Layout without schematic

I am working on a very simple pcb in which just there are some solid filled zones and some "though-via"s to connect different layers. I am pretty new in kicad and had no idea how to create this schematic. So, directly started the layout. But, the problem is that I cannot connected vias to filled zones as a kind of clearance becomes automatically created and made them disconnected. I guess the connected zones should be defined as same nets. If so, how can I define them in the layout? If not possible, please help me how to create a schematic or netlist for such non-component pcb? Thanks

Setting aside graphical art pieces, there is no such thing as no component pcb. You just have to think about your connection points as components. Use connector symbols for those and wire them up in schematic, that’s all there is to it.

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Your pcb will have zones and layers. Will there be anything (wires or connectors?) to connect to those zones and layers? Wires should probably connect to a through hole pin (more mechanically robust) or at least an SMT pad. A connector is certainly a component which deserves a symbol. And I like to assign local labels in my schematic because the net names which KiCad chooses tend to be almost meaningless. Such as R27 pin 2 or C19 pin 1. Except for a 2 pin polarized capacitor, I do not know or care which is pin 1 or pin 2. If it is a polarized 2 pin capacitor, I just want to make sure I get the + sign properly disoriented :slight_smile: with the silkscreen.

So what does this PCB do?

Every few months the question of how to design a PCB without a schematic is asked on this forum, and the simple answer is that it is simply not supported in KiCad V5.1.x.

KiCad completely depends on the netlist for making any connections between footprints.

From KiCad’s point of view you are simply approaching your problem from the wrong direction. You may think your design is so simple you do not need to make a schematic, but if your design is so simple, then a schematic can be drawn in 5 minutes. (Make it 10 minutes to also assign some footprints). And with the schematic you generate the netlist, which is put into Pcbnew with Eeschema / Tools / Update PCB from Schematic [F8] and this is much simpler then rowing against the flow which is designed into KiCad.

So what is on this PCB?
Does your PCB have mounting holes, some kind of connector?
I suppose it has some kind of connection to something.

One of the possibilities is to use some “testpoints”. On the schematic these are a way to add a component with a single pad to a net, and for the PCB there is a whole library of test points with both THT and SMT variants.

The “MountingHole_Pad” is another schematic symbol with a single connection. It does not matter much what you use, as any footprint can be combined with any schematic symbol.

If you use an SMT test point and disable the solder mask and silk screen layers, and also set the “Pad connections” in the properties of the copper zone from “Thermal reliefs” to “Solid” then the SMT pad will just become a part of the continuous zone and won’t be visible to the outside.

But don’t expect your first try at this to work in 10 minutes. As with everything there is a bit of a learning curve in KiCad, and it’s easier to get to grips with the workflow in KiCad if you make a few more “conventional” PCB designs first.

Without knowing just what you want for components/hook-up, it’s difficult for readers to clearly provide help…

Having said that, assuming you simply want to put parts and/or traces on a PCB without using/having an Eeschema Schematic, it’s so simple and suggest you try it yourself… Start with one or two items…

Below shows some parts and traces and Vias on a two-layer board. No real design intent and nothing correctly hooked-up… just enough stuff to point out that you can drop some parts on a board and wire it up. Without schematic - thus, No DRC or Netlist…

I (and many others) make boards without schematics in Eeschema (I hand-draw mine to avoid the time spent at the computer…)

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