4 ms·

KiCad 6

• mrintellectual 5y ago
  > RF is still voodoo... I could not agree more.
  • madengr 5y ago
  • sam_bristow 5y ago
    What do you mean. You just need to draw the right magic shapes in copper so the poisoned sand can talk telepathically.
• ravenstine 5y ago
  Why is KiCad such a massive software package? I wanted to use it but ~1.4 GiB is pretty large in contrast with EasyEDA (156 MB). On my Macbook Air, a gigabyte isn't that trivial, especially if you want to use things like Parallels.
  • ducktective 5y ago
    It's the 3d models. The package is called `kicad-packages3d` on Ubuntu distros.
    • phkahler 5y ago
      Not just the models, Kicad uses Open Cascade for dealing with STEP files and probably some other things. If you want a simple CAD tool for designing 3D part packages, I can recommend Solvespace. A lot of people find it easier than FreeCAD for smaller designs - like electronic components: https://solvespace.com/index.pl https://solvespace.com/index.pl It can create step files for KiCAD, but can not read them. Some day I'd like to bring the step reader from gcad3d (or other) onboard so we can at least link them into assemblies. That'd be a huge integration project, but it's way smaller than OCCT.
      • rjsw 5y ago
        The last time I looked, Solvespace has a rather simplistic way of generating STEP files, I don't think it would be easy to add reading them as well.
        • phkahler 5y ago
          >> The last time I looked, Solvespace has a rather simplistic way of generating STEP files, I don't think it would be easy to add reading them as well. My short list (of big items) includes fixing the STEP output so they are recognized as closed shells when read by more tools. Someone has already proved the concept. Reading step is hard, but the reader in gcad3d is plain C and does a decent job. It's also the same license. The real issue is that step is huge and includes things that cannot be represented in the Solvespace NURBS kernel. We will need to skip those elements. The even bigger job is implementing proper hierarchical models, and that should be done IMHO with an eye on supporting some more step features. But it works for making KiCAD parts today. We also support linking IDF boards (.emn) into assemblies now, sans parts.
          • rjsw 5y ago
            The Solvespace project might like to look at joining CAX-IF [1], there are recommended practice documents and testcases that may make interoperability easier. [1] https://www.cax-if.org/index.php https://www.cax-if.org/index.php
  • pajko 5y ago
    The complete library is included. Especially the last one of these repos is huge: https://gitlab.com/kicad/libraries/kicad-symbols https://gitlab.com/kicad/libraries/kicad-symbols https://gitlab.com/kicad/libraries/kicad-footprints https://gitlab.com/kicad/libraries/kicad-footprints https://gitlab.com/kicad/libraries/kicad-packages3D https://gitlab.com/kicad/libraries/kicad-packages3D
• SV_BubbleTime 5y ago
  Nice board he designed. I always am in awe of people that can make very small consolations in best possible design (like say moving the clock and bypass caps further away than required) to make nicely layed out boards. I make smaller things and rarely have the room.
• tpmx 5y ago
  https://www.kicad.org/blog/2021/12/KiCad-6.0.0-Release/ https://www.kicad.org/blog/2021/12/KiCad-6.0.0-Release/ seem like a better link for this post.
• KennyBlanken 5y ago
  If anyone is expecting something along the lines of "new version of KiCad" release notes or news because that's exactly how the author and submitter formatted the title to appear...what you'll actually get is blogspam ramblings about the author's NFC/RFID reader project and some minor changes he had to make for KiCad 6. Actual KiCad release notes: https://www.kicad.org/blog/2021/12/KiCad-6.0.0-Release/ https://www.kicad.org/blog/2021/12/KiCad-6.0.0-Release/