A Catalyst for Open Source: NextPCB Launches KiCad Projects Platform to Fuel the Future of KiCad (Sponsored)

kicadprojects

NextPCB, a global leader in PCB manufacturing and assembly solutions, proudly announces the launch of kicadprojects.com, a dynamic open-source community dedicated to supporting open-source hardware and enriching KiCad, the renowned open-source EDA tool for schematic capture and PCB layout. This initiative unites engineers, students, and innovators worldwide to share projects, collaborate, and support the KiCad community and core KiCad development. A Hub for Collaboration and Innovation Developed and maintained by NextPCB, a platinum KiCad sponsor, kicadprojects.com is more than a platform—it’s a thriving hub where the global KiCad community can: Share & Showcase Projects – Upload and explore innovative PCB designs, schematics, and tutorials. Streamline Collaboration – Download project files, generate automated BOMs, and visualize designs straight from your browser with NextPCB’s KiCad EDA viewer. Open Source, Open Impact In a bold commitment to open-source stewardship, NextPCB will donate $10 (USD) towards the KiCad Project for every approved project uploaded […]

Get your carrier board for the LattePanda Mu x86 Compute Module manufactured for free, win prizes (Sponsored)

LattePanda MU Carrier Board Design Challenge

DFRobot and NextPCB are currently running a PCB design contest offering free PCB manufacturing and prizes worth up to $800 to people designing and submitting a carrier board design for the LattePanda Mu x86 Compute Module. As a reminder, the LattePanda Mu Compute Module is an x86 system-on-module initially launched with the Intel Processor N100 Alder Lake-N CPU, and later offered with a more powerful Core i3-N305 octa-core processor.  It comes with up to 16GB LPDDR5-4800, 64GB eMMC 5.1 flash, and exposes I/Os through a 260-pin SO-DIMM connector. Arnon reviewed the LattePanda Mu (N100) with Windows 11 and Ubuntu 24.04 using the two reference carrier boards from DFRobot. But now, the company wants to encourage the development of more carrier boards for the LattePanda Mu, hence the PCB design contest. So what can you win exactly? Winners selected by a panel of judges from DFRobot and NextPCB will be offered […]

NextPCB offers free ESP32-S3 PCBA prototypes for original designs (Sponsored)

NextPCB Free ESP32-S3 PCBA

NextPCB has started offering free PCBA prototypes for PCB designs based on the ESP32-S3 wireless microcontroller following a similar offer for free Raspberry Pi RP2040/RP2350 PCBAs launched in January 2025. The Chinese PCB/PCBA manufacturer’s new “accelerator campaign” targets developers, makers, and researchers who developed their own PCB based on the ESP32-S3 microcontroller. They can get two free PCBA prototypes for the original design. Slots are however limited, and NextPCB will select 20 projects for sponsorship. If selected, you’ll get the following: Free Prototyping – Get 2 free PCBA units, including PCB fabrication, components, assembly, and worldwide shipping (valued up to $500 US). Technical Support – Get expert assistance with manufacturing engineering, design guidance, certification, and production. Personalized Assistance – Receive dedicated one-on-one support throughout your manufacturing journey. The company will prioritize business projects, but hobbyist designs that contribute to the open-source community and showcase interesting applications using ESP32-S3 will also […]

NextPCB offers free PCBA prototypes for RP2350/RP2040 designs, RP2040 MCU as low as 30 cents (Sponsored)

NextPCB Free PCBA with Raspberry Pi RP2040 RP2350 MCU

NextPCB Accelerator is an initiative from the PCB and PCBA manufacturer to empower innovators and creators to bring their ideas to life, and the ongoing campaign features the Raspberry Pi RP2350 and RP2040 microcontrollers. Specifically, NextPCB offers two free PCBA prototypes for any original design based on either the RP2350 Cortex-M33/RISC-V microcontroller or RP2040 Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU  from Raspberry Pi. The company also offers subsidized bulk pricing for the Raspberry Pi RP2040 for any company or maker mass-producing their design with NextPCB. Besides PCB manufacturing, NextPCB will offer professional assembly of the RP2040 or RP2350 chips using their precision pick-and-place machines, advanced automated inspection equipment, and carefully controlled manufacturing practices. NextPCB’s IC programming and firmware burning services will free up time for customers, and functional testing services will make sure all prototypes are tested for functionality before leaving the production line. The conditions of the offer are pretty straightforward. NextPCB […]

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