Servo-Controller-555

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README

555 Servo Controller

A 555 timer based servo controller designed in KiCad as part of my PCB design learning journey. The project focuses primarily on the PCB design workflow, including schematic and footprint selection, component placement, routing, 3D visualization, design-rule verification, and preparation of fabrication files.

Project status: PCB design completed. The board has not been physically manufactured or tested.

View Project Website →

TL;DR

Designed in KiCad 10.0 as a PCB design learning project.
Uses a 555 timer to generate the servo control signal, with a potentiometer for adjustment.
Includes the complete KiCad project, PCB documentation, 3D views, ERC/DRC reports, Gerbers, drill files, BOM, and position file.
ERC and DRC checks completed with 0 errors and 0 warnings/violations.
The PCB has not been physically manufactured or tested.

Quick Links

Overview

This project was created while working through the training modules by NU Teams.

The main goal was to practice the complete PCB design process in KiCad, including:

Creating and working with a schematic
Selecting and assigning footprints
Designing the PCB layout
Component placement and routing
PCB mechanical considerations
3D visualization of the board
Generating fabrication and assembly files
Running ERC and DRC checks
Organizing a complete KiCad project for sharing and reuse

The underlying circuit uses a 555 timer to generate the control signal for a servo. A potentiometer is used to adjust the generated pulse, allowing the servo position to be varied. The circuit is kept relatively simple here because the primary focus of this repository is the PCB design and documentation workflow.

Repository Structure

Servo-Controller-555/
│
├── .gitattributes
├── .gitignore
├── LICENSE
├── README.md
├── index.html
│
├── Servo Controller 555.kicad_pcb
├── Servo Controller 555.kicad_pro
├── Servo Controller 555.kicad_sch
│
├── assets/
│   ├── pcb-3d-front.png
│   ├── pcb-3d-back.png
│   ├── schematic.png
│   └── pcb-layout.png
│
├── documentation/
│   ├── schematic.pdf
│   ├── pcb-layout.pdf
│   └── verification/
│       ├── ERC.rpt
│       └── DRC.rpt
│
├── fabrication/
│   ├── gerbers/
│   ├── drills/
│   ├── BOM.csv
│   └── position.csv
│
└── external-cad/
    └── Potentiometer_Bourns_PTV09A-1_Single_Vertical.step

Features

555 timer based servo controller
Adjustable servo control using a potentiometer
Through-hole and SMD components
Custom component footprints
3D PCB visualization
External STEP model for component visualization
ERC and DRC verification
Fabrication-ready Gerber and drill files
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Component position / Pick-and-Place file

PCB Design

The PCB was designed with emphasis on:

Component placement
Routing and trace organization
Connector accessibility
Mounting-hole placement
Board outline and mechanical clearances
Clear silkscreen labeling
3D representation of the completed PCB design

PCB Layout

View PCB Layout PDF

Footprints & Libraries

The project uses KiCad libraries and project-defined footprints for the components used on the PCB.

Standard KiCad footprints are used where applicable.
Custom footprints are included as part of the project where required.
The PCB project contains the footprint assignments used by the design.
The external 3D model used by the potentiometer footprint is documented separately in External CAD Models.

If the project is edited or reused, footprint assignments should be checked in the schematic and PCB files before making design changes.

3D Views

View Front 3D Model

View Back 3D Model

Circuit Overview

The circuit is based around a 555 timer configured to generate a servo control signal.

A potentiometer is used to vary the timing of the generated pulse, allowing the servo position to be adjusted.

The schematic is included primarily to document the electrical design associated with the PCB.

Schematic

View Schematic PDF

Design Verification

The design was checked using KiCad's Electrical Rules Checker (ERC) and Design Rules Checker (DRC).

ERC

Errors: 0
Warnings: 0

View ERC Report

DRC

Violations: 0
Unconnected pads: 0
Footprint errors: 0

View DRC Report

These checks verify the design according to the configured KiCad rules. They do not replace physical testing of a manufactured PCB.

Fabrication Files

Although this PCB has not been physically manufactured, the repository contains the files generated during the design process for potential future fabrication and assembly.

Available fabrication files

Gerbers

PCB manufacturing files generated from the PCB layout.

Open Gerber files

Drill Files

Drill data generated for the PCB.

Open drill files

Bill of Materials

Component list generated from the KiCad project.

View BOM

Position File

Component placement information generated from the PCB design.

View Position File

External CAD Models

The PCB uses an external STEP model for component visualization in KiCad's 3D Viewer.

The model is stored separately from the KiCad project files:

external-cad/
└── Potentiometer_Bourns_PTV09A-1_Single_Vertical.step

The PCB references the model using a project-relative path, so the reference should remain valid when the repository is cloned to another system.

The redistribution rights of externally sourced CAD models depend on their original license/source. The external model is therefore treated separately from the project's own hardware design files.

Working with the Project

This repository contains the complete KiCad project, including the schematic, PCB layout, project configuration, and supporting project assets.

Requirements

KiCad 10.0 or a compatible version capable of opening the project files.

Clone the Repository

To clone the project using Git:

git clone https://github.com/shlok-ac/Servo-Controller-555.git
cd Servo-Controller-555

Or use the GitHub repository page to download the project as a ZIP archive.

Open in KiCad

Clone or download this repository.
Open Servo Controller 555.kicad_pro in KiCad.
From the KiCad Project Manager, open the Schematic Editor or PCB Editor as required.

The schematic, PCB layout, and project configuration files are kept together so that the project can be opened and edited as a complete KiCad project after cloning.

Project Files

The main KiCad files are:

Servo Controller 555.kicad_pro — KiCad project configuration
Servo Controller 555.kicad_sch — schematic
Servo Controller 555.kicad_pcb — PCB layout

See External CAD Models for the STEP model used by the PCB's 3D visualization.

Learning Source

This project was completed while working through the PCB Design Zero-to-Hero training modules by NU Teams.

The training material provided the learning framework for the project, while this repository contains my KiCad project files, PCB layout, documentation, verification results, and generated fabrication outputs.

License

This project is licensed under the CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal (CERN-OHL-S-2.0).

This license allows others to:

Use and study the hardware design
Modify and adapt the design
Manufacture hardware based on the design
Distribute the original or modified design

Under the Strongly Reciprocal terms, modifications and derivative designs based on this project must be made available under the same license, along with the corresponding source design files.

See LICENSE for the complete license text.

Author

Shlok Chorge · GitHub Profile

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