I just wanted to post an experience that happened to me recently...,

I was amazed at how quickly a
PCB can be created and manufactured these days. ?

I found out that a very powerful tool to create a PCB was KiCad. ?I downloaded it and very quickly started to sink rather than swim. ?I got very frustrated with trying to learn KiCad.?

I wrote to a a member of one of the groups here and pleaded with him to share his KiCad files with me. ?( I was looking for a quick and dirty solution to my frustrations)..

Well - the person that I had requested the files from stood strong and told me NO! ?At first I was very disappointed that I could not get a quick solution to my frustrations.?

As it turns out, the person that I asked for help, basically said - You have s off of the schematic as well as the board itself. ?He told me to use the schematic and the board and use them as a focus to truly learn KiCad.?

I started to view some some YouTube tutorials (some many times). ?Using the schematic that I had I gradually learned how to build a schematic and then to reference footprints and build new footprints for unusual components. ?Well - it took me several sleepless nights but eventually I was able to create my own set of Gerbers for the PCB. ?I got my boards back today from JLCPCB. ?

I used this board as some samples of different silk screens etc. ?The boards look fantastic! ? I am very proud of what I was able to do with KiCad. ?Now - I must say that there were many questions while I was building the Schematic and PCB.?

The wonderful person that that originally told me NO - was able to guide me down the path of learning basic KiCad functions. ?I now have knowledge that I would not have gotten had he given me his files.?

KiCad is a great product and my mentor is priceless to me. ?Never be afraid to jump into a product and learn with a mentors assistance and tutorials. ?I guarantee if I can do it - So can you...

73 - John -N6API

I have found this playlist of KiCad tutorials very helpful for KiCad
version 5.0.2.



On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 6:08 PM John Bahun via Groups.Io
<johnbahun@...> wrote:

I just wanted to post an experience that happened to me recently...,

I was amazed at how quickly a
PCB can be created and manufactured these days.

I found out that a very powerful tool to create a PCB was KiCad. I downloaded it and very quickly started to sink rather than swim. I got very frustrated with trying to learn KiCad.

I wrote to a a member of one of the groups here and pleaded with him to share his KiCad files with me. ( I was looking for a quick and dirty solution to my frustrations)..

Well - the person that I had requested the files from stood strong and told me NO! At first I was very disappointed that I could not get a quick solution to my frustrations.

As it turns out, the person that I asked for help, basically said - You have s off of the schematic as well as the board itself. He told me to use the schematic and the board and use them as a focus to truly learn KiCad.

I started to view some some YouTube tutorials (some many times). Using the schematic that I had I gradually learned how to build a schematic and then to reference footprints and build new footprints for unusual components. Well - it took me several sleepless nights but eventually I was able to create my own set of Gerbers for the PCB. I got my boards back today from JLCPCB.

I used this board as some samples of different silk screens etc. The boards look fantastic! I am very proud of what I was able to do with KiCad. Now - I must say that there were many questions while I was building the Schematic and PCB.

The wonderful person that that originally told me NO - was able to guide me down the path of learning basic KiCad functions. I now have knowledge that I would not have gotten had he given me his files.

KiCad is a great product and my mentor is priceless to me. Never be afraid to jump into a product and learn with a mentors assistance and tutorials. I guarantee if I can do it - So can you...

73 - John -N6API

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

Excellent tutorial by John.?
Another great YouTube set of tutorials is by Chris Gammell. ?Just search with
“chris gammell kicad“ - it will take you to another set of tutorials. ?

73 - John -?N6API

I took a look at Chris Gammell's tutorial and had a difficult time
with it because he uses KiCad 4.x.x on MS-Windows. I don't think the
operating system makes that much of a difference, but it is extremely
frustrating when, as a beginner, the things that he shows cannot be
found on KiCad 5.x.x. John uses Ubuntu, which is based on Debian
GNU/Linux, which is the system I use (for the last 23+ years).

I would say go with Gammell's tutorial if you are using KiCad 4.x.x.
That is because John uses KiCad 5.x.x and it would be just as
frustrating to not be able to find the things that he demonstrates. I
wasted a whole day trying to figure out what Gammell was doing.

So I open the video in a browser on one desktop, and Kicad 5.0.2 on
another desktop, and as I watch John's videos, I can pause it and go
try out what he just demonstrated. And if I can't figure it out, I go
back to the video, rewind, and watch that part over again. Today I
made my first footprints.

If someone doesn't have KiCad installed, I would recommend going with
KiCad 5.x.x. It is really nice. And John's videos are very beginner
friendly. He goes at a good pace for a beginner, and his screens are
large enough for ME to see, and that is saying a lot because my
eyesight is very poor.


I have some limited experience with Eagle, and I have tried KiCad
before, but never got very far with it. This time around, using John's
videos, and KiCad 5.0.2, I am making good progress. I have not had a
chance to sit down with the KiCad 5 documentation yet, but at a
glance, it looks pretty good.



On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 10:09 PM John Bahun via Groups.Io
<johnbahun@...> wrote:

Excellent tutorial by John.
Another great YouTube set of tutorials is by Chris Gammell. Just search with
“chris gammell kicad“ - it will take you to another set of tutorials.

73 - John - N6API

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

Hi Ken:

i agree 110% about the version frustrations. ?I ran into the same thing, even static webpages that do not make it clear what version they are referencing.?
I agree completely - install the latest stable build of Ver 5.x.x

The only major thing I ran into was realizing that they removed the AutoRouter from Ver 5. ?I think they are close to getting a new AutoRouter into KiCad. ?I found freeroute to work quite well if you need AutoRouting.?


You have to do some import and export gymnastics to use it - but it worked well for me.?

If if I can help - just let me know Ken.?

73 - John - N6API

When I was learning how to use Eagle, all the tutorials recommended
not using the AutoRouter, But as a beginner, I found it very helpful
for getting started. I did not realize that there is not an AutoRouter
in KiCad 5. That will force me to learn how to route a board by hand.
However, I will take a look at freeroute. Thanks for the link.
Actually, the most difficult thing for me at the moment is finding
parts in KiCad. But then again, I have the same problem when looking
for parts at the major Electronics Distributors
(Mouser/DigiKey/Jameco/etc.). It makes me appreciate all the work that
goes into designing a PCB. There is a lot more to it than just
drawing.

Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 10:42 PM John Bahun via Groups.Io
<johnbahun@...> wrote:

Hi Ken:

i agree 110% about the version frustrations. I ran into the same thing, even static webpages that do not make it clear what version they are referencing.
I agree completely - install the latest stable build of Ver 5.x.x

The only major thing I ran into was realizing that they removed the AutoRouter from Ver 5. I think they are close to getting a new AutoRouter into KiCad. I found freeroute to work quite well if you need AutoRouting.

www.freeroute.org
You have to do some import and export gymnastics to use it - but it worked well for me.

If if I can help - just let me know Ken.

73 - John - N6API

Think I must have tried most PCB CAD packages, some more difficult than others to use. Eventually settled on
Diptrace (Free version) does everything I want it to and more. If the device I want is not in it's library, find the data sheet and build it in
Diptrace and it usually doesn't take that long.
Always use autoroute and maybe do a little optimisation sometime. My attitude is, if it's there use it.

One thing I have recently found out is if I produce a PCB design that has my devices in it, you can copy the design file to someone else
and it does transfer all my devices with it.

Still life in this old dog at 72.

Dave, G8PGO?

开云体育

I just found some Chris Gammell videos for KiCad 5.x.x for the Getting To Blinky tutorial.

This is the link to the Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy2022BX6EspFAKBCgRuEuzapuz_4aJCn

He starts off by making a custom 7555 IC schematic symbol.

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor