Author Topic: Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util  (Read 5501 times)

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Offline dren.dkTopic starter

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Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util
« on: March 05, 2019, 11:27:49 am »
I've just completed a tool that create the tabs with mouse-bites between pcbs in pcbnew, it's on gitlab here: https://gitlab.com/dren.dk/kicad-util

The workflow is quite simple:
1: Start pcbnew outside of a project
2: Append and place completed boards.
3: Draw lines between the boards in the Eco1.User layer where you want tabs to connect the boards.
4: Run my kicad util with the panel option.
5: Open the newly created output pcb file and re-fill zones or run DRC or whatever else you need to do.

The tool also creates lines 3 and 6 mm away from the holes to indicate the distance that should be respected for tracks and smd caps respectively.
 
The following users thanked this post: Deepak, stryker, Warhawk, ebclr, s8548a, salvagedcircuitry, maelstrom.labs

Offline Warhawk

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Re: Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2019, 10:32:37 pm »
Perfect timing, I am just about to do this for a few boards. I'll definitely try your software.

Switching to kicad was one of the best things I've done so far (AD18 professional user here)  :-+

Offline bson

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Re: Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2019, 03:38:17 am »
Nice!  I'll be putting this to good use! :)

Just be careful with running pcbnew outside a project, it has a habit of confusing other kicad programs running...
Or at least used to.
 

Offline Doctorandus_P

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Re: Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2019, 03:50:43 pm »
Looks Good!

This can be a quite usefull addition to the KiCad toolbox. Panelisation is a bit of a blind spot in Kicad.
Have you thought about also posting this on the KiCad forum?
https://forum.kicad.info/search?q=panel%20order%3Alatest
There are manyu more users on the KiCad forum than here on EEVblog.
 

Offline dren.dkTopic starter

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Re: Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2019, 04:53:13 pm »
Good idea, I just posted there too.

The last time I tried the kicad forum it was completely useless, it seems they have upgraded a bit:)
 

Offline maelstrom.labs

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Re: Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2020, 02:46:51 pm »
Amazing tool. Worked perfect to make panels. Thanks.
 

Offline MarkR42

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Re: Tool for panelizing in Kicad: kicad-util
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2020, 08:48:44 pm »
I also used it for my panels, it's very good. But he didn't update it for Kicad nightly, so I forked it here:

https://gitlab.com/markxr/kicad-util
 


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