Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this comprehensive video, Peter from Tech Explorations takes you through the entire process of designing a custom IoT PCB using KiCad 9. From schematic creation to PCB layout, routing, and preparing for manufacturing, this video covers it all. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced PCB designer, you'll find valuable insights and practical tips to enhance your workflow.
This project features a four-layer IoT development board powered by the ESP32-C3-S2, complete with sensors, power management, and user interface components. Peter also shares his experience with KiCad 9 Release Candidate, highlighting its new features and improvements.
Stay tuned for a follow-up video where Peter will showcase the manufactured PCB and perform testing.
For the full write-up of this project, visit the blog post at https://txplo.re/kicad9-project
If you found this video helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to the channel for more content like this!
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Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:00:08 - Overview of the IoT PCB Design
00:03:57 - Component Placement and Design Challenges
00:06:02 - Design Guidelines and Workflow Overview
00:07:01 - Operational Requirements and Component Selection
00:17:49 - Researching and Sourcing Components
00:30:40 - Setting Up KiCad 9 for the Project
00:38:05 - Creating the Schematic
01:10:54 - Designing the ESP32 Circuitry
01:49:35 - Adding Sensors and User Interface Components
02:15:15 - Validating the Schematic and Assigning Footprints
02:30:22 - Setting Up the PCB Layout Editor
03:05:57 - Component Placement and Board Outline Refinement
03:40:44 - Routing and Copper Zones
04:00:37 - Differential Pairs and High-Speed Signal Routing
04:11:26 - Power Traces and Signal Routing
05:05:07 - Design Rule Check and Final Refinements
05:08:13 - Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Checks
05:20:18 - Adding Silkscreen and Final Touches
05:36:54 - 3D Model Configuration and Visualization
05:50:00 - Preparing Files for Manufacturing
05:51:56 - Conclusion and Next Steps
---
Resources Mentioned:
1. NextPCB Website: nextpcb.com
2. NextPCB PCB Capabilities Page: nextpcb.com/pcb-capabilities
3. NextPCB HQ DFM Tool Download: nextpcb.com/dfm-tool
4. Espressif ESP32 Documentation: espressif.com/en/support/documents/technical-documents
5. Espressif ESP32 Module Placement Guidelines: espressif.com/en/support/explore/documentation/module-placement
6. Texas Instruments High-Speed Layout Guidelines: ti.com/lit/an/szza009/szza009.pdf
7. SnapEDA (Component Search and Libraries): snapeda.com
8. KiCad Official Website: kicad.org
9. Tech Explorations Blog on NextPCB DFM Tool: techexplorations.com/blog/nextpcb-dfm-tool
10. Espressif ESP32 Boot Mode Documentation: https://t-explore/esp32boot
---
For the full write-up of this project, visit the blog post at https://txplo.re/kicad9-project
If you enjoyed this video, please like, share, and subscribe to the channel for more tutorials and projects!
In this comprehensive video, Peter from Tech Explorations takes you through the entire process of designing a custom IoT PCB using KiCad 9. From schematic creation to PCB layout, routing, and preparing for manufacturing, this video covers it all. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced PCB designer, you'll find valuable insights and practical tips to enhance your workflow.
This project features a four-layer IoT development board powered by the ESP32-C3-S2, complete with sensors, power management, and user interface components. Peter also shares his experience with KiCad 9 Release Candidate, highlighting its new features and improvements.
Stay tuned for a follow-up video where Peter will showcase the manufactured PCB and perform testing.
For the full write-up of this project, visit the blog post at https://txplo.re/kicad9-project
If you found this video helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to the channel for more content like this!
---
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:00:08 - Overview of the IoT PCB Design
00:03:57 - Component Placement and Design Challenges
00:06:02 - Design Guidelines and Workflow Overview
00:07:01 - Operational Requirements and Component Selection
00:17:49 - Researching and Sourcing Components
00:30:40 - Setting Up KiCad 9 for the Project
00:38:05 - Creating the Schematic
01:10:54 - Designing the ESP32 Circuitry
01:49:35 - Adding Sensors and User Interface Components
02:15:15 - Validating the Schematic and Assigning Footprints
02:30:22 - Setting Up the PCB Layout Editor
03:05:57 - Component Placement and Board Outline Refinement
03:40:44 - Routing and Copper Zones
04:00:37 - Differential Pairs and High-Speed Signal Routing
04:11:26 - Power Traces and Signal Routing
05:05:07 - Design Rule Check and Final Refinements
05:08:13 - Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Checks
05:20:18 - Adding Silkscreen and Final Touches
05:36:54 - 3D Model Configuration and Visualization
05:50:00 - Preparing Files for Manufacturing
05:51:56 - Conclusion and Next Steps
---
Resources Mentioned:
1. NextPCB Website: nextpcb.com
2. NextPCB PCB Capabilities Page: nextpcb.com/pcb-capabilities
3. NextPCB HQ DFM Tool Download: nextpcb.com/dfm-tool
4. Espressif ESP32 Documentation: espressif.com/en/support/documents/technical-documents
5. Espressif ESP32 Module Placement Guidelines: espressif.com/en/support/explore/documentation/module-placement
6. Texas Instruments High-Speed Layout Guidelines: ti.com/lit/an/szza009/szza009.pdf
7. SnapEDA (Component Search and Libraries): snapeda.com
8. KiCad Official Website: kicad.org
9. Tech Explorations Blog on NextPCB DFM Tool: techexplorations.com/blog/nextpcb-dfm-tool
10. Espressif ESP32 Boot Mode Documentation: https://t-explore/esp32boot
---
For the full write-up of this project, visit the blog post at https://txplo.re/kicad9-project
If you enjoyed this video, please like, share, and subscribe to the channel for more tutorials and projects!
![[100] Arduino Getting Started: Introduction to conditional operators](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N3O0KoRqMsM/mqdefault.jpg "[100] Arduino Getting Started: Introduction to conditional operators
👋 Welcome back!
This video dives into conditional operators and structures, essential tools for decision-making in Arduino programming. Understand how to use conditions to make your programs dynamic and responsive. We cover operators like equals, not equals, and greater than, along with structures like if, if-else, and else-if ladders. An example demonstrates combining conditions with logical operators. No external hardware is required, making this a great foundational tutorial for beginners.
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
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Conditional Operators
00:07 - Importance of Conditional Structures
00:15 - Understanding Conditional Operators
00:24 - Common Operators in Arduino C++
00:45 - Using the If Statement
00:54 - Implementing If-Else Statements
01:03 - Else-If Ladder Explained
01:09 - Combining Conditions with Logical Operators
01:19 - Practical Example: Value Between 5 and 10
01:28 - Simplicity of Examples for Easy Understanding
01:39 - Recap of Conditional Structures
01:50 - Encouragement to Experiment
01:58 - Closing Remarks
📖 What Youll Learn:
* Basic and advanced uses of conditional operators in Arduino.
* How to structure decisions within your code.
* Simple examples to practice and understand these concepts.
💡 Remember:
Experimenting with these examples will deepen your understanding of how conditional logic affects program flow.
✍️ We Want to Hear from You:
Have questions or need clarifications? Comment below!
Like this video, if it is helpful, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest tutorials.")
![[095] Arduino Getting Started: Introduction to Arrays](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NEqNF70Bqvw/mqdefault.jpg "[095] Arduino Getting Started: Introduction to Arrays
👋 Welcome back to our Arduino series!
This video explores arrays in this tutorial. Learn the basics of array creation, initialization, and manipulation. Discover how arrays function as organized structures, like rows of mailboxes, to efficiently hold and manage multiple data points. This video covers various arrays (integer, character, and float) and demonstrates how to use them with simple examples that require no external hardware. Ideal for beginners, this session also includes a live demo showing the code in action.
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
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Arduino Arrays
00:02 - What are Arrays?
00:17 - Array Concept Explained
00:30 - Array Indexing in Programming
00:46 - Creating an Integer Array
01:11 - Creating a Character Array
01:23 - Creating a Float Array
01:32 - Storing Data in Arrays
01:55 - Iterating Through Arrays with Loops
02:25 - No External Hardware Required
02:37 - Live Demo: Uploading Code
03:09 - Closing Remarks & Call to Subscribe
📖 What Youll Learn:
* Basics of arrays in Arduino programming.
* How to declare, initialize, and manage data in integer, character, and float arrays.
* How to access and modify array elements.
* How to use loops for iterating through arrays.
💡 Remember:
Arrays help you manage multiple data points efficiently.
No external hardware is required for this tutorial, making it perfect for beginners.
✍️ We Want to Hear from You:
Got questions or suggestions? Comment below!
If you find this video helpful, give it a thumbs up and consider subscribing for more Arduino tutorials.
👀 See you in the next video!")
