Super n00b here - designing a twin-LED flasher as first project - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eton975
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 10:58:32 am
content: So, I'm gonna be making this simple circuit (except replace 47uf caps with 10ufs) in KiCad. After I've laid it out in Pcbnew, I'm gonna print it out and etch it:But this is what my EEschema layout looks like:And this is the screwed-up schematic I got from PCBNew after I generated the netlist from the EESchema layout (Yes, I DID click the 'Mode Footprint' button and associate footprints!):_________________________________________________________________________So what have I done wrong here?A couple other questions:How do I isolate touching wires so that EEschema knows they are separate? Are the wires that I crossed in EEschema all one giant wire? Or does EEschema separate wires based on how you placed them initially?How do I move individual components around in PCBnew after I've imported the netlist?Help appreciated.

author: halexa
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 11:49:22 am
content: My suggestion: watch some Kicad tutotrials from Contextual Electronics:https://contextualelectronics.com/course/kicad-tutorial/

author: Thor-Arne
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 04:02:55 pm
content: Start over and make the schematic like the one in the example, it's not hard.Don't place junctions at the part pins.Junctions is usedonlywhere wires connects.Watch tutorials, and be patient. You'll learn.

author: jsquaredz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 05:59:45 pm
content: Quote from: eton975 on June 09, 2015, 10:58:32 amCan you archive your project and post the file here?

author: eton975
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 06:28:43 am
content: Will check out all the tuts, thanks guys.QuoteYep. I'll attach my (revised as per Thor-Arne's suggestion) version.

author: Thor-Arne
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 09:22:36 am
content: Now you're on the right track, however still a bit to go.I think you should have some more space to work on in there, move the symbols around until you have space enough for the wires.If you look at symbol you see that it has some small circles on its pins, this is the connection node where wires should end.Always connect a wire to a pin in a straight angle, and no wires under a pin.If you look at the wires they have a small square on it's end, this is showing unconnected wire nodes.In your schematic there several of unconnected wires.A few tips, use M-key to move, G-key to drag.Also, use the DRC to check your design, until it passes DRC check it's not finished.When you get the schematic good, we can talk about PCB layout.

author: eton975
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 10:48:36 am
content: Quote from: Thor-Arne on June 10, 2015, 09:22:36 amFunny, they all seem to be circular to me:Anyways, I did figure out some of the basics of the PCB layout, and Ithinkit's almost ready for me to print out onto that acid-resist paper and start etching (BTW the copper sheet is single-sided). New revised archive below.

author: Thor-Arne
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 01:47:40 pm
content: See attachment for unconnected square wire nodes.The red unfilled circles is pin-nodes, and the green filled circles is wire junctions.Try to make all wire-to-pin connections straight, like you did on Q1-B.Also, always have wire between part pins.It's best to learn this as soon as possible, it will make larger schematics easier to do later.