Introduction to PCB Design with KiCad

GDG on Campus Kampala International University - Kampala, Uganda

Ready to bring your electronic circuit ideas to life? Join our study jam for an "Introduction to PCB Design with KiCad"! Learn the fundamentals of printed circuit board (PCB) design using the, open-source KiCad software. This session is perfect for beginners and hobbyists looking to take their electronics projects to the next level. We'll cover the basics from schematic capture to PCB layout

May 18, 3:00 – 5:30β€―PM (UTC)

8 RSVP'd

Key Themes

DesignIoT

About this event

Unlock the World of Electronics: Introduction to PCB Design with KiCad! πŸš€

Ever wondered how those green circuit boards in your favorite gadgets are made? πŸ€” Want to design your own custom electronics but don't know where to start? Then this study jam is for YOU!

Join us for an engaging and hands-on session where we'll dive into the exciting world of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design using KiCad, a powerful, free, and open-source software suite. Whether you're an electronics enthusiast, a student, a maker, or just curious, this study jam will provide you with the foundational knowledge to start creating your own PCBs.

✨ What you'll learn:

PCB Fundamentals: Understand what PCBs are, why they're essential, and the basic terminology.

Introduction to KiCad: Get familiar with the KiCad interface and its core tools (schematic editor, PCB layout editor).

Schematic Capture: Learn how to create a schematic, add components, and connect them to represent your circuit.

Component Association: Understand how to link schematic symbols to physical footprints.

Basic PCB Layout: Get started with placing components on a board and routing traces.

Generating Manufacturing Files: Briefly touch upon what it takes to get your design ready for fabrication (Gerber files).

πŸ‘ Why attend this Study Jam?

Hands-On Learning: This is not just a lecture! We encourage active participation and learning by doing. 

Beginner-Friendly: No prior PCB design experience is needed. We'll start from the basics.

Unlock a New Skill: PCB design is an invaluable skill for anyone interested in electronics, robotics, IoT, and more!

Open Source Power: Learn to use KiCad, a widely respected and feature-rich tool that's completely free, meaning no expensive software licenses!

Community & Collaboration: Connect with fellow learners, share ideas, and troubleshoot together in a supportive environment.

Take Your Projects Pro: Move beyond breadboards and create robust, professional-looking electronic projects.

🎯 Who is this for?

Electronics hobbyists and makers

Students (engineering, computer science, physics, etc.)

Anyone curious about electronics design

Those looking to learn a new, practical tech skill

πŸ’» What to bring:

A laptop with KiCad installed (Download it free from https://www.kicad.org/download/)

A mouse (highly recommended for PCB design!)

Your curiosity and enthusiasm! 😊

πŸ—“οΈ Date: Sunday, 18 May

⏰ Time: 6pm

πŸ“ Register: https://gdg.community.dev/e/mzus7r/

πŸ”— Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ozy-uuor-kdo

Don't miss out on this opportunity to demystify PCB design and empower yourself to create your own custom electronics! Spots may be limited, so be sure to register soon!

Let's get making! πŸ’‘πŸ”Œβœ¨


Speaker

  • Collins Mesue

    Computer Engineer

Partner

MacZ logo

MacZ

Organizers

  • Mwiine Daniel

    Organizer

  • Tugume Augustino

    Kiu

    Co-Organizer

  • Collins Mesue

    MacZ.tech

    Technical Lead

  • EMESU JACOB

    Kiu

    Core Team Manager

  • Jobbers CRIM OKIRIA

    Crimsoft

    Technical Lead

  • Rodney Akangumya

    Core Team Member

  • ATWIINE VICTOR

    Core-Team Member

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