I’m working on a project that involves designing a multilayer PCB using KiCad, and I thought it would be great to start a discussion on this topic. Multilayer boards add complexity to PCB design, especially when it comes to managing signal integrity, power distribution, and proper layer stack-up.
In this thread, I’d like to explore the following:
Layer Stack-Up: How to decide the number of layers and what each layer should be used for (signal, power, ground, etc.).
Design Rules: Setting up appropriate design rules for multilayer boards in KiCad, including trace width, spacing, and via sizes.
Power and Ground Planes: Best practices for creating power and ground planes, and how to reduce noise and improve signal integrity.
Routing Strategies: Tips for efficient routing in multilayer designs, including when and how to use vias effectively.
Design Verification: Performing DRCs, ERCs, and any other checks to ensure the board is ready for fabrication.
Manufacturing Considerations: What to keep in mind when preparing Gerber files for a multilayer PCB and submitting them to a manufacturer.
Whether you’re an experienced PCB designer or new to multilayer designs, I’d love to hear your insights, tips, and experiences. Let’s share our knowledge and help each other improve our PCB design skills in KiCad!
Your questions are rather general about PCB design and not about using KiCad so basically they are out of this forum scope (help in using KiCad software itself).
I can’t say a lot as my PCBs are 2 layers with whole bottom being continuous GND. It is not easy to connect everything (except GND) at one layer so I assumed more layer makes design easier and you say something opposite
I agree with Piotr here, and that is why I did not answer earlier. How to properly design multi layer PCB’s is a much too wide topic for a forum like this, although most of your questions have been answered on this forum several times over.
Some of your sub topics are also quite well covered in some youtube video’s. You can try a few, and skip them if their content is not interesting enough.
Edit: Although this topic has been closed now (for being too generic and off topic) there are quite a lot of threads on this forum which touch on related topics. A recent one is:
Those questions can’t be answered generally. It depends strongly on what you want to do, what performance you expect and what your budget (monetary and time) is. If you know what the constraints of you design are, check out for example YouTube, there a millions of videos covering every relevant topic.
