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08:55
KiCad Beginner Mistakes: Project Setup Errors That Cause PCB Manufacturing Failures
A reliable PCB design starts with a well-organized schematic, not just accurate routing. This KiCad beginner tutorial explores common setup mistakes that can create problems later in the design and manufacturing process, including improper project file management, inconsistent symbol alignment, and incorrect electrical connections. It introduces KiCad's project structure, useful grid settings and shortcuts, and the correct application of wires, buses, net labels, and hierarchical sheets. The video also emphasizes assigning verified footprints before PCB layout and running Electrical Rules Check (ERC) to catch connectivity issues early. Building these habits into the design workflow helps prevent broken references, footprint mismatches, and unnecessary manufacturing revisions. Whether preparing a first PCB prototype or developing a board for PCB assembly, a clean and validated KiCad project provides a stronger foundation for generating production-ready Gerber files.
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12:36
Claude AI + KiCad PCB Design Video: From Idea to PCB
Can AI help design a PCB? This video explores a workflow combining Claude AI with KiCad to streamline schematic development, component selection, PCB layout, and design review. KiCad handles the core engineering tasks, including footprint management, electrical connections, copper routing, and manufacturing file generation, while Claude can assist with design reasoning and documentation. The process also highlights an important limitation: AI-generated designs are not automatically ready for production. Engineers must validate component specifications, electrical connections, design rules, stack-up requirements, and fabrication constraints before releasing a board. For IoT devices, industrial control systems, and other electronic projects, successful AI-assisted design depends on combining automation with engineering judgment and manufacturability checks. Once the design is verified, PCB prototyping and online quoting can help assess fabrication costs, while a PCB assembly quote supports planning for component sourcing and assembly.
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19:28
KiCad 10 Features: What These Updates Change in PCB Design
This video reviews KiCad 10 and FreeCAD 1.1, highlighting open-source updates that make schematic reuse, PCB layout, and enclosure design more efficient. For KiCad 10, it covers STEP-only official 3D models, directory-style symbol libraries, Windows dark mode, schematic variants for alternate BOMs and DNP components, hop-over wire display, schematic groups, and reusable PCB design blocks. Practical examples include a voltage-regulator block and USB-C connector routing that can be reused across PCB prototype projects. FreeCAD 1.1 improvements—including clearer selection, custom-origin transforms, quick measurement, projected external geometry, and internal-face generation—help engineers refine enclosures after the PCB outline is finalized. Together, these tools streamline the path from schematic and mechanical design to PCB assembly and online PCB quoting while reducing repetitive design work.
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31:48
Learn KiCad 10.0 in 7 Steps
This video walks through a complete KiCad 10 PCB design workflow for an ESP32-S3 USB development board, covering project setup, schematic capture, custom USB connector symbol and footprint creation, wiring, global labels, board outline, component placement, silkscreen, routing, 3D review, and DRC. Using a compact two-layer FR4 PCB as an example, it highlights the manufacturing-critical details that determine first-pass success, including accurate pad geometry, copper-to-outline clearance, silkscreen clearance from pads, and a clean DRC. Once the design is verified, engineers can move directly from the completed files to an instant PCB quote or turnkey PCB assembly, making the workflow relevant to IoT, consumer electronics, PCB prototyping, and production-ready design handoff.
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01:38
AIVON KiCad Plugin: Order PCB From KiCad
This tutorial demonstrates how to install the free AIVON KiCad plugin and streamline the workflow from a finished PCB layout to a production-ready order without manually exporting Gerbers or uploading files separately. It walks through KiCad’s Plugin and Content Manager, the Fabrication Plugins tab, applying pending changes, and launching the AIVON toolbar directly from the PCB Editor. Before quoting, the video emphasizes two critical checks—a clean DRC and a complete board outline—to ensure accurate CAM interpretation of board dimensions and layer count. Once launched, the plugin automatically extracts board parameters, packages manufacturing files, and opens a pre-filled instant PCB quote where engineers can confirm quantity, surface finish, solder mask color, and special requirements. The streamlined workflow supports both PCB prototype development and later PCB assembly quoting, helping IoT, industrial control, and consumer electronics teams reduce file-preparation errors and move from design freeze to fabrication more efficiently.
