Blinky Boards are printed circuit boards (PCBs) that contain a light that blinks at the speed set by the position of the dial (Potentiometer). Blinky boards were initially designed for use in soldering practice (see Soldering 101).
This article uses the same schematic to teach KiCad and PCB skills.
Example of a finished blinky board:
Front Side
Back Side
This tutorial guides you through the process of using KiCad to design a custom Blinky Board and exporting the PCB for use with the Mercer XLab PCB Printer.
Example deliverables are pictured below:
Estimated Time: 20 minutes
KiCad is a Cross-Platform and Open-Source Electronics Design Automation Suite. This tutorial utilizes KiCad to create schematic diagrams, design PCBs, and export job files for PCB Printing.
Navigate to KiCad’s download page via their website. Provided below is a link to the download page.
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KiCad Download: https://www.kicad.org/download/
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Follow the KiCad-provided download instructions for your operating system.
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This article suggests using the “Worldwide/Github” download option if available.
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Follow the installer's instructions
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ℹ️ Ensure to check all Libraries options within the Components to install dialog.
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Estimated Time: 1 minute
Upon the first launch, preference dialogs may appear. The recommended options are as follows:
Start with default settingsOpt-In to data collectionAutomatic Updates method of checking for updates<aside> ℹ️
These settings can be changed later.
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Once launched, KiCad should resemble the picture below.
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Estimated Time: 1 minute
KiCad creates the necessary schematic, PCB, and project files for PCB design within a folder specified by the user.
Select the New Project button, which has the icon of a journal and is the first button in the left panel.
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Navigate to the parent directory within the file explorer dialog. Choose a folder like Documents/KiCad_Projects and name your subfolder.
Provide a recognizable project name, such as blinky_board.
<aside> ℹ️ The project name will be the name of the project directory and the KiCad design files.
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Estimated Time: 1 hour
The schematic diagrams a circuit by showing the components used (referred to as Symbols) and the wiring between the components. Schematics are KiCad's equivalent to circuit diagrams, as commonly seen in lectures, industry, and other applications.
Upon completing this section, the schematic should resemble the following image:
Select the Schematic Editor button on the KiCad Main Page.
Schematic Editor Button Pictured
Select Copy default global symbol library table if the “Configure Global Symbol Library Table” Dialog appears, then select OK.
Symbols are schematic representations of components. Most common electronic components, such as, but not limited to,
are included in KiCad's default libraries.
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ℹ️ Components may have multiple associated symbols. For example, resistors have a US symbol, R_US and an international version R. Multiple symbols may denote:
<aside> ℹ️ The following components form a rudimentary 555 timer circuit that adjusts the blinking speed of the light according to the position of the potentiometer
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Table 4.1. Blinky Board Symbol List
| Symbol | Qty | Component |
|---|---|---|
| R_US | 2 | Resistor |
| C_Small_US | 1 | Polarized Capacitor |
| LED | 1 | Light Emitting Diode |
| R_Potentiometer_US | 1 | Potentiometer |
| SW_SPDT | 1 | Slide Switch |
| TLC555xP | 1 | 555 Timer |
| Total: | 7 |
Repeat the following procedure according to the quantity of symbols specified in the Qty column of Table 4.1. Blinky Board Symbol List. Place six unique and seven total symbols on the schematic.
Place Symbols button, the icon of which is an OP-Amp, from the right panel, or press the keyboard shortcut Ato open the Choose Symbol Dialog.R_US.