Designing and manufacturing a custom PCB is a rewarding experience, but taking your skills beyond the basics requires hands-on experience with real-world projects. That’s exactly what my new course, KiCad Advanced ESP32 Project, offers. If you’re already comfortable with KiCad and PCB design but want to explore more advanced techniques, this course will guide you through the complete process of designing, testing, and manufacturing a complex four-layer PCB featuring the ESP32 microcontroller.
In this project-based course, you will design an IoT development board that incorporates a variety of peripherals, including an SD card module, flash memory, sensors, and a USB-to-serial bridge with a USB-C connector for power and data. You’ll go beyond simple schematics and layouts by implementing advanced design practices such as differential pair routing, length tuning for high-speed signals, power integrity optimization, and design for manufacturing (DFM) checks. The goal is not just to create a functional PCB, but to design one that is robust, reliable, and ready for professional manufacturing.
What You Will Learn
This course covers every step of the PCB design process in KiCad 9, from schematic capture to final manufacturing. We start with project setup and component selection, carefully considering footprints and electrical requirements. You’ll learn how to structure a schematic using hierarchical sheets, making large designs easier to manage.
Once the schematic is complete, the real challenge begins in the PCB layout editor. You will place components with manufacturability and performance in mind, ensuring signal integrity and minimizing noise. High-speed routing techniques are covered in detail, including how to properly route SPI, I²C, and USB signals. You will also learn how to work with copper zones for efficient power distribution and thermal management.
Beyond layout and routing, this course emphasizes real-world design challenges. You’ll perform a full Design Rules Check (DRC) and a Design for Manufacturing (DFM) analysis to catch potential issues before production. Once the board is ready, you’ll generate the necessary fabrication files and submit them to a professional PCB manufacturer. If you choose to order assembled boards, you’ll also learn how to prepare a Bill of Materials (BOM) and a centroid file for automated component placement.
After receiving the manufactured board, the next step is evaluation and testing. You’ll use Arduino firmware to verify that each subsystem—such as GPIO pins, the SD card interface, and sensors—is functioning correctly. Along the way, I’ll demonstrate how to troubleshoot common hardware issues, from fixing incorrect resistor placements to debugging non-responsive components.
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for electronics enthusiasts and engineers who already have experience with KiCad and PCB design. If you have previously designed and manufactured a PCB and want to build more complex projects while learning professional design techniques, this course will help you level up your skills.
If you are new to KiCad or PCB design, I recommend starting with my KiCad Like a Pro course before enrolling in this one. That course covers foundational concepts such as schematic capture, component libraries, and basic PCB layout. The KiCad Advanced ESP32 Project course assumes familiarity with those topics and focuses on more advanced challenges.
Free vs. Premium Versions
A version of this course is freely available on YouTube. The YouTube version covers all major design steps and provides a great introduction to the project. However, if you want additional learning resources, the full version of the course is available on the Tech Explorations website and Udemy.
The premium version includes detailed lecture notes and summaries, as well as and quizzes to reinforce key concepts. These additional materials help you retain knowledge and test your understanding as you progress through the course. I’m also planning new lectures in the near future to cover improvement to the board that make use of the results of the prototype #1 evaluation. The premium version is also ad-free.
If you prefer structured learning with additional content and the ability to revisit key concepts through summaries and quizzes, the Tech Explorations website or Udemy version is the best choice. If you just want to follow along with the project and pick up insights as you go, the YouTube version is a great starting point.
Start Your Advanced KiCad Journey
If you’ve ever wanted to design a professional-quality PCB with an ESP32 at its core, this course will walk you through every step. By the end, you will have a fully tested and manufactured board, along with the confidence to tackle your own advanced PCB projects.
Join me in the KiCad Advanced ESP32 Project course (here for Udemy) and take your PCB design skills to the next level. Whether you follow along on YouTube or enroll in the full course for additional resources, I look forward to seeing what you create!