Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Getting Gerbers exported is only half the job. Before you can submit a board for assembly, every component on the BOM needs a real, in-stock manufacturer part number. This lecture walks through the full process — exporting from KiCad, running automated matching against NextPCB's parts database, using AI-assisted matching for the remainder, and manually resolving the parts that neither approach can find.
The tool used here is BOM Explorer, a custom application built specifically for this workflow. It searches across multiple parts databases simultaneously, flags match confidence levels, shows alternatives, and lets you lock confirmed matches to protect them from being overwritten. The result is a fully populated, assembly-ready BOM exported as an Excel file for NextPCB.
🎓 Course: KiCad Advanced — BGA, Signal Integrity, and High-Speed Layout
Full enrollment and course details: connect.techexplorations.com/so/smart-usb-thumb-drive-with-kicad
This course takes you through the complete design of a Smart USB Thumb Drive — from schematic to manufactured PCB — using KiCad. You'll work with BGA packaging, USB differential pairs, eMMC length matching, and ideal diode power management on a real, orderable board.
In this video
A complete, unedited walkthrough of the BOM matching process for the Smart USB Thumb Drive — 52 components taken from an empty BOM to a fully matched, assembly-ready Excel file ready for NextPCB.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction — what's needed before submitting for manufacturing and assembly
01:11 Exporting the BOM from KiCad — Symbol Fields table, column selection, CSV export
02:03 Importing into BOM Explorer — creating a project and loading the CSV
02:46 Starting state — 52 components with references and values but no MPNs
03:14 Running automatic matching against NextPCB's parts database
04:06 Reviewing results — exact matches, keyword matches, and confidence levels explained
04:50 LM66100 match — R vs T suffix, reel quantity difference, selecting and locking
06:06 Filtering to unmatched only — locking confirmed matches, isolating remaining work
07:00 AI-assisted matching — sending unmatched components to the AI for suggestions
08:01 Reviewing AI suggestions — working through results component by component
09:04 USB2244 bridge IC — exact match confirmed, QFN-36 footprint verified
10:19 Handling parts not in NextPCB's database — fallback to alternative sources explained
~14:00 INA226 current monitor, TVS diode arrays, and other specialty components
~20:00 Molex USB-C connector — searching by part number and verifying against footprint
~27:54 Pin header search — manual search attempts for a 2-pin 2.54 mm header
~30:32 Crystal oscillator — 12 MHz, 12 pF, 3225 package, selecting from Abracon results
33:17 Final review — remaining unmatched items are DNF parts, the OLED, and test points
33:37 Exporting the completed BOM as Excel for NextPCB submission
Tech Explorations creates practical electronics and PCB design courses for engineers, makers, and educators. More courses at techexplorations.com.
Getting Gerbers exported is only half the job. Before you can submit a board for assembly, every component on the BOM needs a real, in-stock manufacturer part number. This lecture walks through the full process — exporting from KiCad, running automated matching against NextPCB's parts database, using AI-assisted matching for the remainder, and manually resolving the parts that neither approach can find.
The tool used here is BOM Explorer, a custom application built specifically for this workflow. It searches across multiple parts databases simultaneously, flags match confidence levels, shows alternatives, and lets you lock confirmed matches to protect them from being overwritten. The result is a fully populated, assembly-ready BOM exported as an Excel file for NextPCB.
🎓 Course: KiCad Advanced — BGA, Signal Integrity, and High-Speed Layout
Full enrollment and course details: connect.techexplorations.com/so/smart-usb-thumb-drive-with-kicad
This course takes you through the complete design of a Smart USB Thumb Drive — from schematic to manufactured PCB — using KiCad. You'll work with BGA packaging, USB differential pairs, eMMC length matching, and ideal diode power management on a real, orderable board.
In this video
A complete, unedited walkthrough of the BOM matching process for the Smart USB Thumb Drive — 52 components taken from an empty BOM to a fully matched, assembly-ready Excel file ready for NextPCB.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction — what's needed before submitting for manufacturing and assembly
01:11 Exporting the BOM from KiCad — Symbol Fields table, column selection, CSV export
02:03 Importing into BOM Explorer — creating a project and loading the CSV
02:46 Starting state — 52 components with references and values but no MPNs
03:14 Running automatic matching against NextPCB's parts database
04:06 Reviewing results — exact matches, keyword matches, and confidence levels explained
04:50 LM66100 match — R vs T suffix, reel quantity difference, selecting and locking
06:06 Filtering to unmatched only — locking confirmed matches, isolating remaining work
07:00 AI-assisted matching — sending unmatched components to the AI for suggestions
08:01 Reviewing AI suggestions — working through results component by component
09:04 USB2244 bridge IC — exact match confirmed, QFN-36 footprint verified
10:19 Handling parts not in NextPCB's database — fallback to alternative sources explained
~14:00 INA226 current monitor, TVS diode arrays, and other specialty components
~20:00 Molex USB-C connector — searching by part number and verifying against footprint
~27:54 Pin header search — manual search attempts for a 2-pin 2.54 mm header
~30:32 Crystal oscillator — 12 MHz, 12 pF, 3225 package, selecting from Abracon results
33:17 Final review — remaining unmatched items are DNF parts, the OLED, and test points
33:37 Exporting the completed BOM as Excel for NextPCB submission
Tech Explorations creates practical electronics and PCB design courses for engineers, makers, and educators. More courses at techexplorations.com.
![[170] Arduino Getting Started: Analog input potentiometer example](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mzv6Yj0Lfu4/mqdefault.jpg "[170] Arduino Getting Started: Analog input potentiometer example
In this tutorial, we demonstrate how to use a potentiometer as an analog input to control the brightness of an LED using an Arduino. We cover the code in detail, showing how to read the potentiometers value, map it to control an LED, and print the value to the serial monitor.
🕒 Timestamps
00:00 - 00:05: Introduction
00:05 - 00:35: Declaring Variables
00:35 - 00:47: Setup Function
00:47 - 01:07: Reading Potentiometer Value
01:07 - 01:23: Mapping Value for LED Brightness
01:23 - 01:36: Setting LED Brightness
01:36 - 01:55: Sending Value to Serial Monitor
01:55 - 02:08: Adding Delay
02:08 - 02:22: Demonstration Recap
02:22 - 02:34: Upload and Test
02:34 - 02:57: Application and Uses
02:57 - 03:05: Conclusion
This series is possible thanks to the kind support of Sunfounder, an online store that sells high-quality hardware and kits for Makers. Visit Sunfounder at https://sunfounder.com.
In this series, I use the SunFounder 3 in 1 Ultimate Starter Kit with Original Arduino Uno R4 Minima, including high-quality sensors, actuators, power supplies, and Original Arduino Uno R4 Minima for diverse projects and skill-building. Get it (affiliate link): https://www.sunfounder.com/collections/arduino-kits/products/sunfounder-3-in-1-ultimate-starter-kit-with-original-arduino-uno-r4-minima?ref=bXS65iah
📖 Main Learning Objectives
Understand how to declare and initialize variables for Arduino projects.
Learn to set up and configure pins for input and output.
Read analog values from a potentiometer using analogRead.
Map analog values to a different range suitable for controlling outputs.
Control LED brightness using analogWrite.
Send data to the serial monitor for debugging and monitoring.
Implement a delay to improve the readability of the serial output.
Invitation to Subscribe
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