This week, we dove into the world of electronics design, focusing on creating custom PCBs using KiCAD. As a tool widely adopted in both academia and industry, KiCAD offers a robust platform for designing and simulating circuits. I was particularly excited to revisit PCB design, having previously worked with laser-based fabrication techniques at the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory.
I started by creating a simple LED circuit to familiarize myself with KiCAD's workflow. Below, you can see the progression from schematic design to a fully routed PCB. Each step involved careful consideration of component footprints and connections, ensuring the final design was both functional and manufacturable.
For the group assignment, we used lab equipment to observe the operation of a microcontroller circuit board. This hands-on experience helped us understand the importance of testing and debugging in electronics design.
