An introduction to open source EDA/CAD tools that enable free and unconstrained design of open hardware projects.

1. EDA/CAD Tools for
Open Source Hardware Design
Nikhilesh Prasannakumar
Engineer. Educator. Entrepruner.
www.nprasan.in
FOSSMeet '14 - NIT Calicut
February 2014

2. Open Source Hardware
 Single-Board Computers
 Microcontrollers
 Music / Audio Systems
 Camera / Video Processors
 Amateur Radio (HAM)
 Robotics
 Machining
 Communication Systems
 Automobiles
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February 2014

3. Why Open Source Hardware ?
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February 2014

4. FOSS + OSHW = ?
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February 2014

5. Hardware Design Tools
Electronic Design Automation (EDA)/Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Licensed
 Cadence OrCAD™
 KiCAD (win/linux/mac)
 Labcenter Proteus™
 gEDA (linux/mac)
 CadSoft EAGLE
 Fritzing (win/linux/mac)
 Novarm DipTrace ®
 FreePCB (win)
 … and many more
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Open Source
 … and a few more
FOSSMeet '14 - NIT Calicut
February 2014

6. Go Open Source !
 No size constraints
 Design hardware that is as small or as big as you want !
 No device constraints
 Use any number of devices or components you need.
 No layer constraints
 Tinker with the designs of 16-layer boards
 No license constraints
 GNU GPL license allows you to use your designs for anything
from prototyping to mass production. NO RESTRICTIONS !
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February 2014

7. What’s the Catch ?
“
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Real men do not use libraries.
They make them !
– Annonymous
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February 2014

8. KiCAD
An Open Source Cross-Platform EDA Tool
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February 2014

9. KiCAD Features
 Components
 kicad – project manager
 eeschema – schematic editor
 cvpcb – component footprint selector
 pcbnew – PCB layout with Wings3D based 3D View
 gerbview – Gerber format viewer
 wxWidgets based GUI design
 Runs on Linux, OS X, Windows
 Simple human-readable ASCII based file formats
 Autorouting support
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February 2014

10. Hands on with KiCAD
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February 2014