What is KiCad?
KiCad can create all the files necessary for building printed boards, Gerber files for photo-plotters, drilling files, component location files and a lot more. Being open source (GPL licensed), it represents the ideal tool for projects oriented towards the creation of electronic hardware with an open-source flavour. Load from file: Select.kicadpcb,.lib,.sch files. Load from URLs: Input space delimited URLs. Requesting url must be supports CORS header.
KiCad is a free, easy to download software that is used for electronic design automation (EDA) and computer aided design (CAD). While using this program, PCB design schematics can be realized from their electrical circuits. Within, there are tools that allow the creation of a bill of materials (BOM), artwork, 3D view of the PCB + components and gerber files. This documents purpose will be to guide Bittele’s clients through the step by step process specifically for generating the gerber files using KiCad. Similarly, a guide for exporting gerbers using another commonly used program (Eagle) can be found here.What are Gerber files?
Gerber files are the artwork of the layers that will be used to construct the board once it’s being fabricated. The industry standard file type used for manufacturing and assembling PCB’s are gerber file types. Therefore, they are easily recognized and processed by our manufacturing equipment.Generating Gerber Files
This guide assumes that you have finished designing your PCB within KiCad and are ready to export the gerber files.1) Select the ‘Plot’ button (located next to the printer icon).
This will open the plot window.
The image above shows the many different layers that are used in this example project. In general, there are only 10 layers that are required for PCB fabrication and assembly (paste layers not required for fabrication only):
- Top Copper (Top) + Top Soldermask (F.Mask) + Top Silkscreen (F.SilkS) + Top Paste (F.Paste)
- Bottom Copper (Bottom) + Bottom Soldermask (B.Mask) + Bottom Silkscreen (B.SilkS) + Bottom Paste (B.Paste)
- Board outline (Edge.Cuts)
- Drill file (not shown in image above)
3) Under the messages window will show where the drill files have now been generated. Click on the close button to return to the previous window. Click on ‘Plot’ (beside Generate Drill File). The gerber files for the layers will be generated (shown once again under the messages window), then click ‘Close’.
4) Once your gerber files have been generated, they can be reviewed to catch any potential errors before being sent to us for a PCB fabrication quote. Return to the main KiCad project window and click on the GerbView – Gerber viewer button (see image below):
5) On the window that pops up, click ‘File’ > ‘Load Gerber File’.
6) Select all of the layers shown and click ‘Open’.
7) In the same manner, click on ‘File’ > ‘Load EXCELLON Drill File’.
8) Select the drill file(s) and click ‘Open’.
Notice here that 2 drill files have been created. The first represents ‘plated drill holes’ while the second represents the ‘non-plated drill holes’. This will lead us to seeing 11 files instead of 10 files later.
9) Once all of your layers have been imported into GerbView, you can perform all your final checks (you can view each layer one by one and so on). Once you are satisfied that your design is correct, you will be ready to quote and order your boards.
10) Navigate to the directory on your computer where your KiCad project resides. Select and zip the following 11 files:
A list explaining each type of file can be seen below:
- *.drl - Drill file
- *.gbs - Gerber Bottom Soldermask
- *.gbp - Gerber Bottom Paste
- *.gbo - Gerber Bottom Silkscreen (Overlay)
- *.gbl - Gerber Bottom Layer
- *.Edge.Cuts.gm1 - Board Outline (Gerber Mechanical 1)
- *.gts - Gerber Top Soldermask
- *.gtp - Gerber Top Paste
- *.gto - Gerber Top Silkscreen (Overlay)
- *.drl - Drill file
- *.gtl - Gerber Top Layer
This guide’s aim has been to describe the procedure for generating Gerber files from KiCad as simply and completely as possible. If you still find yourself unclear on any part of the process, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Bittele sales team by sending an email to sales@7pcb.com, or calling our Toronto office at 1-416-800-7540. We are happy to help with any of your queries.
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Introduction: KiCad Import and Export Methods
KiCad is a free, easy to download software that is used for electronic design automation (EDA) and computer-aided design (CAD). While using this program, PCB design schematics can be realized from their electrical circuits. Within, there are tools that allow the creation of a bill of materials (BOM), artwork, 3D view of the PCB + components and Gerber files. From the workflow of KiCad working process, kiCad offers using of import or export methods to make the process of doing the project easier by adding done and completed projects or components and just modifying on them then export them to the wanted file extension.
Kicad Pcb Project Download
Step 1: Introduction
Instead of creating a new object (library, symbol, or footprint) from scratch it is sometimes easier to start from one already made and modify. And after finishing create the project you can export it as many extensions. All of that KiCad can do easily. But what is KiCad?
Briefly, KiCad is a free software suite for electronic design automation. It facilitates the design of schematics for electronic circuits and their conversion to PCB designs. KiCad was originally developed by Jean-Pierre Charras and its logo is shown in fig (1). It features an integrated environment for schematic capture and PCB layout design.
Before talking about import or export methods, we have to know about KiCad interface or the workflow of KiCad. In the picture below, you see a flowchart representing the KiCad workflow. The flowchart explains which steps you need to take, and in which order. When applicable, the icon is added for convenience.
Step 2: Importing Methods
From the last workflow, it’s obvious the import method
reflects in the condition of adding:
1. Foreign project
2. symbol or component
3. footprint
Importing a foreign project
KiCad is able to import files created using other software packages. Currently only Eagle 6.x or newer (XML format) is supported.
To import a foreign project, you need to select either a schematic or a board file in the import file browser dialog. Imported schematic and board files should have the same base file name (e.g. project.sch and project.brd). Once the requested files are selected, you will be asked to select a directory to store the imported files, which are going to be saved as a KiCad project.
Adding symbol:
The KiCad symbol libraries are the individual .lib files, with the corresponding .dcm files containing symbol metadata. So, to add symbols to an existing symbol library:
• Go to: Tools> Run Library Editor.
Once the on the Library Editor window:
• Go to: File> Current Library
• Select the library where you want to add de component.
Then on the toolbar
• Select “Import component”
• Select the *.lib file you want to import.
• Click on Open.
Once you see the symbol on the screen
• Select “Update current component on the current library” on toolbar.
• Go to File > Safe current Library > Yes.
Importing footprint:
1. Extract the content of the downloaded .zip file
2. In KiCad, go to Tools > Open Eeschema
3. Select Preferences > Component Libraries
4. In the Component library files section, click Add
5. Select the .lib library file
6. Go to Tools > Open PcbNew
Kicad File Types
7. Click Preferences > Footprint Libraries Wizard
8. Follow the steps in the wizard to select and import the footprint library (.mod file)
Step 3: Exporting KiCad File
After importing the wanted object and working and modifying it, it’s the time to save it or export it to a new extension. The following figure shows the possible file extensions that KiCad offers to export its files.
One the most familiar extensions that Kicad offers is the Gerber file.
What are Gerber files?
Gerber files are the artwork of the layers that will be used to construct the board once it’s being fabricated. The industry standard file type used for manufacturing and assembling PCB’s are Gerber file types. Therefore, they are easily recognized and processed by our manufacturing equipment.
Exporting Gerber Files
From the Pcbnew, navigate to File > Plot.
Under Plot format, select Gerber.
Optionally, create a subfolder to hold the generated files. By default, they will be written to your project directory.
Under Layers, select F.Cu, B.Cu, F.Paste, and B.Paste. You will not need all of these files for every circuit, but exporting them all simplifies this process.
Under Options:
Check Plot footprint values
Check Plot footprint references
Check Exclude PCB edge layer from other layers
Set Default line width (mm): 0.1
Under Gerber Options:
Check Use Protel filename extensions
Set Format: 4.6mm
When ready, Click Plot to export the Gerbers files.
Exporting Drill Files
Continuing from the Plot window, click Generate Drill File, next to the Plot button.
If you created a subfolder for your Gerber files, select it as your output directory
Under Drill Units, select Millimeters
Under Zeros Format, select Decimal format
Kicad Pcb Software
Under Drill Map File Format, select Gerber
Under Drill File Options, uncheck all options
Under Drill Origin, select Absolute
When ready, Click Drill File to export the drill file.
Those are the most famous condition that used for import and export conditions and their ways to happen. Hope it is useful.
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