#kicad — Public Fediverse posts

I'll follow the KiCad Library Conventions for my custom symbols in #KiCad. Makes up for an interesting read by te way! https://klc.kicad.org/

Anyone else on Ubuntu 24 having issues with #KiCAD 10.0.5 just "pausing"?

I quite often get "KiCad has stopped responding, force quit or wait?"

usually when switching between shcematic and PCB, or after running polygon pour?

Not bad for a first attempt. #KiCAD to 3D print (via #OpenSCAD).
#3dPrinting

Not bad for a first attempt. #KiCAD to 3D print (via #OpenSCAD).
#3dPrinting

Not bad for a first attempt. #KiCAD to 3D print (via #OpenSCAD).
#3dPrinting

Not bad for a first attempt. #KiCAD to 3D print (via #OpenSCAD).
#3dPrinting

Not bad for a first attempt. #KiCAD to 3D print (via #OpenSCAD).
#3dPrinting

Kolega przyszedł i mówi, że popsuła się grzałka w termocyklerze (dużo trudnych słów i skrótów w stylu DNA) i jakaś tasiemka nie pamiętam do czego. I że tego ustrojstwa nie da się kupić luzem tylko z czymśtam™ i bardzo drogo no i czy chciałbym spróbować.

No jak nie jak tak!
Trochę pomarudziłem, że to poprzednie wymaga godziny żeby sprawdzić czy wyszło, ale przecież nie mogłem odpuścić zabawy. :D

#DIY #KiCad

While I wait for pcbway to start making my version 3.2 boards, I now have to switch gears from #kicad to #freecad and start designing some of the physical parts of #synthseqr. Ok brain, do a kick flip.

Please help me find a good symbol-name for those hex spacers. I am obsessed with not using male/female terminology in #kicad library.

The names should be rather short but also descriptive.

I would like to include at least the two types shown in the picture below. Perhaps also the 3rd type that has a stud with outside threads on both ends.

Related: gitlab.com/kicad/libraries/kicad-symbols/-/merge_requests/5594

Earlier today the #kicad library team did merge the 'kicad-library-utils' repository into the 'kicad-footprints-generator' repo. While at it, we also renamed it to 'kicad-library-tools' (KiLT) and changed the default branch to main.

We want a mono-repo for all tooling to simplify maintenance. A few years back we did a similar thing with the 3d-generator.

There still a lot of open tasks. This was just the first step, now the cleanup commences.

KiCad Developers released #KiCad version 10.0.6. https://kicad.org/download/

I wrote (another) post about my multi-PCB workflow in @kicad (using @freecad 's Python interface to do 3D transforms in CLI).
Article here: https://hyperglitch.com/articles/kicad-multiboard
#KiCad #pcb #FreeCAD

#KiCad uses Multi-unit symbols on the schematic to represent multiple parts from a single package. This SOT-363 package contains 2 #BC847B transistors. Cool!

Upright USB-C One ROM Boards Previewed in Four Sizes
#OneROM #PiersRocks #RetroComputing #Commodore1541 #PCBDesign #KiCad #USBC #RetroHardware #OpenSourceHardware
https://theoasisbbs.com/upright-usb-c-one-rom-boards-previewed-in-four-sizes/?fsp_sid=12430

Hmm, #kicad oddness.

I upgraded to 10 series (from latest 9 stable), on the first start it said it can not use OpenGL and it's falling back to software rendering.

Curious, as FreeCAD, Blender etc. run fine on this machine.

I went to the settings and enabled OpenGL again and now it works. Odd. I've had it installed since 7 series on this specific machine, first time it misbehaves.

This is the 10.0.5 official flatpak on Xubuntu 26.04.

I'm using #KiCad to create schematics without the need to use them for e.g. PCB design. I now need a one-off symbol, but I don't want to add it to a library as, well, that'd be pointless. Is there a way to just create it in the schematic? I can see the editor copies the symbol definition into the schematics file anyway.

Does anyone use a SpaceMouse with #KiCAD? Is it good? Does it work on KiCAD under Linux?

It looks like it would be quite handy but it's also quite expensive and I don't know if my temptation is justified.

FreeCAD and KiCad: CAD showdown at OSHOP 2026

After the success of the E-sport style FreeCAD and KiCad speed run competitions recently held at EMF camp…...

#FreeCAD #KiCad #Competition #Community #CAD #OSHOP

https://blog.freecad.org/2026/08/21/freecad-and-kicad-cad-showdown-at-oshop-2026/

Why is changing versions of KiCad so painful? What am I doing wrong - I'm sure I mess something up every time and end up with borked libraries...

Now I find I've lost the silkscreens of some custom library footprints and even when going back to v9 they've gone.

Anyone got a good guide for either managing upgrades better or managing custom libraries?

#KiCad

RE: https://chaos.social/@cccpresser/117132501236214891

Everyone get involved in this if you are at #OSHOP it will be great fun. #FreeCAD #KiCad ... love that the base of my #opensource #pcb clamp (as seen on @oshwassociation show and tell) is the example FreeCAD challenge item!

A random pitch to the wilds... I'm up here in N Wales with a load of fun stuff in my workspace and a load of skills. I'm pondering offering one to one tutorials on #opensource #maker tools. Primarily #FreeCAD and #KiCad but anything you may have seen me use or write about. Check out the free #SOURCE magazine issues for the kind of stuff I can offer. If a day or two learning interspersed with walks, or bike rides, or just coffee and chats appeals, do ping me. https://sourcemag.co.uk/

Yes they do! Being able to mock up a board in #Kicad and then export the 3D model is so nice for planning things out. I'm gonna look for an existing 18650 flashlight (or vape?) from which I can steal the battery holder housing.

🔧⚡ We had a fantastic turnout for PCB Design from Scratch at TOG last Friday.

22 people joined us for an evening exploring the PCB design process using KiCad, from creating the initial schematic through to preparing a board for manufacture.

A huge thank you to Roman Khvatov for giving the talk, sharing his experience and answering lots of questions throughout the evening.
Thanks to everyone who came along , it was great to see so much interest in electronics and PCB design!
#KiCad #PCBDesign

Have you heard about the 'CAD Showdown' we did at #emfcamp ?
Where participants compete in #FreeCAD and #KiCad to show of their skills and - more important - have fun together?

It will come back at #OSHOP on 23rd of September in Halle, Germany!
We might even have 'real' prices for the winners. In any case you can gain glory and fame.

OSHOP is running for the 3rd time now. There will be nice workshops and awesome people.

Tickets: https://pretix.eu/oshop/2026/
Schedule: https://www.oshop-network.de/konferenz-2026/

I'm working on converting my books, "Reference Circuits" from Easy EDA to KiCAD. These are books made from circuit boards, with real circuits on each page. I want to have each volume of my books under one roof, so that replenishing my stock is easier in the future. I absolutely regret not going with KiCAD from the start. Importing from EasyEDA into KiCAD works pretty well, but the font, formatting, text size, and a whole bunch of other details get lost along the way. This stuff usually doesn't matter in a circuit board, but in a circuit board book it matters a lot. If you're just getting started in circuit board design, I highly recommend #Kicad over #EasyEDA

I think it is done! Just need to tidy up the confusion on one of the carrier board footprints and I can run the connectivity rules checker. #KiCAD

Behold the insane genius of my SMD layout on strip board to test my design with the SMD components I bought, before I get a custom PCB made. #KiCAD #PCB #electronics

3rd attempt at #ESP32 .
Lessons:
- Pay attention to values
- Don't cross wires
- Use flexible cables or you'll tear off pads
- Verify design rules or you'll forget stuff
- Break out #UART even if you think you won't need it (you will)
- #UVTools has #Gerber rendering issues
- Don't cross wires!
- Oscilloscopes are gold
- 120°C solder paste on a hot plate works great

#USB is simple, yet I had to fix 3 mistakes before it worked.

#electronics #kicad #DIY #microcontrollers #octopus

A2000 Rev4 PSU 0.95 Documents Amiga 2000 Supply
#Amiga #Amiga2000 #RetroComputing #CommodoreAmiga #KiCad #HardwareRepair #VintageComputing
https://theoasisbbs.com/a2000-rev4-psu-0-95-documents-amiga-2000-supply/?fsp_sid=9051

For the folk who were interested in #Tildagon #CO2 monitoring #Hexpansion, here' s a very hacky first stab at #Oxygon, a Tildagon app to talk to the #SCD41 sensor for high accuracy CO2 monitoring: https://codeberg.org/martin_hamilton/tildagon-oxygon

This is in the Tildagon app store as https://apps.badge.emfcamp.org/apps/00441330/, but requires a breakout hexpansion as per the README.

NB still need to add calibration mode, but it's a start! Some further ideas in the README - PRs welcome :blobthanks:

I quite like the idea of logging CO2 by GPS (or wifi?) geolocation, perhaps over the network, and displayed on a/the #EMFCamp map. Crowdsourced #Datenzwerg could happen :gnomeHey:

Now to hit the #Kicad and see if I can figure out how to design an all-in-one PCB. Or perhaps a PCB that can easily be mated with the common CO2 sensor boards, the same way the Tildagon screen attaches to the front plate?

Un peu de vibe coding...

#MCP #serveur #IA #aspirateur #kicad #pcb

Nice write-up from @concretedog about our @oshwassociation certified bike soundsystem relay setup, and how I used both @FreeCAD and @kicad to make it.

https://wp.me/pe9Jyy-Td

[edit: now with added link! 🤣 ]

#OSHW #FreeCADFriday #Kicad #BikeTooter #weeknotes #ibal249

Zen Flute is a Teensy Powered Mouth Theramin https://hackaday.com/2025/05/17/zen-flute-is-a-teensy-powered-mouth-theramin/ #HelmholtzResonator #MusicalHacks #Teensy4.1 #Theramin #KiCAD #midi #mpe

Zen Flute is a Teensy Powered Mouth Theramin - An intriguing mouth-played instrument emerged—and won—at the 2023 Guthman Musical ... - https://hackaday.com/2025/05/17/zen-flute-is-a-teensy-powered-mouth-theramin/ #helmholtzresonator #musicalhacks #teensy4.1 #theramin #kicad #midi #mpe

JLCPCB seem to be copying the budget airline approach with random extra fees and the like; but I guess they now also send you some x-rays of your boards once they've come out of production.

Here's one of our new prototype My Bike's Got LED boards, now en route to us 😀

#weeknotes #ibal234 #PCB #ESP32 #manufacturing #Kicad #BikeTooter

Bike PCB bonanza today! Just placed the order for:
* New prototype My Bike's Got LED boards
* More of the Microbit LED boards for kids workshops
* The audio-level-shifter board for @amcewen's bike soundsystem

#weeknotes #ibal234 #WLED #microbit #ibal249 #ibal250 #Kicad #BikeTooter

Still, it's imported nicely into #Kicad and should let me get on with designing the case for it now.

#weeknotes #ibal249 #FreeCAD #OSHW

Spent the evening levelling up my #FreeCAD skills to model a stereo pot, including forays into shapebinders and the drafting workbench to create an array of parts.

Slightly disappointed that the final step needed to export it to #Kicad merged all the bodies to a single one and so discarded all the different materials/colours I'd carefully constructed beforehand 🤣

#weeknotes #ibal249

Trying to stack components in order to save space. Not sure if it is a good idea. #kicad #retrocomputing #commodore #c128 #wifimodem

Ich bin über den Brotkastenfreunde Podcast auf das Projekt #WIC64 gestossen. Das ist ein Wifi-Modul für den #Commodore64. Das Board besteht im Kern aus ESP Modulen. Da sich ein weiterer #Kicad PCB Design Workshop gewünscht wurde, würde ich gerne im Rahmen des #MakerFriday ein WIC64 SMD-Board designen wollen, das wir dann in einem weiteren geplanten Projekt verwenden können.
#HackerspaceSaarbrücken

Ich bin über den Brotkastenfreunde Podcast auf das Projekt #WIC64 gestossen. Das ist ein Wifi-Modul für den #Commodore64. Das Board besteht im Kern aus ESP Modulen. Da sich ein weiterer #Kicad PCB Design Workshop gewünscht wurde, würde ich gerne im Rahmen des #MakerFriday ein WIC64 SMD-Board designen wollen, das wir dann in einem weiteren geplanten Projekt verwenden können.
#HackerspaceSaarbrücken

Ich bin über den Brotkastenfreunde Podcast auf das Projekt #WIC64 gestossen. Das ist ein Wifi-Modul für den #Commodore64. Das Board besteht im Kern aus ESP Modulen. Da sich ein weiterer #Kicad PCB Design Workshop gewünscht wurde, würde ich gerne im Rahmen des #MakerFriday ein WIC64 SMD-Board designen wollen, das wir dann in einem weiteren geplanten Projekt verwenden können.
#HackerspaceSaarbrücken

Ich bin über den Brotkastenfreunde Podcast auf das Projekt #WIC64 gestossen. Das ist ein Wifi-Modul für den #Commodore64. Das Board besteht im Kern aus ESP Modulen. Da sich ein weiterer #Kicad PCB Design Workshop gewünscht wurde, würde ich gerne im Rahmen des #MakerFriday ein WIC64 SMD-Board designen wollen, das wir dann in einem weiteren geplanten Projekt verwenden können.
#HackerspaceSaarbrücken

New boards go to production, and Chris shares some @kicad tips. This week's #weeknotes: Week 904 - Always look on the bright side of life…

https://mcqn.com/posts/week-904-always-look-on-the-bright-side/

#PCB #ibal234 #IndieMfg #Kicad

We started the most complex design of Open Source Hardware Linux Computer with iMX8QuadMax SOC, to be completed with KiCAD and here are the details: https://olimex.wordpress.com/2020/07/07/the-work-on-our-most-complex-open-source-hardware-linux-board-started-meet-the-tukhla-imx8quadmax-soc-based-board-to-be-designed-with-kicad/ #oshw #linux #arm #imx8 #automotive #industrial #kicad #nxpsemiconductors