KiCad Overview

An open source electronics design software package.
https://www.kicad-pcb.org

Shawn Hymel from Digikey has a good overview tutorial playlist. Here's a summary for future reference.

video

Workflow:

• Design circuit
• Create symbols (in the Symbol Editor)
• Schematic Capture (in the Schematic Layout Editor)
• Create footprints (in the Footprint Editor)
• Generate Netlist
• Board Layout (in the PCB Layout Editor)

• In the Symbol Editor: File > New Library.
  • Save the .lib file local to your project (eg: projects folder) or available to multiple projects (eg: documents > KiCad > Libraries).
• Choose Global if the symbol can be used for multiple projects or Project if it's project-specific.

• In the Symbol Editor: File > New Symbol
• Select the library you just created
• Give the symbol a name & Refdes code. Click OK
• Shortcuts: hover mouse over object and press m (move), r (rotate), e (edit)
• Click 'Add pins' icon on the right, and click anywhere on the page to add a pin. Enter the name and pin number.
• Pin conventions:
• Pin names are in capitals
• Starting a pin name with ~ gives the pin name a horizontal bar over the name, indicating the pin is active LOW.
• Put pins 2 grid spaces apart for legibility.
• place all pins and orient them with the little circle on the outside.
• draw box (graphic rectangle icon) touching the straight ends of the pins.
• Symbol conventions
  • Origin should be in the center
  • The Refdes goes to the top left of the symbol
  • The part name sits in the bottom right of the symbol box
• Save and close.