Kicad

KiCad 8 just dropped, and here are Bald Engineer’s eight must-try features! The February 2024 release brings a whole host of new stuff to the Schematic editor. However, the PCB editor, CLI, and Simulation tools also received attention. (There are something like 900 closed issues for the 8.0.0 Milestone!) Which of these is your favorite?

In mid-2021, I saw a demonstration of features for the upcoming KiCad 6. A statement caught me off guard: “the new copy/paste feature uses the system’s clipboard.” Then I watched as one of the developers copied from one KiCad instance into another. Immediately, that capability hit me as a game-changer. Not because the world’s oldest shortcut keys now work as we all expect, but because of the flexibility the method introduces! Actual text gets copied to the clipboard. For example, you can paste that into a text editor, make some changes, and then paste the new version of “code” back into KiCad.

KiCad repeats the last command when you press the INSert key ( Fn-Enter on Mac). This excellent shortcut creates incrementing labels and makes wires the same size. Both save time when you need to label the pins of an IC in the schematic. To try out the trick, open up a schematic. Click the Add Net Label command and then type a net label that ends in a number, like, A0.

In KiCad 6 (and 5), the F8 key runs a special command. It automates annotating a schematic, generating a netlist, and loading it into PCBnew. Also the “Edit Symbol Fields” is a better tool for updating footprints than the actual “Assign Footprints” dialog! This video is the first one of a series of quick tips.

In part 3 of the DIY Arduino series, James solders, turns on, and, debugs the Pyramiduino! In this episode you can see how to solder parts with a toaster oven, test a board with a scope, and program an Arduino bootloader. Episode #27 Show Notes and Links Support AddOhms on Patreon Order Pyramiduino R5 from OSHPark JEDEC Reflow Profile via Diodes Inc. MG Chemicals Low-Temp Solder Paste via Digi-Key FTDI Friend from Adafruit Coin Acceptor Live Stream Open Vapors Reflow Controller on Hackster.io Micrel MIC5504 datasheet 5 LDO Considerations from baldengineer.com Rohde & Schwarz RTM3004 Oscilloscope Code and Final Schematic on GitHub Choose your side (KEY-cad or KAI-cad) T-Shirt from Contextual Electronics Related Videos Part 1: Schematic in KiCad for DIY Arduino Part 2: Creating DIY Arduino PCB