon
  (Top tool bar) or double click on the symbol.
  
  -Select the block you want to copy and pick "Save Block" from the
  context menu.
  
  -Open the new schematic via the "schematic hierarchy navigator" icon
  (Top tool bar).
  
  -Select the "Paste" icon and paste the block in the new schematic.
  
  -Repeat as required.
  
  -Delete the old schematics hierarchical Symbol from the new schematic.
  
  -Delete the old schematic file if you want.
• measuring things - the space bar resets the relative coordinates (look at the bottom right of the screen - the small 'x' and 'y'.
• Printing to a web viewable file: A better solution than postscript printing is to use Plot/Plot SVG command to write scheme in SVG file format.
  
  The only drawback is width of the lines - there is a script that only changes stroke-width:1 to stroke-width:10 in SVG file and it can be found at http://www.japina.eu/blog 
• Block move The procedure is as follows:

- hold down Ctrl
- press and hold down the left mouse button to begin selecting
- you can release Ctrl any time from now
- move to the opposite corner of the selection box and release the left mouse button
- move the items to the desired place and left-click to put them there
**If anything goes wrong, right-click and select "Cancel block".

ERC

Electrical Rule Check helps check your schematic for errors.

libedit

Schematic Parts creation

• Saving to current loaded (RAM) library updates schematic. Don't forget to save to the Library
• Setting a part as convert is for logic gates - the convert is the De'Morgan's equivalent of the main part.
• Pin names with an over-bar (active low) can be made by starting the name with a '`' tilde..
• Skew setting is the distance between text and pin end.
• Over-lines  for logic notation can be accomplished in pin names using the tilde ('~") character. For example: 
  
  Enter read/~write to display read/write   or ~write~/read would appear as write/read

libbrowse

Associate schematic decal pins with footprint pins?  

cvpcb

pcbnew

• This feature is used when some vias must have a specific drill size (which differs from the default drill size). You can adjust the "Alternate Via Drill" to a correct value, and for some vias you can select this alternate value (by the pop-up menu) This job is more easy if you have chosen a bigger (or smaller) via diameter for theses vias, because the pop-up menu has a command to export the current via drill to all vias which have the same diameter (put the mouse cursor on such a via, and by the pop-up menu (edit via option) select the alternate via drill for this via, and export the via drill to other identical vias (command edit via/export via drill to other id vias)

DRC

Design Rule Checks

• DRC test doesn't take in account zones nor failed connections. Only distances between tracks and pads.
• unconnected pads: they probably don't reach the center point of the pad or of the track. For this is useful to check the
  "magnetic pad" box in "general options"
• Before making a zone, gnd zone for example, connect all vias of the gnd zone among them. You will get a "no unconnected" message. Afterwards, make the zone. The tracks will be overlapped with the zone.
  

Module editor

pcbnew  contains the module (foot-print decal) editor where you can change and create modules.

• Module Editor, when edit pads, is very difficult to move the pad in a specific location (specially when the required position is not on the grid). A simple way is to edit manually the .mod file, editing the required coordinates of each pad.
• how to define custom solder mask. In the pad properties of module editor, you select on which layer you want work. Suppose you need a big pad partially unmasked:
  
  
  1. Edit your pad by unchecking the Solder mask component layer, so all the pad become masked.
  2. Create a new pad without number and edit this one by checking only the Solder mask component layer, adjust his position overlapping the Component pad.
  Use a sufficient fine grid in order to be able to place the pads where you need. Some time it become difficult to re-select overlapped pads, in this case momentary move the first selected (the bigger one) in order to be able to access a smaller pad

Module Properties

• For a module to appear in the Module Position File, it must have the attribute Normal+Insert. This can be set in the Module Properties dialog box.
  

Module fields

• The field that has the module name becomes the reference designator (R1 for a resistor). The field that contains: 
  

   VAL**
  

  reflects the Part name that pointed to the module.
  

Auto router

MUCS-PCB Autorouter

This is not actually part of kicad - but has been recommended as a better auto router than the one that comes with kicad.

Steps to use:

    * http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/apt/projects/tools/mucs-pcb/ MUCS-PCB autorouter

gerbview

Terms used by kicad   

• Modules are foot-prints or PCB decals (This is an improved name IMHO)

• Fields are know as part attributes in other PCB software  - includes things like value, tolerance, footprint, price, manufacturer, vendor, description.

Procedures

Placing multiple components of the same type

Making foot-prints 

hole types:

ECO

1. Make changes to schematic noting the reference number of any part that gets deleted, changed or its foot-print changed.
2. Export new netlist
3. Assign modules with CVPCB if needed. (it is quite possible to assign the foot-print when the schematic part is created in libedit or update these later while in eeschema to an alternate foot-print)

Library management

Copy part between libraries

Change name of part in library

In libedit select part to rename, Select edit part properties and select the fields tab. Select the value field and edit it to the new part name. Save the library. Select the delete icon and delete the original part name.

create new library

Kicad layers

Copper Planes

Hole count

Files Types

kicad vs EAGLE

Links

Questions:

If you know the answers to these, please send them to inform@xtronics.com

• How is the .stf stuff file applied? Exactly what does it do?
• What data is transfered via sockets between eeschema and pcbnew?  Exactly what gets updated?
• My tests with version '2006-08-28' show that if you fill in the footprint field for the schematic parts you don't have run cvpcb - any updates on this? 
• for doing an ECO There is more going on that just creating a new netlist and importing it -:
  the .stf file may be involved - how are changes to the footprint handled? This doesn't quite work as documented in (2006-08-28)
  
  Is there a forward and backward eco process going on? Is there inter process communication going on between eeschema and pcbnew? I read that there was - but what is it doing?
• In The module_editor/module_properties/attributes  - what is the difference between Normal and virtual - Virtual is for an edge card connector -  but what is different?
• In pcbnew what does File/Append_board  do? It wants a .brd file that it adds to the work area - what exactly is this for?
• In eeschema under /preferences/libs and directories - there is a "library files path" setting that I don't seem to be able to get to work - is there special syntax or some other detail? Can it join two directories (a default lib and a user lib directory? )

Wish list:

• Undo + redo buttons! (Being worked on!)

• Binary/source dpkgs for Debian/Ubuntu 
• Needs Pin-swap and gate-swap!
• A way to use multiple library and module directories.
• The part attributes (fields) are great, but it would be nice to have one free form text field that can have returns and the like for making general notes. Same with modules! Also, why limit the number of fields or set to some large number (256)? It would be nice to have an editable table so one could see a page of fields at once and change the value (leave the size and position info as a 'move field' function. )
• Some standard part attributes to help with sharing libs - we already have some standard fields: value(which should be called 'part-name' or just 'name'), footprint, Doc(which should be called 'Description') - how about adding a real 'value' field, tolerance, manufacturer#,  Wattage.
• A way to create rectangles on modules - i.e. the glue and solder-paste layers.
• Help file needs to be search-able - or include a ODF version of the help files - be nice to print out and search-able as well. Even better in [DocBook] format, since this can be rendered as PDF, HTML, Windows Help file, integrated into KDE's help system, and many more. 
• When  saving all the modules contained in a pcb - there needs to be a way to also save the Document(PDF)  files and 3D images that go with the PCB.  (Might it be a good idea to save the Document and 3D files  in  subdirectories based on name of the .moc file?  ie Module file  name = my.moc then a dir named my_pdf would have the docs and my_3d would have the 3d models.)
• In eeschema there needs to be a way to create a lib with all the parts - and at the same time save all the document (PDF) files.
• Gerber and drill jobs - define all plot & drill settings for each layer and save as a job that can be run as a batch.
• Why isn't .dcm just part of part of a .lib file ? 

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