PcbDraw
Convert your KiCAD board into a nicely looking 2D drawing suitable for pinout diagrams (by yaqwsx)
KiKit
Automation tools for KiCAD (by yaqwsx)
| PcbDraw | KiKit | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | |
| 1,077 | 1,416 | |
| - | - | |
| 6.2 | 8.8 | |
| 1 day ago | 3 days ago | |
| Python | Python | |
| MIT License | MIT License |
The number of mentions indicates the total number of mentions that we've tracked plus the number of user suggested alternatives.
Stars - the number of stars that a project has on GitHub. Growth - month over month growth in stars.
Activity is a relative number indicating how actively a project is being developed. Recent commits have higher weight than older ones.
For example, an activity of 9.0 indicates that a project is amongst the top 10% of the most actively developed projects that we are tracking.
Stars - the number of stars that a project has on GitHub. Growth - month over month growth in stars.
Activity is a relative number indicating how actively a project is being developed. Recent commits have higher weight than older ones.
For example, an activity of 9.0 indicates that a project is amongst the top 10% of the most actively developed projects that we are tracking.
PcbDraw
Posts with mentions or reviews of PcbDraw.
We have used some of these posts to build our list of alternatives
and similar projects. The last one was on 2022-09-22.
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PcbDraw v1 released. New features, can capture 3D renderings & more. Link to the tool and release notes in the comments.
PcbDraw: https://github.com/yaqwsx/PcbDraw Release notes: https://github.com/yaqwsx/PcbDraw/releases/tag/v1.0.0 Related blog post: https://blog.honzamrazek.cz/2022/09/pcbdraw-v1-0-released-whats-new/
KiKit
Posts with mentions or reviews of KiKit.
We have used some of these posts to build our list of alternatives
and similar projects. The last one was on 2022-09-22.
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2 PCBs in one file?
I use Kikit for exactly this. The pro's on here are better at thinking ahead than me - I end up iterating by boards and components so having the schematics as hierarchical sheets and the PCBs in one file makes sure I don't cross-wire or mess up the connectors between mother and daughter boards etc.
- Fuse smaller PCBs to one big one
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Multiple PCBs from a single schematic
Have a look at Kikit https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit/blob/master/docs/multiboard.md. I put things in a single schematic, and have multiple boards in the pcb design. Kikit then splits the out for you - and panelises them etc if you want too.
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Another day, another release: KiKit v1.1 — automation tool for KiCAD (panelisation, output generator); a ton of new features, details in a comment.
And even when I populate boards by hand, I make my panels as I can generate stencils that fit my alignment jigs (see https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit/blob/master/doc/stencil.md).
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PcbDraw v1 released. New features, can capture 3D renderings & more. Link to the tool and release notes in the comments.
You can adapt KiKit's installation guide: - the guide: https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit/blob/master/doc/macosInstallation.md - the script: https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit/blob/master/scripts/installMacOS.bash
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Best practice for panelizing a board? Create a new pcb file?
Use KiKit: https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit
- KiKit v1.0.1 released: Patch release that fixes a number of bugs
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Panelization & automation for KiCAD made easy: KiKit v1 finally released! (Links in a comment)
There is a patch release with a number of fixes: https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit/releases/tag/v1.0.1
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Better way to align edges to grid?
I would advice to not to draw the panels manually, but instead generate them automatically via KiKit (https://github.com/yaqwsx/KiKit)
What are some alternatives?
When comparing PcbDraw and KiKit you can also consider the following projects:
Neotron-Pico - A Neotron powered by the Raspberry Pi Pico
panelize-plugin - Automatic KiCad panelization plugin
kleeb - Collection of Kicad 6.0 symbols, footprints and 3D models useful in keyboard creation
kicad-panelizer - A simple script to create a v-scored panel of a KiCad board.
Pinion - Generate interactive and nice-looking diagrams for your PCBs!
RF-tools-KiCAD - KiCAD RF tools: footprints wizard and round tracks, mask expander, via fencing