Author Topic: Advice for my graduation project  (Read 4334 times)

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Offline HasanSyrTopic starter

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Advice for my graduation project
« on: November 02, 2024, 04:54:09 pm »
I'm creating an FPGA development board (around a carrier card, hardest parts like DDR and SMPS already done) for my thesis graduation project, I'm under the presumption that using Altium would be better for more complex designs like this. I tried Altium and I'm really not liking it (maybe I'm not used to it yet) so I'm wondering if it's feasible to create a project like that with KiCad

The main issues in KiCad for me are the mechanical tools (board outline etc) and the alignment of components, when I select more than 1 thing and try to align one of them KiCad aligns the part relative to the part I don't want to be aligned. This is a big issue for me when trying to center things or space things apart equally.
 

Offline zapta

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Re: Advice for my graduation project
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2024, 08:53:06 pm »
Did you try to change the 'magnetic points' in the PCB Editor settings?

Also, you can force any x,y that you want by opening the device priorities and typing them in.

EDIT: In the PCB Editor, when you right-click, the popup menu also has 'positioning tools' that can help you moving any way you want.
« Last Edit: November 11, 2024, 08:55:27 pm by zapta »
 

Offline bson

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Re: Advice for my graduation project
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2024, 10:25:38 pm »
In KiCad when you align objects they're aligned to the one selected first.  So explicitly select the one you want to align to first, then add the rest to the selection.
 

Offline gavin199

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Re: Advice for my graduation project
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2025, 07:10:24 am »
Maybe you can try EasyEDA, in which you can find plenty of OpenSource Project in the cloud and you can just Clone like a code to your space. Besides, you can send your PCB to the fabric, and get the PCBA in one click, they will send you the boards, and you just need to power on, and it works..., just like online shopping, but with your design.
 

Offline Smokey

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Re: Advice for my graduation project
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2025, 07:33:06 am »
Presumably you are in an EE program.  If you want to get a job that has anything to do with PCB design, use Altium if you have access to it.  Almost no jobs will care if you list "KiCad skills", but real companies use Altium. 

Two question through.  You said you are "already done" with the DDR and power supply.  What did you use for that?  And if you actually did a DDR layout you are happy with, how are you still having issues with the board outline and component alignment?
« Last Edit: January 06, 2025, 07:36:03 am by Smokey »
 


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