Simple Kicad For Simple Vintage Computer Hobbyists: Part 1 [TCE #0579]
33Thanks to PCBWAY for their ongoing support! www.pcbway.com
Disclaimer: I'm not a Kicad super-user, I'm not a circuit design guru, I'm just a simple vintage computer hobbyist who needs simple PCBs from time to time.
I thought it might be interesting to show a simple PCB design from schematic through to generating fabrication files. I often find the easiest way to learn something it to have a end-goal or requirement in mind. I might do a Part 2 in which I actually order the PCBs from PCBWAY and then receive them.
In this case I wanted to create a small PCB I could use perhaps generically in computers that have a built-in cassette deck (i.e. Datacorder) so I could load software via audio file playback on my computer and adding a line-in socket to the vintage computer.
I don't know if this will fit the bill but I'm willing to experiment. This "tape in" design is from the Belarusian РАТОН 9003 (Raton) Sinclair ZX Spectrum clone. I'll definitely be able to use it on the Russian Сириус (Sirius) Speccy clone, but maybe some others as well like the French Hector computer.
I'm using Kicad 9.0 on a 2022 MacBook Air (M2 with 24GB RAM) running macOS 15.3.1 (24D70).
Application: KiCad PCB Editor arm64 on arm64
Version: 9.0.0, release build
Platform: macOS Sequoia Version 15.3.1 (Build 24D70), 64 bit, Little endian, wxMac
OpenGL: Apple, Apple M2, 2.1 Metal - 89.3
Most of my designs end up on my Github:
https://github.com/0ddjob
00:00 ... Intro
03:50 ... Kicad new project
14:15 ... Schematic done, footprints next
18:50 ... PCB design
23:30 ... Adding a mounting hole & modifying a footprint
35:15 ... Autorouting with Freerouting
39:55 ... 3D view
43:40 ... Fabrication outputs
46:20 ... Bonus credit: temporarily modifying a footprint
54:35 ... Channel thanks & outro
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Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
https://karlcasey.bandcamp.com/
/ @whitebataudio