You may use any FreeCAD features to include holes, cutouts and outer shape to other components you might have. Lets name it "pcb design" (but could be any other name) and put at least one circle into it for a hole. Create a sketch with an outline of the desired PCB.Create a new FreeCAD file for the PCB, the name does not matter.Shape does not matter, we will overwrite it anyway. Open the PCB Editor and create on the layer "Edit.Cuts" a closed outline.Create a new Kicad Project anywhere you like.We consider here a new project to keep things simple: KicadStepUp offers workarounds that might be more difficult to understand if you do not have this background.Ī a collaboration can be started with a new or an existing project. From a FreeCAD point of view, that means you may loose data. One example is that the Sketcher used in Kicad to define the board outline is much more limited compared to the FreeCAD Sketcher, so in order to synchronise back and forth the model content can not be more complex than the Kicad Sketcher can handle.
ELECTRONIC WORKBENCH 5.2 FULL
Undestanding the fine details of the workflow its helpful to note that the differences between the two programs impose some difficulties for a full data exchange. That also the reason, that no plugin on the Kicad side is required. Projects can be used without the other application or KicadStepUp installed.
That way each application can work with its native data files. KicadStepUp will converts standard FreeCAD files to Kicad files and vise versa. on a central server) and have specialists on mechanical CAD (MCAD) working in FreeCAD and electronics experts on electrical CAD (ECAD).
ELECTRONIC WORKBENCH 5.2 PROFESSIONAL
Professional use work on the same files (e.g. For home use you might have open FreeCAD and Kicad at the same time. The basic idea of KicadStepUp is to synchronise data between the two applications. KicadStepUp is part of the external workbenches, and can be automatically installed using the FreeCAD Add-on Manager which comes bundled with FreeCAD 0.17, under the Tools → Add-On Manager menu. Design a new footprint in FreeCAD to get the power of Sketch in footprints.PULL a pcb Edge from a kicad_pcb Board, edit it in FC Sketcher and PUSH it back to kicad.Design a new pcb Edge with FreeCAD Sketcher and PUSH it to an existing kicad_pcb Board.Check interference and collisions for enclosure and footprint design.Convert the STEP 3D model of parts, board, enclosure to VRML with Materials properties for the best use in kicad.Load kicad_mod footprint in FreeCAD to easy and precisely align the mechanical model to kicad footprint.Load kicad board and parts in FreeCAD and export it to STEP (or IGES) for a full ECAD MCAD collaboration.
ELECTRONIC WORKBENCH 5.2 HOW TO
So knowing those makes it a lot easier to understand how to use this workbench. Although some topics like adding new schematics and footprints to a local library seem to be of little interet for the beginner, in practice they are often encountered quickly after starting a serious project.įor all these Kicad concepts one can find a feature of some sort in the KicadStepUp workbench. If one does not know Kicad yet, its recommended to complete a stand-alone PCB according to the Getting Started Guide to understand the concepts involved. Additionally each tool has its own manual. However, since Kicad is being used in production for years there is an excellent documentation, e.g. KiCADs GUI philosophy is a bit different compared to FreeCAD, expecially when it comes down to create elements and move them around. The libraries are hosted here, so everyone can create and check in parts. The great thing is that using FreeCAD and KicadStepUp Workbench is official Kicad way to create 3D parts for electrical components for Kicad. It allows to design an electric circuit and create a single or multilayer circuit board using an extensive library of parts. Kicad ( website) is an Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite. KicadStepUp Workbench is aimed at helping both KiCad and FreeCAD users in collaborating with electrical (ECAD) and mechanical (MCAD) design.
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