escape_gallery_obsidian_vault/Notes/Electronics/KiCad.md

Basic

• Start with the schematic editor then move to the PCB

Adding Symbols, Footprints and 3D Models

Find the symbol and footprint on UltraLibrarian or another site.

• Symbol needs a file with a .kicad_sym extension
• Footprint needs a folder with a.pretty extension and with one or more files with .kicad_mod extensions in it
• The 3D model needs a STEP AP214 file with a .stp extension

Copy all the files into a folder in the project, e.g. Symbols/PART_NAME after you unzip them into the Downloads folder.

Symbol

Go to Schematics Editor and open Preferences > Manage Symbol Libraries. Click on Project Specific Libraries. Click on the ➕ button. Click on the 📁 icon in the new row, select the .kicad_sym file. Give it the row a Nickname based on the name/number.

When inserting the part, the name will be the symbol name in the .kicad_sym text file.

Footprint

Go to the PCB Editor. Go to Preferences > Manage Footprint Libraries. Click on Project Specific Libraries. Click on ➕ button. Click on the 📁 icon in the new row, select the .pretty folder. Give the row a Nickname based on the part name/number.

When setting the footprint on a symbol properties, the name will be the value of footprint in the .kicad_mod file. You have to give it twice, separated by a colon (:) to avoid errors when synching the schematic to the PCB.

3D Model

In the PCB Editor double click the footprint. Click the 3D Models tab. Click the ➕ and cilck the 📁 icon then select the 3D model .stp file. You can scale, rotate and offset the model as needed to match the footprint.

Drawing Wires and Nets

• Start the wire: Click on a component pin or an existing wire.
• Bend the wire: Click once to set a 90-degree angle or change direction.
• Complete the wire: Click on another pin, another wire, or double-click to end the line in empty space.
• Add a net label: Press L or click the Add Net Label icon, type your net name (like GND or 3.3V), and place it on the wire to assign that electrical net. 1

Elements

• A pin header is a set of pins that connects to PCB's together

References

• [Documentation](https://kicad.github.io/](https://kicad.github.io/)