GoForFab Blog
Ship KiCad boards like a pro
Honest guides and comparisons on KiCad, Altium, manufacturing outputs, and turning a schematic into a professional, reproducible manufacturing package.
CareerHow to become a freelance hardware engineer
A practical, honest path to going independent as a hardware engineer — the skills, the realities nobody mentions, and how to start without jumping off a cliff.
July 23, 2026 · 4 min read
CareerHow to get your first hardware client
Where freelance hardware work actually comes from, what to show, and how to earn trust on a first project when nobody knows your name yet.
July 22, 2026 · 3 min read
CareerHow to stand out as a freelance hardware engineer
Most freelance hardware engineers compete on the same things. Here's how to differentiate on trust, specialization, and the professionalism of what you deliver.
July 21, 2026 · 3 min read
ComparisonAltium vs KiCad: an honest comparison for professional PCB design
A fair, up-to-date comparison of Altium Designer and KiCad — cost, features, manufacturing outputs, and whether KiCad is ready for professional hardware.
July 20, 2026 · 5 min read
CareerHow to price freelance hardware work
Hourly, fixed-fee, or value-based? A practical guide to pricing freelance hardware and PCB design without underselling yourself or eating re-spin costs.
July 19, 2026 · 3 min read
ComparisonIs KiCad professional enough? Yes — and here's what that actually means
KiCad's editor has been production-grade for years. The real 'is it professional?' question is about workflow — outputs, sign-off, and reproducible releases.
July 18, 2026 · 5 min read
CareerThe deliverables that win repeat hardware clients
A professional hardware handoff wins the next contract before the first one is invoiced. What separates a deliverable that builds trust from one that erodes it.
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
How-toThe best KiCad plugins worth installing
A practical roundup of the most useful KiCad plugins in the Plugin and Content Manager, plus which jobs are now native and need no plugin at all.
July 16, 2026 · 6 min read
GuideKiCad's missing manufacturing package: the files your fab actually needs
KiCad designs beautifully but stops at design files. Here's what a real PCB manufacturing package contains and how to produce every piece from KiCad.
July 16, 2026 · 6 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs DipTrace: a fair comparison for PCB design
An honest look at KiCad and DipTrace — cost and licensing, ease of use, platform support, libraries, and which PCB tool fits your workflow.
July 15, 2026 · 5 min read
ComparisonSwitching from Altium to KiCad: a practical migration guide
How to move from Altium to KiCad without losing your workflow — importing projects, a migration checklist, library strategy, and rebuilding outputs.
July 14, 2026 · 6 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs Fusion Electronics: the Eagle successor compared
A fair comparison of KiCad and Autodesk Fusion Electronics — the Eagle successor: cost, free-tier limits, ECAD-MCAD, cloud lock-in, and who each fits.
July 13, 2026 · 6 min read
How-toUsing the Freerouting autorouter with KiCad
How to autoroute a KiCad board with Freerouting — the DSN/SES workflow, rules to set first, and when to route by hand instead.
July 12, 2026 · 6 min read
WorkflowStop emailing board_final_v2_REALLY_final.zip
Hardware needs real, versioned releases — not filename archaeology. How to run revisions and immutable releases for your KiCad boards.
July 12, 2026 · 6 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs OrCAD: an honest comparison for professional PCB design
A fair, current comparison of KiCad and Cadence OrCAD X — cost, licensing, high-speed features, ecosystem, and who each tool is really for.
July 11, 2026 · 7 min read
How-toThe KiCad ecosystem: free tools that work with KiCad
A guide to the open-source tools that plug into a KiCad workflow — panelization, BOM costing, interactive BOMs, MCAD, simulation, and libraries.
July 10, 2026 · 6 min read
WorkflowKiCad and Git: how to version-control your PCB projects properly
KiCad files are plain text, so Git works beautifully — once you set it up right. A practical guide to .gitignore, branching, libraries, and teams.
July 10, 2026 · 6 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs PADS: a fair comparison for professional PCB design
An honest look at Siemens PADS and KiCad — cost, product tiers, high-speed features, learning curve, and which fits your PCB workflow.
July 9, 2026 · 7 min read
InspirationImpressive open-source hardware designed in KiCad
Real, shipping open-source hardware designed in KiCad — laptops, keyboards, SBCs, wearables and security devices that prove KiCad is production-grade.
July 8, 2026 · 6 min read
WorkflowWhat is CI/CD for PCB design? A plain-English guide for hardware teams
CI/CD for PCB explained: automatically regenerate Gerbers, BOM, CPL, and run DRC/ERC on every KiCad change — reproducible, always-current outputs.
July 8, 2026 · 6 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs Proteus: simulation-first design versus a free PCB toolchain
A fair comparison of KiCad and Proteus Design Suite — cost, platform support, simulation and VSM firmware co-sim, PCB layout, and when to pick each.
July 7, 2026 · 6 min read
GuideThe professional PCB manufacturing handoff: what to send, to whom, and how
How you hand off a PCB says as much about your professionalism as the board itself. What fab houses, assembly houses, and clients each need — and a checklist.
July 6, 2026 · 6 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs CircuitMaker: free-as-in-price vs free-as-in-freedom
An honest comparison of KiCad and Altium CircuitMaker — cost, private vs public projects, platform support, and which free PCB tool actually fits you.
July 5, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialHow to export Gerbers from KiCad
Export Gerbers and drill files from KiCad the GUI way and with kicad-cli — which layers a fab needs, zipping, and the mistakes to avoid.
July 4, 2026 · 5 min read
ComparisonLibrePCB vs KiCad: a friendly guide for open-source PCB designers
A fair comparison of LibrePCB and KiCad — two free, open-source EDA tools. Library model, maturity, PCB capability, and which one fits your project.
July 3, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialKiCad BOM export with LCSC part numbers: getting the C-number to flow through
How to export a BOM from KiCad with the LCSC/JLCPCB part number attached — including the field-name trap that silently blanks the C-number.
July 2, 2026 · 6 min read
ComparisonFlux vs KiCad: browser-based, AI-assisted design versus a local, open-source workhorse
A fair comparison of Flux.ai and KiCad — cloud vs local, cost and licensing, data ownership, PCB maturity, and the real collaboration and AI tradeoffs.
July 1, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialHow to generate a pick-and-place (CPL) file in KiCad
Generate the pick-and-place / CPL / centroid file from KiCad — the GUI method, the kicad-cli command, top vs bottom side, units, origin, and rotations.
June 30, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialJLCPCB BOM and CPL format: the exact files their assembly service expects
A precise reference for the BOM and CPL (pick-and-place) file format JLCPCB assembly needs, how KiCad maps to it, and how to pass first time.
June 28, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialHow to fix the most common KiCad DRC errors
A practical guide to the most common KiCad DRC errors — clearance, unconnected nets, courtyard, silkscreen, annular ring — with the cause and fix for each.
June 26, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialKiCad ERC explained: what the Electrical Rules Check catches and how to fix it
A practical guide to KiCad's Electrical Rules Check — what ERC checks, warnings vs errors, common issues, the PWR_FLAG fix, and running it via kicad-cli.
June 24, 2026 · 7 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs Eagle: what to use now that Eagle is winding down
A fair comparison of KiCad and Autodesk Eagle — Eagle's move into Fusion, pricing, features, and how to migrate Eagle files to KiCad.
June 22, 2026 · 5 min read
ComparisonKiCad vs EasyEDA: convenience, lock-in, and who owns your design
A fair comparison of KiCad and EasyEDA — browser vs desktop, the JLCPCB/LCSC tie-in, data ownership, portability, and which tool fits your project.
June 20, 2026 · 5 min read
ComparisonBest free PCB design software: an honest guide
A fair look at the best free PCB design software — KiCad, EasyEDA, and the free tiers of the rest — with cost, ownership, platform, and lock-in compared.
June 18, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialHow to export a 3D STEP model from KiCad (GUI and command line)
Export a 3D STEP model from KiCad for enclosure fit and MCAD handoff — the GUI method, the kicad-cli command, and how to fix common issues.
June 16, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialKiCad net classes and design rules: a practical setup guide
How to set up net classes in KiCad — clearances, track widths, and via sizes per class — and how they drive DRC against your fab's real limits.
June 14, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialKiCad custom design rules: a practical guide to the .kicad_dru rule editor
Learn KiCad's custom design rules — the rule/condition/constraint syntax, worked clearance and track-width examples, and how DRC enforces them.
June 12, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialKiCad hierarchical schematics: a practical guide for large designs
Learn when and how to use hierarchical sheets in KiCad — sheet pins, label types, reusing blocks, and keeping big designs readable.
June 10, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialKiCad symbol and footprint libraries explained: a practical guide
How KiCad organizes symbols, footprints, and 3D models — global vs project library tables, adding third-party libraries, and keeping boards reproducible.
June 8, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialKiCad interactive router tips: push-and-shove, differential pairs, and length tuning
Hands-on tips for KiCad's interactive router — collision modes, push-and-shove, diff pairs, length tuning, hotkeys, and cleaning up after autorouting.
June 6, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialControlled impedance in KiCad: a practical guide to 50Ω and differential pairs
How to design controlled-impedance traces in KiCad — stackup, trace geometry, the built-in calculator, and getting real numbers from your fab.
June 4, 2026 · 5 min read
TutorialHow to panelize a PCB in KiCad: tabs, V-scoring, and mouse bites
A practical guide to PCB panelization in KiCad — tab-routing vs V-scoring, mouse bites, fiducials, and when to panelize yourself with KiKit.
June 2, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialHow to make a PCB assembly drawing in KiCad
Create a clear PCB assembly drawing in KiCad — which layers to plot, how to export it to PDF from the GUI or kicad-cli, and how to pair it with your BOM and CPL.
May 31, 2026 · 4 min read
GuideThe PCB DFM checklist: catch manufacturing problems before you order
A practical design-for-manufacturing checklist for PCBs — trace/space, annular rings, clearances, silkscreen, soldermask, acid traps, and more.
May 29, 2026 · 5 min read
GuideDesign for assembly at JLCPCB: a practical DFA guide for PCBA
Design your KiCad board so JLCPCB assembly goes smoothly — basic vs extended parts, footprints, spacing, orientation, fiducials, and clean BOM + CPL.
May 27, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialHow to order a PCB from JLCPCB: a step-by-step guide for KiCad users
A clear, step-by-step guide to ordering a PCB from JLCPCB — export and upload Gerbers from KiCad, pick board options, add assembly, and check out.
May 25, 2026 · 6 min read
GuidePCB stackup basics: 2-layer vs 4-layer and how the stackup shapes your board
What a PCB stackup is, when to move from 2 to 4 layers, and how the layer arrangement drives signal integrity, EMC, and controlled impedance.
May 23, 2026 · 6 min read
GuideHow to reduce PCB manufacturing cost: a practical guide
Practical, honest ways to lower your PCB and PCBA cost — board size, layer count, standard fab capabilities, finish, parts, panelization, and quantity.
May 21, 2026 · 6 min read
GuideSMD vs through-hole: how to choose PCB components
A practical guide to SMD vs through-hole components — size, cost, assembly, strength, and hand-soldering — plus when to mix both on one board.
May 19, 2026 · 5 min read
GuideBOM management best practices for PCB projects
How to build and maintain a professional PCB bill of materials — what it must contain, keeping it in the schematic, and avoiding drift.
May 17, 2026 · 5 min read
CareerHow to build a hardware engineer portfolio that wins work
A practical guide to building a hardware engineer portfolio — what to show per project, how to reveal process, and why a shareable board beats a resume.
May 15, 2026 · 6 min read
TutorialKiCad jobsets: define your outputs once, release in one click
Jobsets turn KiCad's manual export routine into one repeatable pipeline. What they are, how to set one up, and where they stop — and CI takes over.
March 20, 2026 · 3 min read
KiCad releasesWhat's new in KiCad 10
KiCad 10's biggest additions — design variants, a graphical DRC rule editor, time-domain tuning, refined jobsets, and new importers — and what they mean for you.
March 15, 2026 · 3 min read
KiCad releasesWhat's new in KiCad 9
The features that mattered in KiCad 9 — jobsets, embedded files, schematic tables, custom DRC/ERC rules, and a much stronger automation story.
March 1, 2025 · 3 min read