Welcome to Day #6 of my 100 Days PCB Design Course! 🚀
In this video, we continue our journey from zero to industry-level PCB design using KiCad.
Today, we will learn one of the most important steps in PCB design: creating a schematic and assigning the correct PCB footprints to the components.
A schematic symbol represents the electrical function of a component, while a footprint represents the physical package and PCB land pattern that will be placed on the actual PCB.
🔧 What You'll Learn in This Video
In this tutorial, we will cover:
✅ How to create a schematic in KiCad
✅ How to place and connect components
✅ How to select the correct component symbols
✅ How to assign footprints to schematic components
✅ How to use KiCad's Assign Footprints tool
✅ How to search and select footprints
✅ How to understand different component packages
✅ How to choose footprints based on the actual component you will use
✅ How to avoid common footprint-selection mistakes
✅ How schematic symbols are connected to physical PCB footprints
🔩 Footprints Covered in This Video
We will discuss different footprint options for commonly used PCB components.
1. Resistors
Examples:
0402
0603
0805
1206
1210
Through-hole axial resistor
We will understand the difference between SMD and through-hole resistor footprints and when each type is commonly used.
2. Capacitors
Examples:
0402
0603
0805
1206
Electrolytic capacitor
Tantalum capacitor
Through-hole capacitor
We will see how the physical size and package of a capacitor affect footprint selection.
3. Inductors
Examples:
0402
0603
0805
1210
Larger power-inductor footprints
Power inductors can require significantly larger footprints because they may carry higher current and dissipate more heat.
4. Push Button / Switch
We will look at common:
SMD push-button footprints
Through-hole push-button footprints
2-pin and 4-pin switch configurations
We will also discuss why the physical dimensions and pin spacing of the actual switch are extremely important.
5. ESP32-S3-MINI
We will assign an appropriate footprint for the ESP32-S3-MINI module and understand why module footprints need to be selected carefully according to the manufacturer's datasheet.
6. Connectors
We will cover common connector footprints such as:
Pin headers
Female headers
JST-style connectors
Terminal blocks
Through-hole connectors
SMD connectors
The important thing is to match pin count, pitch, orientation, and mechanical dimensions with the actual connector.
7. Voltage Regulator
We will also look at common regulator package types such as:
SOT-23
SOT-223
TO-220
SOIC
DFN/QFN
Other SMD regulator packages
Again, the correct footprint depends on the exact regulator part number and manufacturer's recommended land pattern.
⚠️ One Important PCB Design Rule
Never select a footprint just because the name looks correct.
Always verify the footprint against the component datasheet.
For example, two regulators may both be called "SOT-23," but their pin configuration, body dimensions, exposed pads, and recommended PCB land pattern can be different.
The final PCB footprint should match the actual component you intend to manufacture and assemble.
🛠️ Workflow Covered
The basic workflow we'll follow is:
Schematic → Component Selection → Symbol → Assign Footprint → Verify Datasheet → PCB Layout
This is an important foundation for moving from a simple schematic toward a real manufacturable PCB.
📚 100 Days PCB Design Course
This is Day #6 of my 100 Days PCB Design Course, where I am documenting the complete PCB design journey from the basics to industry-level PCB design.
If you're interested in:
🔹 PCB Design
🔹 KiCad
🔹 Schematic Design
🔹 PCB Layout
🔹 Component Selection
🔹 Footprint Creation
🔹 ESP32 Hardware Design
🔹 Electronics
🔹 Hardware Engineering
then subscribe and follow the complete 100-day journey. 🚀
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