Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by PCBWay, a leading PCB manufacturing company in China. However, PCBWay did not influence this article’s content, methodology, or conclusions. All opinions and findings expressed here are entirely my thoughts.
Note: Ordering through my referral link will give you a $5 instant credit in your account.
I’ve partnered with PCBWay to build one of my upcoming projects “Bluetooth Home Automation System using Arduino“. This project focuses on using readily available components for ease of construction. Currently, PCBWay is partnered with KiCad with their seamless production from designing PCB prototypes to the ordering process using the PCBWay plugin integration. This article will document the entire ordering process, from the KiCad PCB design and PCBWay ordering process to the final touch of the board. I hope this guide will assist you in your rapid prototyping process at an affordable cost.
Designing and manufacturing printed circuit boards (PCBs) can often feel complex, especially if you’re new to the process or working on complex projects. Luckily, with the right tools and services, you can simplify every step. KiCad, a free and open-source PCB design software, helps you create detailed and precise designs effortlessly. Once your design is ready, PCBWay takes over with top-notch manufacturing services to bring your ideas to life. Together, KiCad and PCBWay provide a reliable and user-friendly solution for transforming your design concepts into professional-grade PCBs. Let’s dive into how these tools work together and why they’re the perfect pair for your next project.
Why Choose KiCad for Your PCB Design?
KiCad has recently partnered with PCBWay to make the PCB design and manufacturing process more seamless and efficient. Here are some key reasons why KiCad stands out, especially with this collaboration:
- Optimized Integration with PCBWay: With the recent partnership, KiCad offers direct support for PCBWay’s manufacturing requirements. This ensures your designs are compatible and ready for production without additional adjustments.
- Dedicated Plugin for Easy Ordering: KiCad users can access a PCBWay plugin, allowing for one-click file uploads and simple order placement, saving time and effort.
- Community-Driven Improvements: KiCad’s open-source nature, combined with PCBWay’s contributions to the community, ensures continuous updates and enhancements tailored to user needs.
- Extensive Component Libraries: KiCad’s libraries now include components optimized for manufacturing with PCBWay, reducing potential issues during production.
- Cost-Effective Design to Production: The collaboration focuses on delivering a cost-efficient workflow, combining KiCad’s free software and PCBWay’s affordable manufacturing services.
This partnership ensures that KiCad users have a smoother transition from design to production, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to create high-quality PCBs effortlessly.
Step-by-Step Process of How to Design PCBs & Order from PCBWay
Before this circuit can be transformed into a commercial or shareable design, it requires prototyping. This is where the PCB editor and the plugin come into play.
To bring our design to life, we’ll need to install a plugin. Start by clicking on the ‘Plugin and Content Manager‘ within the main KiCad interface, as indicated by the red arrow.
Next, locate and install the necessary PCB plugin i.e., PCBWay.
- In the Plugin Manager interface, use the search field to find “pcbway“
- Click “Install” to begin the installation process.
- Before closing the window, remember to click “Apply Pending Changes” to finalize the installation.
After installing the PCBWay plugin from the KiCad plugin manager, it’s time to build our PCB prototype from the prototype section.
The highlighted area using yellow colour shows the menu icons for all plugins I have installed.
Once I’ve placed all components and routed all the tracks, I perform a Design Rule Check (DRC) to ensure the design adheres to all the necessary rules. If no errors are found, I click the PCBWay icon located within the plugin menu.
This action saves my design in a ZIP file compatible with PCBWay’s manufacturing process. This ZIP file contains all necessary files for production. Subsequently, the plugin automatically opens the PCBWay ordering page, allowing me to customize the manufacturing settings according to my preferences.
Crucial settings, such as the choice of materials, the number of layers (automatically determined based on your design), panel or individual board fabrication (particularly useful for small-scale projects), and board colour (options include classic green, matte green, yellow, red, purple, blue, black, and white), can be adjusted. However, for this demonstration, I will accept the default settings.
Next, I selected my region and chose my preferred courier service according to delivery speed. While DHL generally offers the fastest shipping, other couriers may provide more economical options depending on your budget and time constraints. On the same page, an estimated total price is displayed for reference.
After carefully reviewing all settings and confirming they meet my requirements, I clicked ‘Save to Cart‘ to proceed to the payment step. This process is simple. However, it’s crucial to double-check that the correct design has been uploaded. The plugin simplifies this by automatically naming the file according to your project name. If your design involves a panel or multiple boards combined into a single design with snap-away tabs, ensure that the ‘Different design in panel’ option is correctly set. This option should match the number of unique designs within the panel.
As indicated, the option is selected, allowing you to proceed to checkout using the button provided. You can pay for this specific order separately by checking the corresponding box. This feature is particularly useful when dealing with multiple versions or orders, although it’s crucial to exercise caution to avoid errors if the designs appear similar. Before proceeding, ensure that all shipping details are accurately filled in. You can easily access and update your shipping information on the ‘My PCBWay‘ page. Please review and confirm your shipping details before proceeding with the checkout process.
After a successful review, you will be redirected to the “Awaiting Payment” section where you can choose any payment option including PCBWay credit.
After 3 to 5 business days, you will receive your prototype for your project.
Other Services PCBWay Provide
PCB Fabrication
PCB Assembly
CNC Machining | 3D Printing
OEM | EMS
Lastly, a big thanks to PCBWay for their generous sponsorship of this project. Their support has been a significant boost to our project, and we are deeply appreciative of their contribution to our work.
Don’t forget to check out my referral link for extra credit for ordering your project prototype.