KiCAD appended PCB does not update

[VEGETA]

Hello,

I've done a PCB and it is ready, I then panellized it using mouse bites.

Anyway, when I update the PCB in its original file, it doesn't get updated in the panel.

Is this normal? shouldn't it get updated? since it is appended not just copy pasted.

thanks.

[Doctorandus_P]

Yes, this is "normal".

You append the board from the "real project" into the file you've made for the panel.
Making panels is not really supported in KiCad (yet?).

There are at least 2 different projects for scripts that can help in making panels quicker.

A simple trick you can use is to add some unusual components to your panel. For example a very big & fat power resistor, and then line up one of the pins of those power resistors with a reference hole in the PCB's, then remove the PCB's, "append" the new version, and use the pin of those reference resistors to put the PCB's back in the same locations that they were.

[VEGETA]

Yes, this is "normal".

You append the board from the "real project" into the file you've made for the panel.
Making panels is not really supported in KiCad (yet?).

There are at least 2 different projects for scripts that can help in making panels quicker.

A simple trick you can use is to add some unusual components to your panel. For example a very big & fat power resistor, and then line up one of the pins of those power resistors with a reference hole in the PCB's, then remove the PCB's, "append" the new version, and use the pin of those reference resistors to put the PCB's back in the same locations that they were.

I did this and it works but it requires to do all stuff perfectly from first time. if you missed something, then you need to remove everything and start over.

I thought kicad supported that you modify the original board then it gets updated in where ever it is appended.

I also, asked if CircuitStudio supports proper panelization but no answer was given. I don't know why such a very important feature is so neglected.

[Doctorandus_P]

Support for panelization has been historically bad in lots of PCB programs. KiCad is not an exception here.

There are some specialized programs for panelization. You can also ask a PCB manufacturer to do the panelization for you.

Maybe this gives you some hints:
https://hackaday.com/?s=kicad+panelization


Also, you should never design a panel without contacting your PCB manufacturer first.
Suppose that the PCB material of your manufacturer is 600x600mm and you design a panel of 305x305mm.
That would be an expensive waste of material.

[voltsandjolts]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/kicad/tool-for-panelizing-in-kicad-kicad-util/