Is there any way to convert schematics to pcb in one click only? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: deshmukhmalhar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 06:17:39 am
content: I just installed kicad. Now struggling to learn it. I want to know if there any way to create PCB in kicad in one click only from the schematics, as we do in eagle. I am using eagle for past 3 months, I find it very easy.But for more layers and large board sizes, I may need to buy Eagle or switch to kicad. Please help!

author: matseng
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 06:37:42 am
content: Quote from: deshmukhmalhar on January 23, 2016, 06:17:39 amAlternatively - do the right thing. Learn how to route a board manually as any pcb maker should be able to do....

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 06:47:30 am
content: Yeah better to know how to layout yourself, the packages and devices your using might not exist i your software so you would have to know how to make footprints anyway, then how does the software know where the plugs or devices should be, etc, an autorouter still needs layout knowledge before you can have it try,

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 03:25:42 pm
content: I guess you could call that one-click process "hiring a layout person"But I would go with the advice offered above, learn how to do it if it's just a hobby project. It will also teach you something about things you need to take into account when you do the schematic design.

author: deshmukhmalhar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 05:14:08 pm
content: I can route manually. I routed few boards manually for my school projects. The main problem is, When you click switch to board in eagle, it opens pcb editor with components and airwires.In KiCAD, you have to save the netlist>choose the footprints for each component(which may get annoying if you have few hundred parts on huge pcb=The main reason to switch to kicad,we can't have large PCB in Eagle unless we buy)>Open Pcb editor>import the netlist>arrange and route the board.What if I add a capacitor in schamatic after doing all this?In eagle, I will add it in schematic,switch to board and just place it and routeIn KiCAD, Netlist>Footprint>Import netlist>place the part >routeI am using a Pentium IV PC/WinXp=Too slowtakes 146seconds to open Cvpcb!Eagle just switches to another window...

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 05:34:00 pm
content: Quote from: deshmukhmalhar on January 23, 2016, 06:17:39 amThat's Eagle feature is still missing in Kicad. You need to do a few operations (export net lists? assign footprints?) to have a layout screen populated so you can move parts around and route the traces.

author: deshmukhmalhar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 05:36:11 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on January 23, 2016, 05:34:00 pmI meant that....You are right,buddy.

author: Godzil
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2016, 03:13:50 am
content: You still need to assign the correct footprint for a component in Eagle, Altium, etc.. especially for component like resistors where you could use a lot of different foot print.Kicad is not perfect, but the footprint assotiasion is mostly filled by default by the library that come with the latest release. It's far from perfect and some component may use a non existing footprint (got that yesterday for exemple)But the process is simple now, you don't even need to use the footprint assotiation tools as you can select the footprint by editing the component property on the Schematics, like other CAD do.Then you just need to export the netlist, open PCBnew (there is even a menu entry in the schematic tool to open it) then read the netlist, that's all!, it's not that complexe.And don't worry, because the footprint association is the same problem with all CAD software, unless you're happy with the default footprint it select, which is, I hope no all the times, or you may have some bad surprises.

author: deshmukhmalhar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2016, 05:59:13 am
content: Quote from: Godzil on January 26, 2016, 03:13:50 amNow I get that. But What If I add a single part in schematic after the netlist is read in PCBnew,I have to create the netlist again and.....In eagle ,I choose the part with correct footprint while creating the schematic.I just go to board and my part is there with correct footprint.In KiCAD, I need to open the Cvpcb Which takes huge time and sometimes crashes the application.So, Are they going to make this process easier or not?

author: reportingsjr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2016, 06:11:01 am
content: If you are feeling ambitious then Tom, one of the CERN programmers, has a patch to do a one click schematic to PCB import. You'll have to get the kicad source, apply the patch, and compile though since it is still in the testing phase.Patch email here:https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg22826.htmlAlso - in KiCad 4 cvpcb was basically taken out of the workflow. The recommended way is to assign the footprint as you place schematic symbols (edit a symbol and you'll see the footprint field), then just export the netlist straight from pcbnew.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2016, 07:36:52 am
content: Kicad clearly doesnt understand the concept of an integrated library.

author: deshmukhmalhar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2016, 11:49:15 am
content: Quote from: reportingsjr on January 26, 2016, 06:11:01 amNice. What I want is in works now,isn't it?BTW, I'll try the patch.Thank you.Quote from: free_electron on January 26, 2016, 07:36:52 amYes.I agree.

author: Godzil
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2016, 08:44:27 pm
content: Even with "integrated library" you still have to choose the correct footprint for most of the components.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2016, 02:06:34 pm
content: Quote from: Godzil on January 26, 2016, 08:44:27 pmIn Eagle, when you select a part to the schematic that selection include also the footprint. You can also change later if you want, even half way during the layout.I plan to switch to Kicad but this lack of round trip integration is one of the main reason why I haven't yet.

author: Godzil
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2016, 03:01:17 pm
content: I don't see the point, on Kicad, a vast majority of the components in the latest version of the schematic library have valid associated footprint. And when running the PCB designer tool, you can change the footprint from here.And, the currently library even if far form perfect is better than it was before because most of the part are correctly configured with a valid footprint. But changing the footprint of a component from PCBnew is absolutely not new!And don't be fooled by eagle, Altium & co, there are also a lot of part in the "common library" which are incorrectly set or does not have a correct footprint. And when you are going to add your own part, you will have the same problem on all of the packages, apart from some wizard in Atlium, adding a part is tedious on all of them.

author: deshmukhmalhar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 05:25:32 am
content: Quote from: Godzil on January 27, 2016, 03:01:17 pmYes. I agreeQuote from: Godzil on January 27, 2016, 03:01:17 pmSo, maybe I am following the wrong method-This is what I do when create a PCB from SchAnonate>Assign footprint in Cvpcb>Save Netlist>Open PCBnew>read Netlist>place components> route(manually or with autorouter) > DoneBut, OOPS.....Two wires are not connected ,which should be connected/I did connect those but the editor didn't i.e they look connected but are not connected at allso I need toFix the connection in EEschema >save the netlist>go to PCBnew> read Netlist > continue routingin eaglefix in connection schematic editor> continue routing in pcb editorThe netlist part in kicad breaks the flow in routingI forgot to place a cap Then,Anonate>Assign footprint in Cvpcb>Save Netlist>Open PCBnew>read Netlist>place components> route(manually or with autorouter) > DoneWhich takes huge time...