kikit 0.2.4

Automatization for KiCAD boards

KiKit - Automatization for KiCAD

KiKit is a Python library and CLI tool to automate several task in standard KiCAD workflow like:

• panelization of the boards
• exporting manufacturing data
• building board presentation pages

Do You Enjoy KiKit?

Installation

KiKit is available as a PyPi package, therefore, you can install it via pip:

pip3 install kikit

Why Should I Use It?

Everything KiKit does can be also done via Pcbnew in KiCAD. But you have to do it manually. One of the common scenarios is creation of panels. Most of the tutorials on the internet guide you to use the "append board" functionality of Pcbnew. However, this approach labour-intensive, error-prone and whenever you change the board, you have to do it again.

With KiKit you just call a CLI command if you have a simple layout (e.g., grid) or write few Python instructions like "place board here", "add bridge here", "separate boards via mouse bites/v-cuts" and you are done. The process is repeatable and actually much simpler than hand-drawing the panels. KiKit also allows you to easily export all the Gerbers in a single step.

You can then write a Makefile and simply call make to get all your manufacturing data and board presentation pages.

See BatteryPack as an example usage of KiKit. Also see an example presentation page generated by KiKit.

Feature List

• create panels by appending boards and pieces of substrate (bridges)
• easily create mouse-bites/V-CUTS
• compared to hand-creation of panels, your panels will pass DRC (as tracks from different instances of the same board have distinct nets when using KiKit)
• if you have multiple boards in a single file, you can split them
• automated export of gerber files

How To Use It?

Read the CLI documentation and the panelize documentation.

How To Use It CI?

To use KiKit in CI (e.g., Travis) you can use prepared Docker image yaqwsx/kikit. Also see example .travis.yml.