How KiCad helps us design prototypes quickly

For efficient PCB assembly, it’s important to clearly document which component goes where. Traditionally this is done on the silk screen, but we have a different workflow...

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How to ruin your solid ground plane

As a PCB designer, the so-called 'ground plane' is your best friend. It makes layout easier, improves EMC performance, and as a bonus you get increased signal integrity. But be carefull to keep the ground plane intact...

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Surface mount assembly: It's all about the paste

At Jitter, we regularly do in-house PCB assembly for small prototype runs. This is a manual process, involving very tiny components, tweezers, and a lot of patience. Some components are smaller than 1x1mm, or have hundreds of pins at a 0.5mm pitch. How do we succesfully solder these tiny parts?

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Think in current loops - the key to reliable PCB layout

When I got started in PCB design, layout seemed like the easy part. The CAD software enforces the schematics, so you just need to puzzle everything together until all connections are made. Right?

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